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Reply to "Atlas run of SW series switcher officially cancelled"

One thing to consider in Atlas’ selection of products that they announce or have recently produced is that they are probably just going forward with tooling that is complete, e.g. molds that are serviceable or still exist, for that matter.  I say “still exist” because it seems that they keep having to move their tooling from one factory to another every so many years and like any move, “stuff” gets lost.  And that lost stuff can be the actual tooling in addition to the CNC files/drawings to make replacement tooling. In addition to lost stuff, injection molds themselves (although made of super strong tool steel) do wear out from use.  Plastic can be quite abrasive when forced into these molds under tons of pressure over-and-over, believe or not.  Therefore, the lost or warn out stuff needs to be replaced and replacement takes time and money so if another product’s tooling is ready to go, then you go with those products to keep the factory production moving along.  Otherwise, the factory bails on you because you can’t give them enough business to make you worth their while to build for you (especially these days).  Even in the case of the old CNC GCode files may not be compatible with the new factory’s CNC machines used to make replacement molds so before a mold can be remade, it might need to be completely remodeled in new 3D software and new CAM GCode generated for a new machine.  All this takes time and money (and at today’s prices, no less..) so basically Atlas may just be evaluating what tooling is serviceable and can be used to make a finished product to keep the factory humming along lest they get the boot once again.  In meantime, they can go out and see what models are worth investing in replacement tooling.  The SW/ MP locos may require a lot of tooling work and not even on the radar for putting into production and if they have other tooling, e.g. GP / F unit tooling ready to go today or in the near future, then “you run with what you brung”.

Scott

OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Suite 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

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