A Ruger 1911 at last....

[MikeBjerum]

This implies a large capitol expense. That has to be passed on over some period of time. Add operator training, a non bubba skill and that adds cost.

Remember ratcatcher55, Ruger is an up and running company that has mastered these processes.  They already have most of what they need.  A few more machines and a few people maybe, and some retraining for new product, and the 1911 goes into the product rotation of the line.

[philw]

I think what keeps me buying guns, is after I buy and examine them in detail at home, away from the gun counter, I never cease to be amazed at how they are able to manufacture them for the cost they charge, and still turn a profit. We has firearm owners have a lot to be thankful for today.   Bill T. 

and I am sure the whole Firearms industry will thank YOU for continuing to buy new firearms 

[TAB]

Remember ratcatcher55, Ruger is an up and running company that has mastered these processes.  They already have most of what they need.  A few more machines and a few people maybe, and some retraining for new product, and the 1911 goes into the product rotation of the line.

High end machine tools are anything but cheap.

even a investment of say 3, maching centers and every thing needed to run them is well into the millions.

[Timothy]

Haas, 5 axis vertical is about 350K.........don't know the capability.

[TAB]

yep and thats with out options, or tooling.


figure a easy mil per machine to get you up and running.

You pretty much have to run these things a min of 2 shifts a day and atleast 6 days a week to make any money with them.

3 shifts and 7 days a week would be better.  with maybe 1 or 2 shifts a month for repairs/cleaning and the like.

Unless you want to pay $$$$ in OT that 3x7 needs atleast  5 employees  4 full and one part. 

[Sponsor]

[bafsu92]

My understanding is they are wrong side safety only. A left only would be fine but I use the ambidex safeties on my pistols with manual levers.

That's the great thing about 1911's, more aftermarket parts than any other pistol. Pick out the ambi-safety you prefer and install it. Many 1911 models come with RH safety only and this is how that problem has always been solved.

[Timothy]

I'd say more like 500K per machine.    Amortized over 10 years, you've gotta get about 500K revenue/year out of the machine to break even figuring a 10% (if you're lucky) net profit margin.  Not easy and that doesn't account for the labor side of things.

Tooling is going to depend on the material.  Some alloys eat tooling quickly...

That is a high end machine, there are cheaper versions available.

[MikeBjerum]

The question that isn't being answered is how many new tools will be needed?  How many operations will be taken on by under utilized machines already on the floor, and how many machines near the end of their depreciation life will be given a second life making new parts.

We have a couple international manufacturing companies with major plants within 30 miles of us (very large residential and commercial lawn care, and one of, if not the largest, agriculture implement companies).  Both of them will add new product lines and do most of their new work with existing equipment until all is proven.  Then they will rearrange and add more machinery.

It would be interesting to see how many machines Ruger has, how many they are adding, and how many models each of these machines produces parts for.

[Joni Lynn]

I like it. It has the features I like and it's priced pretty nice as well. I may have to adopt one.

[TAB]

When I said 1 mill I ment for  every thing to actually get you into production.  things like  install, training, software, CMM and etc.

lets also not forget that most of these machines require lots of air,  its often about 10 cfm at 100 psi.  Thats alot of air and must be 100% duty cycle.   Not a motor rated for 100% duty cycle, but the compressor rated for 100% duty cycle.  That pretty much means a rotary with atleast 5 hp per machine.  does not sound like much, but its  about 5k to start.  it wil most likly be 460V 3p and around 7 amps, thats like 4500 watts.   Thats about $6k a year in just power if you pay $.15/kwh.

Granted thats a drop in the bucket for these operations, but every watt of power you use costs you.  I know from exp that power is the largest cost for machine operations.


M58 tom would be able to answer that Q for you.  I'd guess 30-60 tools in each machine, I'd guess atleast 10 get swaped out every shift.