Kirkham - Sign of Things to Come

[Richard Hudgins]

Originally posted by Lew Ledyard


I thought that it was interesting that when someone said that it would only take a day to machine an aluminum block on the CNC, David K corrected them to say that it only takes half a day. From what I have observed, David K doesn't speak up just to hear himself and little things about which he has hinted have come to life shortly thereafter. Makes you wonder what is next.

Lew,

I do not what is next.

But I would love to see someone machine a complete block in 4 hours. ( outside of a OEM, and they take 9 machine hours to do a block.)

Maybe Daid K. has some process that no one knows about.

You really have to think of the setups and machine time involved.

4 hours does not get it.

There was also a statement made about just leaving the machine alone and spitting out bits.

Well, I would like to see that as well.

Lights out factories are a reality. But only if you build a gazillion of the same thing. (Note: this is mostly done in the plastics business. You seldom see this done in the metal business. Operators are still involved.)

They must have some magic.

I would like to see it.

Anything to reduce costs, you know.