[kaiz]

We are looking to purchase a 5-axis VMC with either a Siemens 840D or a Fanuc 31i-A5 machine control. I understand there will be customization performed by the machine tool builder, but I would like to know the price difference between basic models of these two machine controls. Please reply if you have some information regarding this.

Thank you.

[underthetire]

Why? There is very little support for Siemens in the US, they fly out of Chicago. Fanuc has field offices all over the place, plus almost every service guy knows them. It's not the upfront price you need to worry about, it's the long term that will get you in the end. Our Siemens has been the most un- reliable control in the plant.

[jcruthers]

The comment that support all comes from Chicago is not accurate. Siemens as field service engineers located in major cities in the US for local response to service needs. Application engineers and sales people are also located in mutiple locations in the US. Repairs are all done domestically in our own repair facilites located in Chicago and Cincinnati. New and refirbuished inventory is located mulitple warehouses in the US with same day shipment. Technical support hotline assistance is no charge for all systems from 840C forward even without a service contract. All parts, repair, field service, technical support requests can be intitated by calling 800-879-8079. For more information you review the Total Customer Support video located here: Siemens CNC Controllers and Solutions for Machine Tool Applications - Comprehensive Drive Technologies from the Innovative World Leader - Siemens