On Thu, 01 May 2008 08:21:09 -0500, "Pete C." >
wrote:

>
>Exactly, it might be a nice unit, but parts and service can be a real
>issue. That and some Italian made machines can be rather odd and
>temperamental to work on (try an Olivetti CNC lathe some time...).

I'm not buying that argument. Any unit with hard to replace parts
should be considered disposable and I wouldn't worry about it. How
often do you actually have to fix any unit (unless it's a piece of
cr*p) before it goes out of date? I've had my Thermadore cooktop for
30 years and it finally needs a burner to be replaced after constant
use. The only reason I haven't replaced the cooktop is because I
haven't moved. If I sold the house, I'd replace it. If I bought the
house, I'd replace it. As it is.... my cooktop is like an old friend.
I like it and it does what I want it to do.

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On May 2, 1:49�am, sf <.> wrote:
> On Thu, 01 May 2008 08:21:09 -0500, "Pete C." >
> wrote:
>
>
>
> >Exactly, it might be a nice unit, but parts and service can be a real
> >issue. That and some Italian made machines can be rather odd and
> >temperamental to work on (try an Olivetti CNC lathe some time...).
>
> I'm not buying that argument. �Any unit with hard to replace parts
> should be considered disposable and I wouldn't worry about it. �How
> often do you actually have to fix any unit (unless it's a piece of
> cr*p) before it goes out of date? �I've had my Thermadore cooktop for
> 30 years and it finally needs a burner to be replaced after constant
> use. �The only reason I haven't replaced the cooktop is because I
> haven't moved. �If I sold the house, I'd replace it. �If I bought the
> house, I'd replace it. �As it is.... my cooktop is like an old friend.
> I like it and it does what I want it to do.

Comparing a high end gas cook stove (let's say costs $3,000) to a high
end CNC machine tool (let's say costs half a million bucks +
instalation, another couple hundred thou) is a nonsensical analogy...
gas cook stoves will never become obsolete in ones lifetime whereas
any CNC machine tool will become obsolete in the same kind of time
frame as a computer. CNC machine tools are meant to be used at full
capacity 24/7... no manufacturing company is going to invest in
machines that cost from a quarter million to many millions just to
have it sit there collecting dust. And when after a few years it's
time for a replacement because it's mechanically worn and it's
controls are antiquated the manufacturer will need to pay a hefty sum
just to have it removed and hauled off to the scrap yard, they
typically have the same kind of comparable resale value as a five year
old PC. Any private industry manufacturer who can't make such a
machine pay for itself plus net a hefty profit within five years has
no business being in that business. You can compare a gas cook stove
to standard machine tools (most are fully serviceable after 50 years
and more) but not to CNC machine tools.