Milltronics' Machine Shop Insights

But it’s also important to understand exactly what a price includes. This requires some legwork. Some machine tool builders may not promote specific features under the assumption that the market already knows about them. Others can play games with pricing to create the illusion of an advantage over their competition.

When you’re evaluating competing machines to determine the best fit for your operations, it’s vital to weigh price against two other key considerations: quality and standard vs optional features.

Consider the cost of lower quality

Saving a little money upfront is almost never worth taking on a series of ongoing, unpredictable costs. Similarly, if most of the parts you produce require tolerances of 0.0003″, a machine that can only consistently hold 0.001″ will never be a wise investment, regardless of how low it’s priced.

Differences in the quality of competing machines can be difficult to identify, though sometimes there are significant clues. A shop comparing two machines might notice that one weighs significantly less than the other. In that case, the lighter machine is almost certain to be more prone to vibration that negatively impacts accuracy, quality and performance.

To offer a specific example, with the exception of our large bridge mills, all Milltronics machines are built on the foundation of a solid cast base. We also use wider rails that add stiffness, strength and stability. When we see that another company has significantly underbid us on a machine that appears comparable, it’s often because that model incorporates a lighter base with weldments and provides less vibration damping. In those cases, shops have to decide if a lower price is worth the long-term added costs of reduced accuracy, lesser surface finishes and decreased tool and spindle life.

Make sure you have apples-to-apples pricing

When someone purchases a new Milltronics VM Series machine, each of the following are included as standard.

• 120 Gb hard drive
• Augur
• Wash down nozzle
• Air gun
• Remote handwheel
• 24-pocket tool changer
• Spare M function
• Rigid tapping
• Dual work lights

To most machinists, those are all things that should be included with any machine purchase. While that might seem obvious to some, every item on that list is treated as an optional add-on by at least some machine tool builders. By removing expected features from their quotes, some builders can reduce their stated price by $3,000 – $10,000.

Additionally, some companies include standard features that might not necessarily be expected, but do provide enough value to be factored into a price comparison. For example, Milltronics includes a rest roughing machining cycle as standard. That is, when a large tool is used to make corners, the machine will automatically select a smaller tool, then goes back and refinishes them.

To accurately evaluate the price of two or more machines, a shop should not only compare the standard features that each includes, but also be sure to inquire about any features that are unfamiliar. By understanding differences in quality and ensuring an apples-to-apples comparison, a shop can better understand if a lower price reflects actual savings or is merely an illusion.