I know several techs that run the cad/cam dept in a larger lab.. not the owner. There in charge of running 3 Mini mills, several imes 240i,'s, 440, 450, and other brands not worth talking about. Between the 3 Mini's they use and the 240i's, there favorite mill is the imes 240, and the 440 with the dual puck holder. They told me the 4 axis mills can mill 95+ to 98% of the work that comes in. It's a no brainer that a 5 axis mill is needed to mill 100% of cases, and when that rare large bridge comes into a small 1 man lab like Bob's, and bars if your doing them, which Bob is not at this time.
When a one man lab like user name hits a brick wall with the decision of which mill to buy, does it come down to initial cost only. Its easy like user name said to not look at the ROI when your wanting total control to deliver cad/cam crowns, and faster production to pay for the cad/cam cost of doing business. Having a cad/cam setup will grow any lab with hard work and the confidence to know you can talk your accounts into buying into cad/cam restorations. Having said that, does that mean a 5 axis Roland mill or Imes 250i is priced to high for a one man show to buy ? Should labs this size only consider buying 5 axis mills knowing implants/fcz/pfz are the fastest growing segment in our business ? Or do you look at the cheapest, best made mill, with the best support. And should the mill be a dry only, or wet dry mill, or consider buying a second mill for wet milling later if wet milling is needed ? Very difficult questions to answer, even from the resellers of mills !
Many labs are really impressed with the 5 axis Roland, and I haven't heard anything negative about Roland mills from friends I know that bought them. Even some Milling labs use DWX 50 Rolands, but there is a hidden cost not talked about in buying some 5 axis Cams. There is a yearly update cost on the CAM, and the much higher initial cost of a 5 axis Cam. If you don't pay the Update cost on the Cam, the Cam can revert back to an older Update !
The 240 and the Mini that Bob is considering, there are no yearly cost on the Cam. So, is it best to pay more for a 5 axis mill, pay the yearly Cam cost, save a little by being able to use smaller pucks sometimes. Being able to mill the select few large bridges that may come in a small lab. Or is it a wiser decision to spend less on the mill, send out that rare large bridge, and let another lab mill and deal with re-milling difficult bridges.
On both 4 axis mills, the Mini and 240i, the 240i can use longer lasting coated tools to save on tool cost that the Mini can't, I think ?? debatable subject.
The cost between the Mini and 240i, and depending on the Advanced Cam option on the Mini is between 3k or 8k more to buy the 240i. Advanced Cam with the Mini can use .3 tools that you may want to use in milling wax ?
The 240i mill has a 4k wet option that neither the Mini or Roland offer. This is an option that could be used now, or with future materials.. At this time the 240i mills to slow to mill emax. Could this change in the future with updates on the CAM ? My guess is yes in the future when more non-cerec mills start milling emax as more is learned on how the Cam can speed up the milling. Resellers of mills are trying to shorten mill time on emax and zirconia now, and their milling time is faster now than 3-4 months ago with emax.
We're at year one of non-cerec/e4d mills milling emax and getting better results than cerec/e4d users.. (TABLE TOP MILLS )Wet milling may or may not play a large part of the future of milled crowns in commercial labs rather than just our accounts that bought into the Cerec in-house idea. With the new age of intra-oral scanners to come, wet milling may become a must have to offer one day/fast turnaround crowns. Offering a 1 day to 5 day turnaround may become the norm for the average lab. Woops, drifted off subject..
The new imes 5 axis 250i wet and dry mill, aprox 10 to 12k+ more than the 240i, depending on the reseller, mills at aprox the same speed of big brother 450i, if using the same CAM..
Strictly looking at initial cost of the Mini and the Roland, and not doing bars and few large bridges, its going to take a lifetime to break even on spending 12k more on the Roland. Plus the extra cost of updating the Cam, when ever its needed, or wanted to update.
Another question, do you always need to pay for Updates on a 5 axis Cam ? How often do users of Sum3d Cam users pay for update cost.
What is the cost of the Updates on the CAM ? this is apart of the cost. Some labs want totally control and willing to break even to have totally control of your frames, brands of materials, and coloring, no matter the cost of a slighter higher priced mill..... within reason..
Between the mills that user name is considering, 28k- 33k Mini, 36k imes 240i, and 38-40k Roland, its a clear choice on which mill to buy .... Right lol
If its not crystal clear on which mill to buy, take a look at Jensen's vhf 22 to 28k mill, or Amann Girrbach 30-40k 4&5 axis wet/dry mills.
Wow, I'm exhausted ... must read my new IDT to get my strength back... lol
