How long should industrial machines last?

[Chrispy]

In 1996 I splashed out on a new spindle moulder, three phase, 5hp, reversible, tilting spindle, sliding table ect. Well in that time the rectifer that works the DC breaking broke, the Shaw guard broke, the locking pin that locks the sliding table broke, the rise and fall lock doesn't, now I don't think I am clumsy or heavy handed, it's just not industrial, oh did I mention the DC breaking has just today blown another rectifer! So the machine is out of action again. So phone call to the supplier and the service engineer hasn't even seen a machine without a circuit board with all fitted. So in 19 years it seems to be old technology, So when he phones me back in the morning what's the betting it's all redundant and unrepairable? What is the make you ask, Felder.

 

[Doug B]

Hopefully they can sort it for you, Brian had a similar problem on his combination machine. Fielder no longer did the same breaking board but we're able to sort one out than would work for him.

Best of luck.

 

[heimlaga]

That machine is obviosly not industrial.
I think this designed obsolecense is one of the factors that contribute to the economical downturn. It becomes impossible to acculmulate any wealth when every bit of money has to be spent on buying new stuff and scrapping the old.

How long it should last........ well..... with regular servicing and minor repairs followed by a throrough overhaul and new electrics every 50 years I find 70-150 years to be a reasonable life expectacy for an industrial woodworking machine.

 

[jonn]

The strange thing is that really old machinery of industrial quality seems to just keep going. Not all those fandangle gizmos that just are more to go wrong either. Maybe not so safe, but as was pointed out, when seppos make things idiot-proof they just come up with a new breed of idiots.

 

[Chrispy]

Well we have an update, they are sending from Austria a new transformer, contactor and rectifer for me to fit as they can't do that for two or three weeks.
So maybe it will be up and running for a few more years after all. although it might be cheaper to just get a second hand one off Ebay!

 

[Jacob]

Sounds like you got a dud.
"industrial" machines go on for ever - all the wearing parts are usually replaceable.
I've got a 35 yr old Startrite 352 - masses of use and only two bearings and several belts replaced.
My minimax combi is 15 years old - one relay switch two belts replaced.
All these available by return post.

 

[RobinBHM]

In the field of woodworking, Wadkin is widely regarded as the hallmark for industrial quality machinery. The proof is that there are so many of their machines still being used in joinery shops today and these are machines dating back 30 and more years. The engineering in these old machines would probably make them prohibitively expensive nowadays.

New machines, of course have lots of electronics such as interlocks, micro switches, digital readouts, brakes etc and consequently more things to go wrong. My exprerience with modern machinery is that the mid range industrial machines tend to have cheap electric components, such as switches that dont cope well with a factory environment. Annoyingly matching replacements are often not available unless the machine is really new.

Its quite amazing how much electronics is inside these new machines, even a humble spindle moulder has a large wiring loom and a load of relays on din rails.

 

[Beau]

I would expect quality cast machines to last a lifetime. Some replacement of wearing parts but not more than that. Sounds like you have had a bit of a nightmare. No surprise the problems lay with blasted electronic components. It seems to be the bane of many machines these days from cars to chainsaws and apparently fancy Austrian spindle moulders. Hope you can get it fixed quickly and have some trouble free running.

 

[MMUK]

My dad still has a Wolf bench grinder from around 1962ish. It runs as it were new. In those days Wolf were a premium industrial brand.

 

[Mark A]

My dad still has a Wolf bench grinder from around 1962ish. It runs as it were new. In those days Wolf were a premium industrial brand.

+1

I'm restoring one of their circular saws as I type this. I can't envisage many modern tools to still be working 50, 60 or 70 years in the future.

 

[Chrispy]

To put this in perspective I have a pre war hemple shaper at some time in the past I think it has had a new hydraulic pump and a few pipes replaced and I have replaced four or five valve seals as they have blown the last one caused a fine mist of hydraulic oil to half fill the electric control cabinet all the relays fuses and contactors were completely drenched in oil, anyway put the oil back where it was supposed to be, mended the seal wiped as much oil off as I could and it still runs a treat, what's good is it's all standard parts and can be sourced and replaced quite easily.

 

[worn thumbs]

I suppose the lifespan of a machine has to take into account the level of usage.I have known workshops where the spindle sits idle for weeks and then has a few days of usage and I have known other businesses where the spindle hardly ever stopped.

What depreciation policy did the accountant recommend with respect to machinery?It may be sufficient justification to alter the way the machinery gets written down.