CNC machines are the most common name when it comes to building a manufacturing setup, and Haas and Okuma are two brands that hit your brain at the fastest speeds when it comes to choosing which brand of CNC is best for you. Both of these companies have a huge market share of CNC machines all around the world and lead their respective genres with their top notch products. However, they have several differences in their features, control systems, build quality and price ranges. So, which brand is the best for you? Let’s try to find that out by understanding their differences.
Key differences between Haas and Okuma:
Now, here we will discuss the major differences between Haas and Okuma regarding their physical, software, control system features, and even support network to give you better clarity about which brand to choose:
- Brand philosophy and product lineup:
- Haas is a CNC brand founded in 1983, with its headquarters in the United States of America. It is one of the largest machine tool builders in the Western world. All of the CNC machines of Haas automation are made keeping simplicity and cost effectiveness in mind. They also have a vast product line which includes lathes, rotatories, vertical and horizontal mills, compact/toolroom mills, and gantries.
- Okuma Corporation is a much older Japan based CNC company that was founded in 1898. They make some of the most high end CNC machines in the market that are mainly targeted for industries like automotive, aerospace, and heavy engineering. Their product line includes several machines like lathes, vertical and horizontal mills, 5-axis machines, and specialized industry wise solutions.
- Control systems:
- CNC machines of Haas feature its own proprietary Haas control which has a user-friendly simplistic interface making it a comfortable option for new operators. It has intuitive programming features too, perfect for people with not so deep knowledge of programming.
- Okuma CNC machines have their control system, which is known as OSP or Okuma Sampling Path system. It is a highly advanced model of control system that offers great features like graphical programming. They also include other top-quality features like real time diagnostics and automation interfaces.
- Technology and AI integration:
- Haas CNC machines support some different automation integration features like probing systems, robotic arms, and automatic pallet changers. You can also integrate some IoT devices that will help you with predictive maintenance of your CNC machine. The new machines of Haas are being made with complete focus on smart factories and industry 4.0 environment.
- Different features like Machining Navi (for chatter reduction), Servo Navi (for feed optimization) and OSP AI-based tool wear production make the Okuma CNC machines more popular among CNC buyers. Their machines also feature different thermal stabilization systems, while Okuma’s energy management system can reduce energy consumption by around 30%.
- Performance and precision:
- Haas machines are the best when it comes to delivering accuracy and precision for small and mid batch production. They have standard and extended tool magazines, and competitive feed rates which makes the CNCs of Haas a good choice for their customers. Their repeatability and tolerances are also sufficient for most of the jobs.
- They have superior repeatability when it comes to competition with other brands in the market with large magazines comprising up to 120 tools and fast ATCs. The machines of Okuma are often equipped with high torque spindles and live tooling, helping to manufacture complex geometries in an easy way.
Which industries are these brands suitable for?
Now to make the final call between Haas or Okuma for your business, you need to understand which one is best for your industry. Let’s find that out:
Haas CNC machines: They are ideal for job shops, education, prototyping, and light manufacturing. They can be the best option out there for short run, generalistic machining.
Okuma CNC machines: The machines of this brand are mostly preferred in industries like aerospace, automotive, medical, defense, and energy. They are one of the best brands when it comes to high precision, long run manufacturing.
Conclusion:
Okuma and Haas are two widely trusted CNC companies that have built and strengthened that trust with their customers by making some of the best machines for their respective industries. Other than that they have global support systems, helping them to stand by their customers during any trouble. So, you can buy the CNC machines of any one of these two brands depending on your industry.
If you are someone who is planning to buy used CNC machines, then you can check our collection at MachineStation. If you can’t find the right fit there, then let us know your requirements in the Machinery Locator and we will try to help you out.