Buying Advice

**CFisher** · 05-26-2006, 04:09 PM

Since you asked...

Actually, we're a very small facility and only have use for a shop floor CMM - we went with a Sheffield Discovery II. It was our first machine and has served us really pretty well. 2 Years so far and no problems however we are not in the dirtiest environs.

It is no speed demon but it works well with PC-DMIS (we're running 3.7MR3 & 4.0). Heck, it's even a part of the Hexagon Family.

Overall, a fine beginner machine - I'm learning on it anyway...

Have a look here:

HTML Code:

http://www.sheffieldmeasurement.com/cmm_discovery2.php

Can't help with a lab machine - sorry!

**djayne** · 05-26-2006, 04:30 PM

Thanks - CFisher! I checked out the web site. I noticed they have a section of pre-owned CMMs. Do you know if the take trade-ins? I asked for some quotes from them. Thanks for your input!

**tking** · 05-30-2006, 06:38 AM

Originally posted by djayne

Thanks - CFisher! I checked out the web site. I noticed they have a section of pre-owned CMMs. Do you know if the take trade-ins? I asked for some quotes from them. Thanks for your input!

When I worked for them they took trade ins, good luck

TK

**uber user** · 05-30-2006, 07:52 AM

whats your budget like? how big of a machine do you need? are you looking for a new machine or used?

this is what i would buy if i had a budget for a new machine -

DEA

http://www.dea.it/comuni/prodotti_elenco.php?categoria=macchine

DEA coordinate measuring machines are integrated for quality assurance and dimensional data capture through accuracy testing for manufacturing applications.

**bob mappes** · 05-30-2006, 10:00 AM

for the most part.....Hexagon owns almost all the major cmm brands.....they have bought most of the competition....

**djayne** · 05-30-2006, 10:19 AM

Originally posted by bob mappes

for the most part.....Hexagon owns almost all the major cmm brands.....they have bought most of the competition....

This is what I tried to explain to my boss. Like alot of you, I have a boss who doesn't quite understand most of everything related to CMMs and programming.

**craiger_ny** · 05-30-2006, 10:57 AM

We have a B&S 7-10-7 Excel (probably from about 1998), 2 4-5-4 Micro Excells from 1999 and 2 B&S One 7-10-7 and a Sheffield Cordax manual with micro processor. I have looked at Shefield since Hexagon bought them and PCDMIS is standard on those and must say I prefer the ball/leadscrew drive system over the rack and pinion that B&S uses. I think they are worth looking at for sure. I don't know much about others. I heard DEA is very nice and Zies has a great reputation but like I said I don't know much about those other than reputation. I don't like the drive system on our 4-5-4s, rack and pinion is ok. Shefield puts the encoder on the z-rail instead of the scale. I think that is a great idea for clenliness but I wonder about how expansion and contraction affects the two styles and which is superior I don't know. I looked at a Discovery and the control looks simple so it is probably cheap if you need to have it serviced. It did not interpolate circular moves well though. There is another Shefield (I think Endevor) that uses linear motors and is very quiet adn the amount of moving parts is reduced greatly. I do not know how much heat builds up in a liear motor during long executions though, maybe nil, you'll have to ask. Hexagon ownes 'em all it seems like so machines with PCDMIS are becoming more and more.

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