CNC Technology Review.

Wood & Wood Products presents the latest upgrades and additions to CNC machinery

Machining Centers

The Northwood NW-265C twin-table ONG machining center from Stiles Machinery Inc. features a 17-hp, 18,000 rpm FM-Eurospindle, a cartridge-type router spindle. It has C-axis capability and uses GE/Fanuc 160i-MA digital CNC control with an integrated Windows NT PC.

Delmac Machinery Inc. offers the Busellato JET series of CNC machining centers, which start with a working field of 102.5 in. by 39 in. by 6.7 in. up to 228.3 in, by 70.8 in. by 10 in. All machines, including the JET 6000, come standard with a PC Windows NT operating system, ethernet card, 4.3 Gig hard drive, 64MB RAM and CD-ROM with Genesis operating system and AutoLink/AutoBar software.

The BIMA P series machining centers, which includes the P 980, from IMA America Corp. are equipped with twin tables each with a CNC Y-drive unit, a main spindle with a 12- or 18- position tool changer, horizontal or vertical boring and an assortment of other tool aggregates. The gantry style design allows placement of machine heads on both sides of the bridge.

SCM GROUP USA Inc.'s Morbidelli Author 600K CNC machining center provides a 52-in. by 118-in, work area. It features a cast iron, 10-hp electrospindle with Rapid 10 tool changing system, 18-spindle drilling head, Office PC and Yaskawa AC Servos. The Rapid 10 tool changing system allows tools to change while the machine continues with other operations.

The Weeke Optimat BP-85 machining center from Altendorf America is designed with operator interface, the latest control technology featuring a Windows 95 operating system, a second quick-change router motor and a ride-along tool changer, the company says. It comes with boring, routing and grooving capabilities.

Richard T. Byrnes Co. Inc.'s Bacci Twin machining center has six axes for drilling, mortising, tenoning, fingerjointing, milling, four or five axis for contouring and carving of chairs, tables, sofas and other furniture pieces. The company says that the Twin machining center can be easily programmed for the user's specific needs.

Holz-Her U.S. Inc. has introduced its new line of CNC machining centers available in three models the Eco-Master, UniMaster and Multi-Master, all with a variety of working field capacities. The company says that the machining centers feature a milled support table that allows placement of special vacuum cups anywhere on the table and can accommodate up to eight processing fields.

The ANDI Stratos/SUP CNC processing center from Anderson America Corp. features a moving bridge that allows for processing of larger materials. The unit features a 10-ft by 5-ft stationary table, a 10-hp router spindle and a line boring unit with vertical and horizontal drilling capability with a two-position grooving saw. The machine construction allows for multiple processing applications across materials.

Stiles Machinery Inc. offers the Heian ZR-442PMC twin-table CNC machining center. It features four 18,000 rpm, BT#35 quick-change router spindles, two 102-in. by 63-in. tables and dust collection manifold. An additional feature includes the Fanuc 180i-MA digital CNC control with integrated Windows NT PC and simultaneous four-axis control.

CNC Routers

The VR 20005TT twin table router from Komo Machine Inc. has two 5-ft by 10-ft cast aluminum worktables with machined vacuum plenums, which can combine for a 20-ft by 5-ft work space. It features cutting feed rates in X and Y axes of up to 3,150 ipm and a PC front-end GE Fanuc 180i computer for machine movement control.

The MT series router from Multicam Inc. is designed for nested-based panel processing applications. The MT510 features top speeds up to 3,000 ipm, an operator interface, standard automatic tool control, 8MB of memory, standard ethernet or RS232 direct connections and a handheld keypad.

The CNT 900 and CNT 1000 series CNC router systems from CNT Motion Systems now feature the option of a new tool changer. The new tool changing system features a 9-hp HSD ISO-30 tool changer with an ISO-30-tool holder and eight-position pop-up toolbar.

The CNC Servo routers from Techno-Isel are available with an automatic tool changer. The tool changing system includes the spindle, speed control, tool holders, collets, dust shroud, safety sensor and G-code interface with job supervisor. The system accepts industry standard G-code commands and is available with several CAD/CAM software packages.

CMS North America Inc. has introduced the TRIAX CNC router. Its wrap-around beam and carriage can be tooled to process solid wood and panel processing. The router's CNC console commands with an integrated PC and includes Easy Wood software, and it features a CNC-controlled horizontal electrospindle.

C.R. Onsrud Inc.'s 144G10 PanelPro router is available in eight standard configurations with a 10-hp Colombo spindle, a 62-in. by 147-in. work envelope and features seamless integration with any available CAD/CAM system and all vacuum holding methods, the company says.

The High Velocity Series III-C router by Accu-Router Inc. is available with three high-speed options. These options are integrated into the G.E. Fanuc model 18i-MA CNC control. The three options include the Bell Shape ACC/DEC high-speed machining option with the ability for axis corner moves, Levelup HRV, a high-response servo motor, and automatic cornering ACC/DEC software.

Maxym Technologies Inc. has introduced a specialized Maxym Power Arm CNC router configured for countertop openings. It has Maxym's touch-screen operator interface, making machine setups possible by a touch of the screen, the company says. Table sizes are 24 in. by 48 in. or 24 in. by 60 in., with adjustable side arm clamp and clear front and side loading.

The Model 20 ZXG CNC router from Hendrick, div. of RWH Industries Inc., features a moving gantry crane that the company says is designed for continuous operation. The gantry crane incorporates THK linear motion components, and AC servo-driven ball screws are featured on all three axes. The router can be equipped with either 16-hp or 20-hp spindle, and table sizes range from 5 ft square to 5 ft by 12 ft.

Standard Router Inc. has introduced a heavy-duty line of multiple spindle and automatic tool changing machines. The company says the models feature table sizes from 4 ft by 4 ft to l0 ft by 5 ft, 10-hp router spindles, brushless digital AC servo drives and Fagor 8055 CNC control.

The Model SB-510X CNC router from Motionmaster Inc. features dual Z-axis carriages each equipped with 10-hp ISO30 high-speed router spindles. One carriage provides 3-axis operation, while the 5-axis head includes optional eight-position automatic tool changer. The spindles cover the 60-in, by 120-in. table and provide 3 ft of vertical clearance.

Larken CNC Inc. manufactures four models of CNC routers, featuring a solid steel frame, precision linear bearings and software. The company says the software utilizes user-defined reference points, full 3-D capability and an array of editing tools. Systems come in ranges from 50 in. by 60 in. to 100 in. by 150 in., and a 12-position automatic tool changer, vacuum table and 7.5-hp and 10-hp spindles are all optional.

The Model 42 CNC router from Thermwood Corp. features dual 5-ft by 5-ft moving tables and is a high-performance machine for higher production rates and larger parts. It comes complete with a 10-hp router and high-end servo drives and controls. According to Thermwood, the technology used in its CNC routers, and in much of the industry's CNC routers, orginated at Thermwood.

CNC Panel Saws

Giben America Inc.'s FormulaX beam saw features the company's PM System for positioning panels automatically and independently along two axes. The PM System's grippers are able to expedite the cutting of complex patterns. The grippers are controlled by the saw's computer and their position is always optimized depending on the cutting pattern, size of the materials, cut sequence and size of the strips or parts.

Holzma U.S., a div. of Stile Machinery, offers the redesigned HPP 82 Optimat panel saw. It is equipped with a 29-hp main saw motor and a rack and pinion saw carriage drive. It features a "touch-free" magnetic measuring system, automatic cutting height and length, automatic side pressure device placement, a 17-in. SVGA monitor, Windows NT PC-based control and modem diagnostics.

Schelling America Inc. has introduced the FMH panel saw with 3 3/4-in. blade projection. It can be ordered with either manual or automatic loading. This machine has been designed to incorporate all the advantages of Schelling's largest machines, such as an air floatation turntable and Windows NT operating systems, the company says.

Mayer USA Inc. manufactures CNC beam says from a 3-in. cutting height up to 8-in., and from 19 hp up to 100 hp. The company says that features available on all Mayer models are double finger clamps, rack and pinion saw carriage and Windows NT or 98 operating environments.

The Gabbiani Galaxy 140 panel saw from SCM GROUP USA Inc. can be loaded in the front, direct rear or either side and has 5.25-in. cutting capacity. It features Windows-based PC for on-line connections, CUTTY sheet optimizer and scheduling software, THK movements on the saw blade carriage, modem connection and EDG bar-coding software.

Anthon panel saws available from European Woodworking Machinery are Last, simple and accurate according to the company. The panel saw system cuts 4-in. heights at 32 ft/minute and 8-in, heights at 100 ft/minute. Operation is simple with computer numerical control and flawless cutting of a wide variety of material including plastics, the company says.

Richard T. Byrnes Co. has introduced a line of automatic panel saws manufactured by Scheer. Models PA6000 and PA7000 are designed for efficient panel sizing in small-and medium-sized companies, Byrnes says. Cutting lengths from 3,100mm to 5,700mm are standard, with differences only in cutting heights of 80mm and 115mm and main saw horsepower of 12 hp and 15 hp.

Altendorf America introduces the new Homag Espana CH 12 Profiline automatic panel saw. It features a built-in industrial PC, which incorporates Windows 98, a network card, 3.5 in. floppy disk drive, serial/parallel ports and a 10-in. TCT color graphics monitor. It is also equipped with automatic cutting Length sensors and is available in 10-ft or 12-ft cutting lengths.

The Selco panel sizing centers EB 120 and EB 120L with patented rounded cushion tables are new products from Biesse Group America. These machines feature a patented frame construction, PC-based control unit with Teleservice, Easycut and Downloading, a rack and pinion saw carriage drive and 24-hp main saw motor. Other features include quick disconnect tooling, electronic scoring adjustment and automatic side squaring.

Other CNC Machines

The CNC-controlled Homag BAK processing center from Stiles Machinery Inc. is the latest addition to the Homag range of equipment for contour edgebanding technology. It edgebands complex contoured shapes quickly, the company says. It features WoodWOP software which has icon-driven functions and .dxf file downloading capability for programming operations, pendulum processing, C-axis rotation and edge-scraping.

Biesse Group America has introduced the Stream line of edgebanders. These machines represent the latest advancements in edgebanding technology, the company says. The machines feature patented systems such as quick glue reservoir extraction, CNC auto tool changer corner rounding, PC front end and Teleservice.

The Tech 80 point-to-point boring machine from SCM GROUP USA Inc. has a work area of 39 in. by 85 in. and two zone capacity. It includes a 9-hp ISO-30 router and X-axis grooving saw. It is operated by a Windows 98 platform and an office PC and uses Yaskawa AC Servo motors and THK guides in all three axes. It is compatible with all major design software and most CAD systems.

CEMCO Inc. has introduced a new system for use on its widebelt sanders/combination planer-sanders which is named "Intelligent Tolerance Control," ITC Technology. It is a full CNC system capable of an automated setup via part number panel input and of completely controling side-to-side alignment issues.

The MAXYM Tenoner from Maxym Technologies Inc. features touch screen programming, and the company says the tenon set-up is less than 30 seconds. It has a production rate of 300-500 tenons per hour and can make round, square and multiple tenons in stock up to 24 in. wide by 3 in. thick.

The Celaschi TSA double-end tenoner and Progress single-end tenoner from Danckaert Woodworking Machinery perform tasks ranging from sizing, tenoning, profiling, boring, mortising, routing, notching, sanding and memorized electronic shaping. The machines can be set up between profiles in about 30 seconds, according to the company.

Koch Machinery & Systems has introduced the Pade Prima CNC Tenoning Center. It features spindle rotation speeds up to 18,000 rpm and performs machining operations on both sides of a workpiece simulataneously. The CNC controls both the toolpath for cutting tenons and machine settings, allowing for quick and accurate set-up changes, the company says.

E & R System Technik Inc. imports Hapfo CNC copy lathes to produce intricate designs with three-axis control. Three models are available, and the axis control allows for cutting styles with left and right knife maneuvering. Bell cuts, 90-degree cuts and undercuts are produced with a smooth finish, and profile designs can be scanned and adjusted within the unit's memory.

The Balestini CF/High Speed Contour shaping machine features totally digital CNC control and is available from Solid Wood Systems. The rotating movement of the screws controlling displacement of the axes, is controlled 8 million times over one rotation of the screw by a NUM 1050 digital controller that is PC based. Features include working speed up to 100m/minute and new Star prismatic guides.