Build efficiency in cut-to-size operations
Becoming more efficient in production is a goal shared by many manufacturers in the wood products industry. It is no different in the cut-to-size operation. The faster the cut-to-size operation and the better the yield from that operation — the better the bottom-line will be. While cutting speed is an important attribute to a sizing operation, it is not the only consideration in building efficiency. Material handling improvements and optimization software can aid production efficiency as well.
Improving the flow of material to and away from the cut-to-size operation can increase the time the saw is actually used. In cases where the cutting operation is manual, efficiency is aided by a material handler whose responsibility it is to supply the saw operator with a constant flow of material. Where the cutting operation is automated, the saw operator can ready the next load of material while the saw is cutting.
Optimization packages can mean big savings in material yield. If your operation includes cutting many different parts of different sizes, an optimization package might be for you — especially if you are cutting materials for more than one job.
This month’s product profile section is devoted to saws of all purposes. Rip, cross-cut, dado, miter and panel saws are all represented on the following pages. Remember to circle the reader service number on the card for more information on any of these products.
Table Saw/Moulder Converter
The Magic Molder from LRH Enterprises, Inc. is a profile moulder head used on a table saw to cut mouldings. It features a 7” diameter anti-kickback moulder head, offering 70 interchangeable carbide tipped detail plugs. It also allows the user to make MDF paint-grade moulding and natural wood moulding. If a table saw can take a dado head set, it will accept the Magic Molder, according to the company.
Circle No. 571
Double Miter Saw
The Hoffman MS 35 SF Double Miter Saw from Hoffman Machine Co. is designed for the production of furniture parts, store fixtures, cabinet doors and RTA components. The machine cuts two 45-degree miters and routes the keyways for the Hoffman fasteners in one operation. The company says the shape of its dovetail keys eliminates the need for clamps, presses, staples and screws to assemble the product.
Circle No. 572
Worksite Table Saw
Bosch now offers a 10” portable work site table saw. The 60 lb, Bosch 4000 features electronic feedback control and a soft start 4.4 HP, 15-AMP motor. The saw has a tote for blade wrench and pencil storage, an arbor/shaft/spindle lock, a soft grip flush handle on the rip fence and a 40 tooth, 10” carbide blade with 5/8” arbor. The positive self-aligning fence cuts within a 29” by 211/2” work surface.
Circle No. 573
Gang Rip Saw
The SR-24 and SR-30 multiple straight-line ripsaws from R. K. Haskew and Company, Inc. typically rip up to 30,000 board-feet of lumber per 8-hour shift, says the company. These roll fed, high speed machines with separate hydraulic motors on four 8” diameter feed rolls incorporate the Hasko “Quick-Clear” feature to handle a wide array of mis-cut lumber. They can be factory-arranged to rip on a curve.
Circle No. 575
Panel/Miter Saw
Unique Machine & Tool Co. offers overhead panel saws available with a miter table for countertops, or a flat table for large panel cutting. Cut lengths are available from 48” to 144”, with hold-downs and custom tables. The saw carriage is fitted with ball-bearing brushes riding on hardened steel shafts.
Circle No. 574
CNC Horizontal Panel Saw
The Patriot CNC panel saw features a 40” wide solid back table, a variable saw carriage, an automatic side aligner for holding pieces against the side squaring fence and adjustable air-flotation front tables for panel handling. Operations can be simulated before start with a PC controller and Windows® optimizing software. Henrick division of RWH Industries, Inc. says cutting speeds reach 150 FPM with ± .005” repeatability with a 15 HP main saw blade motor and 2 HP scoring blade motor, claiming compatibility with all third party optimization software.
Circle No. 576
Combination Cutting Machine
A “Combination Machine” from Owens Machine of Tacoma, Washington, features two hogger/sizing cutters followed by two shaper/moulder cutters. All cutters are easily adjustable, says the company. The hold-down rollers are air pressurized. The unit is enclosed with vacuum pick up points. Pictured with guards off, this machine was developed to size and shape engineered wooden boards for this emerging market.
Circle No. 577
Panel Saws
Saw Trax offers five different models of panel saws under 10’ wide. It also offers a 15’ wide model with up to a 100” cross cut. The machines are expandable to save the cost of buying another machine later, according to the company. The carriage has an interchangeable tool plate allowing the saw to be removed and a router or knife to take its place, saving floor space for the user.
Circle No. 578
Panel Saw
Holzma=U.S., a division of Stiles Machinery, Inc., adds the HPL 33 to its line of panel saws. Standard equipment on the HPL 33 includes Holzma’s automatic Micro-infeed thin panel counting device and the PC Cadmatic 3.0. Micro-infeed allows the saw to accommodate a wide range of panel thickness, and Cadmatic 3.0 houses internal memory for cutting patterns, dynamic and static graphic displays and photo-based error diagnostics. Equipped with a 58 HP main saw motor, the HPL 33 also features a high-speed program fence and saw carriage.
Circle No. 579
Adjustable Miter Saw
J.A. Dawley Manufacturing’s adjustable miter saw table has a tubular design and heavy-duty aluminum castings which are key elements to its adjustable and expandable system. The system is for use with miter saws and compound miter saws. With its 103/4” rollers, it now will better support the wider materials that sliding compound miter saws are capable of cutting. An extra large saw mounting platform uses large jack screws, not slotted holes, to perform four point leveling and height adjustment.
Circle No. 580
Cut-off Saw
Vista Machine’s ANGLE BOSS cut-off saw takes the standard up-cutting method and adds the capability of mitering up to 75° degrees from 0°. The saw is designed for production shops that outgrow the use of their radial arm and chop saw type machines, says the company. Models are offered for miter cutting, bevel cutting and compound angle cutting. The Auto-Set upgrade feature allows push button setting of the angle via a numeric keypad.
Circle No. 581
Dado Blade
Northwood’s Stack Dado-Master from Ridge Carbide Tool will cut perfect flat bottom grooves on all materials with grain and cross grain and will not splinter plywood or chip melamine, says the company. All have the four tooth chipper design and will make 20 different grooves from 1/4” to 29/32”, including undersize dados 15/32” and 23/23” for plywood. Also available is an extra 7/32” blade for undersize 1/4” plywood dados which can be purchased along with a Dado-Master or separately.
Circle No. 582
Straight Line Ripsaw
The MasterRip straight-line ripsaw from Scarlett Machinery, Inc. features a cast iron base chassis with a single piece cast iron chain and race system for accurate glue line cuts and high production output. The variable feed system runs up to 180 FPM and the 20 HP direct drive main motor can cut up to 4” thick hardwood lumber. The large steel table and adjusting stock guide give operators the ability to select rip width. Three sets of safety fingers provide protection against dangerous kickbacks.
Circle No. 583
Resaw
The ST-9 resaw, an addition to the 36” line from Stenner USA Ltd., is designed for primary and secondary lumber processing. The company says features include pressure saw guides, a rigid roller fence with tilting capability to 35°, a split main guard with safety interlock, simplified saw straining, saw pulleys machined to accommodate 2” and 4” wide saws and no foundation pit requirement.
Circle No. 584
Band Resaws
Baker Products has P.A.Q. Band Resaws. The P.A.Q. (single cut) and the II P.A.Q. (double cut) both utilize thin-kerf technology, according to the company.
Circle No. 586
Saw Blades
Heirloom “Sta-Sharp” Tools has developed a process for saw blades that keeps them sharp much longer, according to the company. Its proprietary process gives all carbide, carbide faced and carbide tipped saw teeth extra toughness so that the treated saw blades give at least 50% more service life, the company says.
Circle No. 585
Countertop Saws
Edgetech’s countertop saws are designed to cut countertops to size and then immediately follow with the routing of drawbolt cavities without any extra handling of the countertop. By combining both the mitering and routing functions into a single machine, one operator easily can produce accurate square and mitered joints, according to the company. The saws come in two sizes, include two ten-foot conveyors and have several standard features. Optional equipment includes dual laser alignment, a variable miter with digital readout to cut countertops at any angle between 0° - 47°, backsplash clamps and special conveyor systems.
Circle No. 587
Bandsaws
Bridgewood says its “PBS” series of bandsaws are manufactured in Italy to exacting tolerances. Four sizes are available with 18” to 38” wheel diameters. All models feature precision balanced cast iron wheels with ground rubber tires for ultra-smooth operation. Other features include cast iron rip fences, blade tension indicator, foot brake, triple bearing blade guides and magnetic starters. The “PBS” bandsaws will perform all types of bandsawing operations without changing blade guides, and go from re-sawing to scroll cutting simply by changing the blade, says the company.
Circle No. 588
Radial Arm Saw
TOPS radial arm saw from Marvco Tool & Manufacturing features the “Retracto-Glide Arm” which moves the entire arm out of the way at a finger touch, allowing a clear view of the work area with no over-arm obstruction. The arm moves on eight large diameter precision bearings and precision hard chrome plated hi-tensile rails. Other features include up-front start/stop button control for operator safety. Rugged steel and alloy castings are throughout.
Circle No. 589
Insert Cutters
Safranek Enterprises offers a complete line of insert cutters for day-to-day and specialized applications. All cutters are screw-on for quick change and reduced set-up time, while maintaining depth of cut. A new product is the C41000RL 3/8” Insert Cutter for faster, uniform corner moulding, which works on wood and solid surface materials. It eliminates rework, waste or the need for additional sanding resulting from irregular cuts, according to the company.
Circle No. 600
Double Miter Saw
The Nicoletti T-350 Double Miter Saw is designed with a vertical “guillotine” cutting action. It is powered with two 21/2 HP motors and is equipped with adjustable speed and stroke controls for high production environments. The saw carriage is enclosed for maximum safety and is easily accessible for maintenance and angle adjustments. The specially designed saw fence is moveable to cut different width mouldings while minimizing waste. A “zero waste” feature is also available. The complete line of Nicoletti miter saws is available through Tech Mark Inc.
Circle No. 596
Carbide Tipped Dado Sets Style
“MAN-NC-D” is a new line of carbide tipped dado saw blades engineered to cut Korton, Melamine, and MDF in painted or printed stock with a minimum of chipping or none at all, according to Nordic Saw & Tool Manufacturers. For the table saw, these blades are made with abrasive resistant carbide (ARC) for long life and are used on saws that do not have a scoring blade. The company says the blades are manufactured with negative rake with high bevel angle on OD grind for chip-free cuts, scribe cut only.
Circle No. 597
Saw Fences
Vega Enterprises, Inc.’s professional and utility saw fences have a micro-adjustment feature that allows the user to dial in a precise measurement. They are easy to install on a large variety of table saws, says the company, and are available in 26” and 50” rip capacities. Vega’s other saw accessories include the finger saver for the saw fences, the stock feed system for use on saw fences and shapers, the miter gauge, the tenoning attachment, the laminate cutting guide, and the radial saw and miter saw stop system.
Circle No. 598
Undercutting Dado Saw
The Tyler® Model 344 Undercut Dado Machine, says Tyler Machine Co., Inc., is arranged to cut from below the work while the material is clamped against the bottom surface, thereby producing accurate dado depth regardless of actual stock size. It is equipped with 12’ in-feed and 16’ out-feed conveyors and is available in three standard models — 8-, 10- and 12- piece machines. The machine features a segmented top clamping mechanism, heavy saw carriage and simplified height capacity adjustment.
Circle No. 594
Straight Line Ripsaws
Diehl Machines manufactures a complete range of straight line ripsaws for any size woodworking plant that produces high quality solid wood panels, ripping stock to accurate widths or defecting stock. The quality of cut produced on each ripsaw allows for gluing the edges for solid wood panels without jointing the wood, according to the company. All saws are equipped with the Diehl chain/guide system, spindle/arbor and pressure roll system.
Circle No. 595
Double End Trim and Miter Saw
CTD Machines, Inc. has the Model DM200R Double End Trim and Miter Saw, which cuts two miters at one time up to 45° towards each other and is adjustable to cut other angles as well. The redesigned model includes: a pivot bracket designed for more efficient dust collection; heavier bearings, enabling it to carry twice the dynamic or static load of the previous model; a completely enclosed blade guard with lower rotating section; a redesigned power downfeed of the saw head system; a new clamping system; and more.
Circle No. 592
Sliding Table Saw Electric Motor Drive
The Tip-Servo-Drive from Altendorf America is the first and only electric motor drive for the sliding table saw, claims the company. Now available as optional equipment on all Altendorf F class machines, the Tip-Servo-Drive adds finger touch sensitivity to moving your sliding table, significantly reducing operator strain, the company reports. No matter what the weight of the workpiece, cutting speed is controlled with light pressure from the operator’s hand.
Circle No. 593
Panel Saw
Powermatic’s 510 Panel Saw will cut up to 62” panels. It comes standard with a 120V, 13 AMP worm drive motor, 10 ga. steel frame and support legs, casters, adjustable work stop, polished chromed rails and a power coat finish. Optional accessories will include a short panel fence, a dust collection system and a quick adjustable stop. The 510 Panel Saw cuts within an accuracy of 1/64”, according to the company.
Circle No. 590
Cut-off Saws
Whirlwind Inc. and Precision Automation combine to produce an accurate stop system or a fully automated cut-off package providing fast set-up, repeatability and reduced waste, according to the company. Whirlwind has cut-off saws for wood, plastic or non-ferrous metal.
Please contact webmaster@modernwoodworking.com with your comments.
|
|
