[bob1112]

I am looking to network or find good service contacts on Hitachi Seiki lathes. We have a Y axis, sub spindle lathe and finding help is next to impossible. Our Mori dealer knows nothing about them but sells parts...

There was a guy in Wichita, KS that worked on them a while back but cannot get him to return an email. Mostly looking for good documentation on the Seicos III, former techs, etc. These machines are very frustrating because Hitachi made most of the control and since Hitachi is gone, questions on most anything go unanswered.

[PixMan]

Google search yielded this for parts and service:

http://www.cybercnc.com/

Look at the banner along the left side to see something about "purchased the parts inventory of Hitachi Seiki after bankruptcy". Perhaps they service them too?

It is a fact that Mori Seiki bought the rights to Hitachi Seiki, I don't understand how this CyberCNC organization can claim to have parts, and don't understand why Mori won't service them.

[Dancy]

Rumor has it that Mori purchased HS to get there hands on the Seicos software.

[underthetire]

Ok, here goes- I worked for the Mori Dist as a service manager at the time of Hitachi's demise. The official and unofficial story is this.

Hitachi had been in real trouble for years before the bankruptcy of the machine tool division. Once they filed for the Japanese equivalent of bankruptcy, the bank that owned Hitachi asked for other builders to possibly buy Hitachi. Mori actually said no, and no other builder wanted them either. The bank then came to Dr. Mori and hammered out a deal. Since Mori was financially stable, as well as Japans largest builder, they bought all the Japanese parts and factory. Mean while Hitachi US was filing as well. Mori wanted nothing to do with Hitachi US, and so someone else bidded on the eventual auction of Hitachi US. Mean while back in Japan, Mori knocked down the old Hitachi factory and built new ones in there place. They pretty much just wanted the land. The software "seicos" was really never used again. Hitachi owners as much as you want to complain, are really lucky Mori got the rights for parts, since at least now you have a chance to get a replacement part. As far as the service techs go, the Mori techs were just told one day, now your fixing Hitachi machines to. That was it, no training, no manuals, nothing. When confronted about this, the response from management was, it's just another spindle, you can fix it.

Sorry to be so long winded, but that's the official unofficial story.

[wizbangdoodle]

Great. So what does a US owner of a Hitachi Seiki supposed to do?

[underthetire]

Great. So what does a US owner of a Hitachi Seiki supposed to do?

Mori has some parts, Some other company bought the US Hitachi parts, should be able to get what you need. As far as service, some Mori offices have decent Hitachi support, and there are quite a few goo Hitachi independants out there.

[papajim]

Did you try Ellison Technologies?