Vent: I thought tool presetters were a waste of money until our shop got one last month.

We got a basic manual presetter for about $4k, and I was sure it would just slow us down setting tools by hand. After running 50 parts on the VMC, the first-off scrap rate dropped to zero because every tool was dead on. Anyone else switch from manual setting to a presetter and have it actually pay off?

3 comments

3 Comments

blakefox3mo ago

Honestly, the bigger win for us wasn't just the scrap, it was the machine time. That VMC isn't cutting air anymore while someone fiddles with an indicator. We're getting more parts out the door because the spindle is running, not waiting. That $4k gets paid back way faster when you add up all those saved minutes, every single setup.

dakota8633mo ago

Yeah, that initial cost stings but it's basically buying back all the time you'd waste on scrap and rework.

the_kevin9d ago

@dakota863 I get the time angle but that $4k is still a hard sell when my indicator is paid for after one job.