RETROFIT
Arrow Controls is an official Centroid dealer and has been since 1990. We handle sales, repairs, and retrofits. With Centroid controls, machine operation is simplified and has all of the newest features of modern machines. Click on the Centroid logo for more information about Centroid.
Why retrofit your machine?
There are many good reasons to retrofit a machine, such as:
Existing Machine size, use, quality and versatility not found on a new machine at any price.
Machine parts not possible with old control.
Reduce the time it takes to make most parts, In some cases we have reduced the time factor on like-parts from 24 hours to as little as 5 hours.
Continuous machining, No hesitation. Smoother machine action, Faster rapids, Faster feedrates
Much easier programming, More programming features.
PC based, easy to update, easy to add-on accessories.
Software updateable, Never becomes outdated.
Use new CNC features not available with old control such as Digitizing, Engraving, 4th axis and Probing.
Upgrade a 2 1/2 axis machine to a True 3 or 4 axis CNC.
Centroid offers a complete solution, we make retrofitting economical and painless.
Eliminate program memory problems
Turn a classic NC mill back into a workhorse!
Many old NC machines are made out of superior US cast iron and have excellent mechanics. The old NC machines often used large US made ball screws and quality support bearings. These old machines are rigid and heavy duty. The problem is the old NC control! By now, the old electronics are troublesome and parts are hard to come by if not impossible. Adding to the problem is the fact that even when the old controls were new they were very limited in their capabilities and NOT very user friendly.
Sometimes just finding a comparable new machine to your original is next to impossible. They just don’t make’m like they used to. The rigidity and strength in some of these old machines is just unmatched. Retrofitting gives a classic machine a new lease on life.
With a Centroid CNC retrofit you can machine parts not possible with the old control. 3D parts, part programs generated from CAD/CAM, or Digitized parts can be run with no hassle at all. In addition to the built in conversational any CAD/CAM system can be used to program the Centroid and since the new control is PC based, file transfer from a desktop PC is very easy. Adding part serial numbers or even logos to your parts has been greatly simplified. With the Centroid retrofit, you can easily Engrave letters, numbers and symbols. The Engraving option allows you to engrave with 20 different fonts. Fast and easy engraving right at the control.
Cost of a retrofit?
A CENTROID CNC Retrofit, pays you back many times over in increased CNC productivity and reliability.
The benefit of retrofitting depends on the size and type of the machine being retrofitted. On average, retrofitting a good machine is less than 30% of the cost of a new machine of the same size and type. One important thing to consider when looking at retrofitting costs is that Centroid & CNC Services offer a complete retrofit solution from installation to training. One source, one price for a retrofitted running machine. A big difference when compared to some of our competitors.
Usually as the size and complexity of a machine increase so do the costs. But typically the percentage of the retrofit cost compared to a new machine cost is low. For instance to retrofit a 30 hp Horizontal Boring mill may cost $45K and buying one new would run $200K to $250K!
Not all retrofits are created equal. There are several companies offering low priced CNC systems. These types of retrofits are usually plagued with various problems. For one, most of the components in a particular system are manufactured from several different companies or they will try to reuse old electronics from the original system. When something goes wrong you’ll have a hard time getting repairs or spare parts. Since so many companies are involved, often the company who built the amplifier will blame the problem on the the CPU manufacturer and vice-versa. Another common problem is that most of these other systems are not optically isolated. They may work just fine on the computer bench but really don’t like a machine shop environment especially if a EDM machine or a Tig welder is being used anywhere near by. Centroid CNC controls are optically isolated and have superior RF (radio frequency) noise resistance.
When calculating the cost of a retrofit, don’t forget to factor in the money that you will make since the machine will be able to make more parts per hour. In one case we have reduced the time it takes to make a particular part from 24 hours to 5! Another benefit is gained by the machine producing better quality parts therefore reducing scrap out-of-tolerence parts – more savings. Operator labor costs are also reduced because of the significant reduction of setup and programming time with the new control. These items really add up in the long run, so don’t underestimate the dollars that you will gain with a Centroid CNC retrofit.
Another savings to consider is that most retrofits can take place on-site therefore saving you any machine moving ,rigging and shipping costs which can become considerable especially with the larger machines. Even having a lot of tooling for a particular machine can influence the decision to retrofit. Some customers retrofit machines just because they have machining experience with a particular machine and know what it is capable of. They are familiar with the weight it can carry and the type of cuts it can take.
What machines are good machines to retrofit?
Almost any existing NC or CNC machine is a good candidate for a CENTROID CNC retrofit. You do however want to evaluate the machines mechanical condition. It is a good idea to start with a machine that is in good mechanical operating condition. There are many machines that are of a good design and make great candidates for a CENTROID CNC retrofit. Below are a few examples.
Some prime examples of great candidate machines for a Centroid CNC retrofit are: The Bridgeport NC Boss Series I and II , Bridgeport Machining centers the 308’s and 412’s, Wells index NC knee mills, Shizuoka NC knee mills, Hardinge CNC Lathes, Mori Seiki turning centers, Ikegai lathes and turning centers, Pratt and Whitney NC Bed mills, Brown and Sharp bed mills, Fadal machining centers, Haas machines, YCI CNC knee mills, South Bend Lathes (ballscrew equipped), Crusader Lathes, any Bandit or Shadow equipped machine, Partner knee mills, Hurco knee and bed mills, Ex-cell-o and almost any Anilam, Dynapath or FANUC equipped machine along with many others, call or email for an evaluation of your specific machine. We have worked with many machines over the years and know the ones that are good choices for a retrofit and the ones to stay away from. You can gain from our experience.
It is most economical to retrofit a machine that is currently a NC or CNC because of the fact that the ballscrews and axis motor mounts are already in place.
