Yes they have. Snap-On still makes high quality tools and boxes meant for professional daily use. I still have a set of 12 point Metric wrenches I bought off the Snap-On truck to work on Honda motorcycles somewhere around 1967. I am still buying stuff off the truck but not nearly as much as I used to.
Atta boy, keep my retirement check coming in from Snap On!!!
Just trying to help keep your record collection increasing in size.
My former boss asked me last week if I wanted to come back in and help put the 800 ton forge press back together, mostly all the wiring and PLC hook up. he didn’t like the price it would cost them to get me back in there…
They really should use your skills in the area as an outside contractor if you are still willing and able. Familiarity with the machinery and work area mean a lot. Using an outside contractor removes any employee cost (taxes, insurance, 401k, ec.) burdens and makes the money / labor transaction simple.
I pay $120/hr onsite plus $80/hr travel time (3 hr ea way) for service on my Haas machines. The bill always feels reasonable for the maintenance work done.
About 3 years ago I did go back for a week to help the German, who came over to evaluate the conditions of the 7 German forge presses. My boss said he didn’t have the man power in maints to spare, so I went in.
Speaking of Haas, I’ve been to Oxnard, Ca for 2 weeks of training, we use a lot of Haas milling machine at the plant.
Haas machines offer great value for the money. I have owned them since 1994. I have 8 Haas machines on site now from tool room lathes up thru their UMC 5 axis machine. They are very reliable and we have very little downtime. Most of the issues end up being in the electronics but that is also very seldom. There are stronger and more accurate machines but you have to spend double the money to get there plus all of the Haas machines are literally “Made in the USA” from raw castings to finished ready to ship machines.
Are the German forges hydraulic or drop forges?
The German forge presses are Siempelkamp screw presses, in the 1200 ton presses the screw weighs about 2400 lbs and at least 8 to 10 ft tall. It has a hydraulic clutch system to drive the ram down and hydraulic side cylinders to raise the ram up. Very precise control of the tonnage via the stroke length and clutch pressure, they can punch out a part in less than 5 seconds. In my 26 years there I hate to know how many 1/2, 9/16 and 10 mm wrenches were forged on the #1 1250 press, Just that one press averages about 7 million stokes a year and it take 2 strokes for the part to be forged.
An ancient brutal process turned into modern art.
A neat way to think of it.
I’ve seen their manufacturing process, very impressive. I think they use huge Okuma mills to true their machine beds up.
Wishing you and your loved ones all the best in the new year. Big numbers for the PS audio family and especially ELK…
Holiday with your family is the only thing you need Sitting in the snowy backyard with a glass of wine looking at the fire…what could be better.