Panel sizing.

Panel Saws

Giben's Starmatic is an NC panel saw with front pack loading and pusher fence with clamps that delivers a full range of characteristics, the company says. The grippers of the pusher, equipped with bottom floating appendices, block the stack during the entire cutting cycle. The front of the machine is equipped with air tables allowing easy movement of the stacks of boards.

Biesse offers two Selco panel sizing centers - the EB 110 and the EB 110L - which the company says represent the perfect match between well-proven technology and innovation. The machines feature rounded air tables and deliver precision positioning, reliability, high cutting performance and a user-friendly numeric control. A wide range of accessories is available. Biesse also offers the EBT 110L and the EB 90, which the company says are designed for small- and medium-sized shops.

The Schelling FL panel saw features 5.4-in. blade exposure, a 32-hp motor on the main saw, a rack-and-pinion-driven feeder and saw carriage and an IBM-compatible computer. The saw carriage ranges in cutting speed from 0 to 328 fpm, and the feeder reaches positioning speeds of up to 262 fpm. The FL optimizes the movements of the pressure beam, side aligner and safety curtain, which can decrease cycle times, the company says.

Holzma unveiled its new high-capacity HQP 11/13/43 crosscut saw at Interbimall. This cross-cut center divides single panels or books of strips with or without post-forming edges with 10 cycles per minute based on strips 600mm wide. All cutting data is transferred from Holzma's Cut-Rite system to the controller of the saw. Finished parts are labeled so subsequent machines can read the data and perform the desired functions.

Lazzari America offers the three-axis CNC Luna 300i. The controller can be used to position the ripping fence, blade height and angle, which is displayed on a three-line control monitor. As many as 99 separate programs can be stored in the machine.

IMA-European Woodworking Machinery offers a range of Anthon panel saws, from smaller machines with 4-in. cutting heights and cutting speeds of 32 fpm, to CNC machines with 8-in. cutting heights, speeds of 100 fpm and saw movements that are twice as fast. The larger, custom-designed installations are available with a wide range of options for in-feed systems, scoring systems, blade diameters, cutting-motor horsepowers and other features.

SCMI presented a new series of Sigma automatic single-blade panel saws at Interbimall. The new machines' features include: a saw carriage running on twin slides, mounted on a strong, single beam; a main saw and scoring saw that are moved vertically on prism guides and recirculating ball screws; and maximum cutting height of 60mm or 85mm and blade projection of 65mm or 90mm, depending on the model.

The Optima is a pressure beam saw from Holz-Her U.S. that features a sliding saw carriage for vibration-free cutting, plus quick-change blade removal, 3-hp scoring unit, 100mm cutting height and built-in optimization package for smaller production rims.

Tekna Advanced Technologies has introduced a Gabbiani "just-in-time" system for larger production facilities that achieves high flexibility while maintaining high production rates, the company says. The core of the plant is a Gabbiani A 10-angle panel saw, loaded and unloaded by Mahros handling systems. The cycle is controlled by an electronic unit that defines cutting plans and optimizes the cutting pattern to reduce waste. The system was shown at Interbimall.

Atlantic Machinery Corp. distributes Putsch-Meniconi vertical panel saws. Standard attachments on all models include an attachment for cutting short panels, a stop for vertical cuts and four positioners for horizontal cuts. Available options include a scoring unit and a dust collector.

Saw Trax Mfg. Inc. has added the M series of 15-ft-wide panel saws to its Component Panel Saw System. The new M series comes in 52-, 64-, 76- and 100-in. crosscut models and all use 3-hp, 15-amp saws with dust hookup and carbide-tipped blades.

Altendorf America, a division of Stiles Machinery Inc., offers the Altendorf C-series sliding table saw. The company says the C-series offers smaller shops access to precision and speed not easily achieved with standard table saws.

The features of the Robland Z250 panel saw from Laguna Tools include a 125mm depth of cut, 0-45 [degrees] saw blade tilting and variable speeds of 3,000, 4,000 and 5,000 rpm. A 7.5-hp motor comes standard but 5.5- and 10-hp motors are available.

The Scheer PA 4136 series of panel dividing saws available from Richard T. Byrnes Co. feature a durable machine frame and are controlled through a Siemens PC. A 400-volt scoring motor gives the saw a top speed of 40m per minute.

Safety Speed Cut's P-Series vertical panel saws feature one-person handling for large panels and built-in gauges for short run jobs. The company says the saw's space-saving design is intended for small- and medium-sized shops.

Adwood Corp. offers the Casolin Top Digit 1 sliding table saw with a 9-hp main motor. The unit can be equipped with a 16-in. main blade, has a cutting length of 125 in. and features a 51-in. cutting width fold-away rip fence. Other standard equipment includes over-arm guard with dusthood, scoring unit, dado capability, and a three-position sliding table lock.

Erie Reibling Co. Inc. offers the Martin T72A dimension saw. The saw features an adjustable control desk, which has the memory capacity to store as many as 100 values on each of its three axes. Options include an accelerator pedal and the saw can be equipped with digital readout on the crosscut fence.

Miscellaneous

The Uni-Point radial saw features what Northfield Foundry & Machine Co. calls one-point-cutting. This means that the saw blades enter the stock at the same point in the table, regardless of how it is set, for vertical, horizontal or compound miter crosscut angle. The saw comes with a choice of 5-, 7 1/2- or 10-hp motor and has a saw diameter of 16 in. and saw hole of 1 in.

Carter Products Co. Inc. has added a Band Saw Conversion Kit for Sears/Craftsman 14-in. Contractor series band saws. The kit features Carter's new 2000 series guides which incorporate lubricated ball bearings for long, smooth operation, the company says. Kits come complete with upper and lower guide assemblies, mounting studs, bolts and installation instructions.

Multiscore Mfg., a manufacturer of multiple sawing and grooving machinery, presents single-pass panel sizing systems for cutting and sizing particleboard, hardwood, gypsum, plastic, MDF and many other materials. Panel rip and crosscut saws, with capacities of up to 5 ft by 10 ft, are available, as are a number of different dado and decorative grooving machines.

The Precision double-miter saw with Toe Kick from Pistorius Machine Co. is used for either conventional double mitering or for "notching" when using the appropriate fixtures and gauges. The optional toe kick cut-out fixture's fences adjust for any size notch.

The FM-203 Bluff Cut machine from Fletcher Machine performs crosscuts used in drawer fronts, doors and panels. A high-speed shape head, triangular sanding belt and tandem foiler are standard. A heat sensor checks roll temperature and automatically trims the foiler head on and off for steady wheel temperature.

Jenkins, a division of Kohler General Corp., provides a wide range of tenoners, from full CNC to basic single-post nonautomated trim saws. The SPDE is a single-post, double-end machine, which the company says is economical enough to be assigned a single function and versatile enough to run a variety of products.