CNC Supplement 2020 by Gearing Media Group Ltd

CNC MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT

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MARCH 2020

A FURNITURE & JOINERY PRODUCTION SUPPLEMENT

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NEW MORBIDELLI X200/X400 WE HAVE ALREADY DESIGNED THE FUTURE OF NESTING

The new generation of Nesting CNC machining centres meets the needs of a market increasingly oriented towards flexible and batch-1 production, combining excellent performance, maximum configurability with increased flexibility and productivity. morbidelli x200 and x400 allow to execute horizontal drilling, to use specific pods directly on the spoil-board and are equipped with a work table divided into vacuum zones that can be activated only when necessary. Every detail is designed to make any performance accessible, leading to efficiency, quality and business evolution.

SCM UK

Tel. +44 (0)115 9770044 scmgroupuk@scmgroup.comÂ -Â www.scmgroup.com

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EDITOR John Legg Tel: 01424 776104 john@gearingmediagroup.com Twitter: @FurnitureProdEd EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Paul Farley paul@gearingmediagroup.com 01424 776101 ADVERTISING MANAGER Lisa Williams Tel: 01424 776102 lisa@gearingmediagroup.com PRODUCTION James Ash (manager) Tel: 01424 775304 james@gearingmediagroup.com Nyall McCurrach (digital content) Tel: 01424 776107 nyall@gearingmediagroup.com COPY ADMINISTRATOR Steve Merrick Tel: 01424 776108 production@gearingmediagroup.com

Comment Welcome to this year’s CNC machinery and equipment supplement. Set against a challenging start to 2020 with atrocious weather conditions across the UK and the coronavirus threat affecting how we travel and interact, we should not forget to focus of course on the nuts and bolts of the latest tech options in what is (arguably) the most transformative tech we have seen over the last 30 years. Most businesses will have seen fortunes improve with a clear ROI following investment in all

MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT

MARCH 2020

A FURNITURE & JOINERY PRODUCTION SUPPLEMENT

manner of CNC-derived technology, ranging from dedicated CNC tooling through relatively modest and highly effective drill/boring machines to complex lines with multiple CNC-driven elements in concert. In this supplement, we report on installations and new equipment options from

PUBLISHER Nigel Gearing

leading brands, as well as those perhaps less

ACCOUNTS Wendy Williams Tel: 01424 774982 wendy@gearingmediagroup.com

well known but absolutely worthy of further investigation. I hope you enjoy the issue.

SUBSCRIPTIONS subscriptions@gearingmediagroup.com REPRO, PRINT and DISTRIBUTION Stephens & George ISSN 2396-9024 www.furnitureproduction.net

John Legg, editor john@gearingmediagroup.com Twitter @FurnitureProdEd

DISCLAIMER: All material submitted for inclusion in Furniture Production is done so entirely at the contributor’s own risk. No responsibility is accepted for the safe-keeping of contributors’ materials. Whilst all attempts are made to ensure accurate reproduction, Furniture Production accepts no responsibility for variations. Artwork undertaken by our studio remains the copyright of Gearing Media Group Ltd and may not be reproduced or stored without prior permission. Some articles in Furniture & Joinery Production have been submitted by companies and organisations. Monies may have been accepted in some instances to offset production costs. All rights reserved. In respect of artwork originated free of charge as part of a booking, clients should know that excessive work (more than one set of corrections, known as ‘authors corrections’) is chargeable at £55 per hour. DATA PROTECTION “OPT OUT” STATEMENT: Readership data held by Gearing Media Group Ltd may be shared with any member of the Gearing Media Group Ltd and associated companies for the purposes of customer information, direct marketing or publication. Data may also be made available to external parties on a list rental/lease basis for the purposes of direct marketing. If you do not wish data to be made available to external parties for list rental or lease please write to: Data Protection Co-ordinator, Gearing Media Group Ltd, 4 Red Barn Mews, High Street, Battle, East Sussex TN33 0AG. SUBSCRIPTIONS: Refunds on cancelled subscriptions will only be provided at the publisher’s discretion, unless specifically guaranteed within the terms of the subscription offer.

MEDIA PARTNERS

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CNC

The power of SCM’s balestrini ﬁve-axis CNC machining centre is ideal for manufacturing chairs, tables, beds, doors, staircases and musical instruments. Read more on page 8.

www.ferwoodgroup.com

The World’s Biggest Brands Reconditioned to the Highest Standards

The biggest and the best 21 years of work-based skills training in furniture, joinery and wood machining Didac Limited Woodwise Academy, Crews Hole Road, Bristol BS5 8BB t: 0800 773 4230 e: info@didac.co.uk www.didac.co.uk

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4 CNC MACHINERY, EQUIPMENT & SOFTWARE

Contents 14

Freud’s new outperforming solutions for nesting applications in competitive markets

Balestrini power: maximum versatility in a compact format

10 Holz-Her: a different approach

12 Fife Council invests in Homag CNC to boost production and improve health and safety 14 Premium standard plastic, metal and woodworking routers from HPC Laser

16 New additions at Masterwood 18 Ferwood: unleashing potential 20 Tool focus: what you need to know about heat-shrink technology, and why you need it …

22 Impressively wide range of high-quality CNC solutions from AES / J&C O’Meara 24 Fercell and CNC World – demonstrating teamwork 26 Design-led decors and top services at Lawcris’ Creative CNC

28 Door production boost at Heron Fit Out 30 Lohmeyer technology from Ney 32 RW Woodmachines: the service you deserve 34 Dreamhouse and Lamello – an instant connection 32

36 Wealden Tool Company provides solutions to your problems next day from stock 37 Another VWM Technos Flex sold! 38 AXYZ Infinite sets new standard in performance

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Freud’s new outperforming solutions for nesting applications in competitive markets Nesting is a very efficient and versatile method of producing components out of large, raw boards. Rather than using a beam saw and a CNC, the nesting CNC allows the operations to be performed on a single machine, with an optimisation of the production time and results. Consequently, the demand for CNC nesting application tools is continuously growing, being particularly useful to speed up the manufacturing of shaped parts that normally require cutting, drilling, grooving and sizing. In order to support a large base of users, including kitchen manufacturers and furnituremakers, with a solution that enables them to thrive in a highly demanding market, Freud, a leading manufacturer of premium cutting tools, has expanded its superior-quality product portfolio, launching new ranges dedicated to a variety of CNC applications. Freud’s new Solid Carbide Cutters and Spoilboard Surfacing Cutters – counting hundreds of articles – are the result of the finest raw materials, an expertise acquired over nearly 60 years of experience in the cutting industry, continuous investments in R&D as well as best-in-class manufacturing machines. Freud’s new Solid Carbide Cutters

Freud’s new premium ranges for CNC nesting applications

Additionally, these cutting tools, engineered to deliver a flawless finishing, leverage special helix designs and geometries (Solid Carbide Cutters) and the shear angle positioning of the knives (Spoilboard Surfacing Cutters). Freud’s new ranges for CNC nesting applications are therefore a recommended choice for users demanding superior cutting performance, impeccable finishing and exceptional durability and who aim to maximise their production, while reducing manufacturing costs. The optimum solution must, of course, always be competitive! bosch-sales@uk.bosch www.freud.it

Thanks to a new dedicated premium Titanium Cobalt Carbide formula, manufactured in-house by Freud and specifically formulated to achieve a high level of hardness and tenacity, the company guarantees that these newly designed nesting tools provide the greatest resistance to wear and impact and a lifetime prolonged by +50%. The exceptional durability is only one of the main benefits offered to the users. Freud maintains that both ranges deliver remarkable cutting performance and vibration-free cuts, due to tight mechanical tolerances and tool dynamic balancing, combined with new flute designs and geometries, for the Solid Carbide Cutters – the result of a partnership with leading CNC machine manufacturers – and with extraordinarily precise knives, for the Spoilboard Surfacing Cutters.

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Freud Solid Carbide Cutters mounted on a CNC machine

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Visit us to discover our wide range of

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H A L L

B O O T H

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Balestrini power: maximum versatility in a compact format Solid, robust and with timeless charm, solid wood, a high-quality, refined wood par excellence, can bring a warmth to any environment thanks to its aesthetic and exclusive features

SCM proposes a wide range of technologically advanced solutions, capable of fully meeting all the different processing requirements of solid wood demanded nowadays by the market, including furniture and furnishing accessories – especially chairs and tables – that aim to stand apart in their design and quality of the material. The SCM five-axis CNC machining centre balestrini power is ideal for manufacturing chairs, tables, beds, doors, staircases and musical instruments. It is characterised by a fixed gantry structure and can be configured with different specific solutions – worktables and workpiece locking devices – to achieve maximum productivity. In particular, the bars worktable guarantees easy set-up and maximum versatility. The Combi and Jig free workpiece locking devices are fixed manually to the bars using mobile carriages, allowing to lock elements of any shape by means of specific jigs.

New SCM features for solid wood furnishings

Plu With the five-axis revolver machining head units all necessary tools are always ready to use. This guarantees unparalleled machining speed. As an alternative, the machining head unit with single electrospindle is used for complex operations with heavy-duty stock removal. Balestrini power is fitted with a new CE cabin with horizontal sliding doors, a solution that combines maximum ergonomics during loading/ unloading phases and complete safety from possible tools or pieces ejection. The five-axis Smart Pro CAD/CAM software is worth mentioning as it makes it possible to generate workpieces and processes, and automatically optimise and simulate in a single work environment, thus strongly reducing programming time. The new Maestro active human-machine interface, appearing for the first time on the SCM technologies, means the potentials of this machining centre can be exploited in an even simpler, more intuitive way. Lastly, to complete the digital solutions package, balestrini power is equipped with the new Maestro connect (IoT platform) that makes the machine “smart” – its data is analysed and monitored to increase productivity and reduce operational, power and maintenance costs. 0115 977 0044 www.scmgroup.com

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PLURIS

Gives you more

MZ PROJECT TECHNOLOGY

Pluris CNC working centre dedicated for the volume production of shaped parts for sofa & chair frames

BAND - SAWING

SHAPING & MORTISING

DRILLING

For thirty years MZ have been at the forefront of building and designing copy & cnc bandsawing machines for the processing of solid wood, chipboard, OSB, MDF and plywood for the production of furniture parts

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Holz-Her: a different approach Originally established as an international shopfitting and commercial fit-out business over 25 years ago, Sheen Projects’ business model has changed significantly in the last five years. No longer solely working with large contractors, the Wakefield-based company now supplies internal doors and furniture to the commercial sector. This manufacturing shift has resulted in the business investing in its second Holz-Her machine – a Dynestic 7535 five-axis CNC router.

“Door and furniture manufacturing now accounts for 50% of our business,” begins Richard Sheen, MD of Sheen Projects. “This hasn’t just happened overnight, but it has involved us in making some big changes to our manufacturing facilities.” This has seen Sheen Projects embark on an ambitious five-year plan to replace its old woodworking machinery with state-of-the-art equipment. Following the installation of the company’s first Holz-Her Accura edgebander, which had been installed to apply both door lippings and PVC lippings, Richard set his sights on a new CNC machine from the German manufacturer. “We had been running two secondhand CNC machines but they were less than ideal. They couldn’t hold jumbo sheets of MFC or Corian, which meant we’d often have to cut panels to size using a beam saw or table saw first. It was a two-man

operation, and working by hand with panels as large as 2.8 x 2m, proved extremely difficult. We also had the time-consuming job of creating manual cutting lists and we were limited by the machine’s three-axis capabilities.” Richard was keen to invest in a multifunctional, heavy-duty five-axis CNC machine. It needed to automate as much of the process as possible – reducing labour costs and handling, and decreasing production times. It also needed to handle large sheet materials, and be able to switch between mass door manufacturing and single-batch furniture design. And a further requirement – it had to simplify the programming process for the operator. The answer came in the form of a Holz-Her Dynestic 7535 CNC with five-axis cutting spindle. As well as offering a 2200mm deep grid table (ideal for jumbo sheets), it came with a highflow nesting table, double-acting suction pads for clamping doors, and a newly-developed Campus CAD/CAM software package for convenient operation. The 10kW cutting spindle with a speed range of 1000-24,000rpm and a highperformance 12kW cutting spindle meant it was also capable of working quickly. It wasn’t just the machine that impressed Richard. Weinig’s sales approach was a key factor in Richard’s decision to buy a HolzHer. “There was no hard sell,” he recalls. “There was no short-sighted sales process and there were no pushy salesman

trying to sell us a standard machine that wasn’t going to be a great fit for our business. Instead, Weinig wanted to get a real understanding of our business, our processes and what we wanted to achieve. “The Dynestic had everything we wanted in a CNC. There isn’t one part of that machine that we don’t use – it’s been built to our exact specification – and its build quality and its specification blows other manufacturers out of the water.” Four weeks later, Sheen Projects took delivery of the Holz-Her five-axis Dynestic CNC. Operators underwent a three-day technical training course at Weinig UK’s headquarters in Abingdon, followed by two weeks of practical training on the CNC once it was fully installed. “It’s paid for itself and allowed the team to hit the ground running,” confirmed Richard. Now fully up and running, the CNC has transformed the company’s manufacturing cycle. “The CNC is awesome,” admits Richard. “It’s allowing us to do much more than we could have done before. We no longer need two people loading the machine, and all our machine cutting, processing and jointing processes have been automated.

Direct Cut Laser positioning lights on bed

Holz-Her Dynestic 7535

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www.furnitureproduction.net

Campus CAD/CAM software package (toolchanger)

Dynestic five-axis head with 120m lock pocket cutter

CAM software package (pod positions)

“The nesting table is unbelievable. We’ve got a sacrificial sheet of MDF on the table and it still offers a huge amount of suction when holding jumbo sheets down. Before, we had to rely on pods and it soon became clear that we couldn’t get enough pods on the machine to hold the panels down. “We also had to work out manually where the pods needed to go. Now, we only use pods when we’re working with doors because of the thickness of the edges we’re processing. The machine tells us exactly where they need to be and we can control each one individually on the display screen, making swapping and changing panel sizes quick and easy.” The speed and accuracy of the Dynestic has reduced lead times for Sheen Projects by -50% and doubled production capacity. Richard says: “Our orders vary massively in size and so do the turnaround times we need to work to. It’s not uncommon for us to produce a handful of

Safety sensor light

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doors for a local school one day and over 3000 wardrobes and 3000 doors for a new apartment block the next. As well as the CNC’s mechanical capabilities, the CAD/CAM software offers us the flexibility to fulfil these orders quickly and with absolute accuracy. It also eliminates the need for manual cutting lists and flat-pack drawings, giving us the option to programme the machine remotely and produce detailed technical drawings, 3D views and simulations easily.” Richard admits that every process has been shortened by the Dynestic. “A door leg used to take us 35 minutes to prep but now it takes us three-and-a-half minutes. This means our door packages, which include door sets, casings, legs, lock cases, lock keys and hinges, have a lead time of three weeks instead of 12. The speed of this machine has already won us a lot of business and people are coming to us because they know we can fulfil orders quickly. “We’ve taken out a service plan with Weinig UK to reduce the risk of mechanical issues or breakdowns. This is a huge selling point for us and something I can’t recommend more highly. “Each Holz-Her machine gets serviced twice a year and, if there is ever an issue with the machine, an engineer will be on-site within 24 hours, no ifs or buts. There’s also a phone line that we can call if we ever need any advice or help with the machine. We’ve used this service on more than one occasion and the problem has been resolved within minutes. We’ve never received this level of aftercare from any other machinery manufacturer.”

Dynestic head with engraving tool

Looking to the future, Richard’s Holz-Her machinery range is set to grow. “I’ve bought a lot of machinery in my time and, since buying into the Holz-Her brand, I’ve realised that buying cheaper machines is a false economy and the aftersales service simply doesn’t compare. My advice to anyone would be to look at the complete machinery package and not just the price tag.” Richard adds: “Over the next three years, we’re going to continue investing in new machinery in order to grow the supply side of the business. We have just ordered a new Holz-Her Lumina 1380 edgebander, which will be used to edge our furniture panels without the need for hand finishing, and I’m already talking to Weinig UK about our next machine. “If I have my way, we’ll have a mini Holz-Her showroom by the time we’re finished. We have a great relationship with Weinig and immense confidence in their machines. For us, they are the best you can get.” 01235 557600 www.holzher.co.uk

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Fife Council invests in Homag CNC to boost production and improve health & safety In 2016/17 Fife Council had a new-build site which required 30 minute fire doors (FD30) – the contractor, however, could not supply them in time. The council’s own workshop had manufactured fire doors under ‘Global Assessments’ for schools and other locations for many years, and consequently they were asked to manufacture doors for this new-build site.

Being a new-build site, however, meant the building warrant required either certification or ‘Primary Test Evidence’ (PTE) for fire doors. The council opted to get PTE for its fire doors, achieving 45 minutes on a half-hour fire door at its first attempt. It then went on to get an FD60 rating for its fire doors. At that time, the council was purchasing around 1,000 door blanks a year from a supported business in Dundee. After consulting with senior management and putting together a business case, Gerry Doherty, team manager of the Fife council workshop, made the decision to invest in an in-house CNC solution. “There were three main reasons for this,” explains Nick Grant, Fife Council’s workshop supervisor. “Clearly the demand for doors was there, but health and safety was also a major factor, as was the desire to move our production processes into the 21st century. “Much of our work involved hand routers that produced considerable volumes of dust – this was difficult to manage and created a potential health hazard. With a CNC, however, the dust extraction system all but eliminates the issue, giving a much healthier environment for our workforce.” Investing in the Homag Centateq P-110 The CNC purchase was a significant one for the council – however, both Nick and Gerry were convinced it was the right decision. Following council procedure, they went through a lengthy procurement process that took over six months. They evaluated a number of brands and visited sites in Scotland to see the machines in action before requesting three bids. Homag was successful with its bid recommending a five-axis Centateq P-110 machine with a console table and 360°

The Homag Centateq P-110 CNC

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Lock case routing for doors with the Centateq P-110 CNC

access. John MacKay, Homag’s Scottish representative, then worked closely with the council to finalise details. “John was a great help ensuring the CNC we specified met our requirements,” continues Nick. “With John’s knowledge, and the support and service from the team at AWMS, it gave us complete confidence we had made the right choice. Installation and training “The machine was delivered exactly when Homag said it would be and, a day and a half later, it was up and running. Our operators had training two weeks prior to the CNC being installed, followed up with three days’ on-site training. “The woodWOP software and the touchscreen control system make operation very straightforward. From day one, the machine has been producing a wide variety of products from windows and doors to reception counters. More importantly, the environment for the workforce is so much healthier thanks to the CNC’s dust extraction system.”

Increasing production capacity with ﬁrstclass quality “With the Homag CNC we can machine a door in 12 minutes – doing it by hand used to take two hours. We can now produce 10 times as many doors in the same timeframe which is a huge improvement. “The quality is first class, too – as is the accuracy. The CNC has given us total confidence in pricing work – our costs are reduced and that is enabling us to attract more work. “We are now in a position to manufacture for private companies and we’re getting asked to price jobs for other councils in Scotland. This will enable us to create more jobs as we expand. With our Homag CNC, we’re the only council in Scotland who has tested fire doors, and that’s something we’re very proud of,” concludes Nick. For a demonstration or more information on the range of Homag Centateq CNC machines, contact Adele Hunt at Homag UK on 01332 856424. info-uk@homag.com www.homag.com

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Doors, Windows, Stairs. Innovative joinery solutions for efficient production. As part of HOMAG’s large catalogue of innovative technology, we have developed a range of solutions which handle the complete manufacturing process from start to finish for the joinery industry. Designed to shorten production times, increase finish quality and lower production costs, HOMAG’s complete range of solutions are accessible to all sizes of manufacturers, from entry level workshops to industrial production. CENTATEQ P-500 CNC Processing Centre

MOULDTEQ M-300 Planer Moulder

SANDTEQ W-300 Wide-Belt Sander

SPRAYTEQ S-100 Throughfeed Finishing

HOMAG UK Tel. 01332 856500 | Email. info-uk@homag.com | www.homag.com

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YOUR SOLUTION 17/02/2020 10:40:31

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Premium standard plastic, metal and woodworking routers from HPC Laser HPC Laser is a leading UK supplier of laser engraving and cutting machines and CNC routers. Established in 2006. the Elland, West Yorkshire-based company has supplied over 5000 machines to signmaking, education, trophy engravers and a wide range of other industrial businesses and private customers for an almost-infinite array of applications.

All machines are supplied complete with on-site delivery, installation and training, and covered by a minimum 12-month onsite warranty. With a team of nationwide installation and service engineers and lifetime telephone and email technical support, help is never far away when it is needed. “Smaller desktop routers are available from other suppliers, but these are generally intended for relatively light use in education,” explains HPC Laser director, Steve Cockerham, “Consequently, HPC’s router range starts with a more industrial LS6090 machine with a 600 x 900mm bed size. “Even with a machine of this modest size, the compact arrangement is able to accommodate a 3.5kW air-cooled spindle motor which is frequency inverter-driven, providing ramped acceleration and deceleration, elimination of high in-rush currents and seamless choice of operating speeds up to 18,000rpm. “Even HPC’s entry-level industrial machines such as the LS6090 are available with a wide range of upgrades including water-cooled spindle motors with operating speeds up to 24,000rpm, vacuum bed and automatic toolchange options. “CNC router technology has advanced significantly over the past few years, with the most significant developments being in travel speeds and positional accuracy, automated toolchange options and enhanced features for

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HPC Laser director, Steve Cockerham

automated operation and software integration,” says Steve. HPC believes that one of the most practical machine developments in recent years has been the technological improvements made in spindle motor and frequency inverter technology. Prior to this technology being introduced, more traditional machines used fixed-speed, mains-fed spindle motors with speed changes being offered through a variety of methods – including belts and pulleys and mechanical speed variators. “Because mains-supplied AC electric motors are supplied via a fixed frequency 50Hz supply,

they are unable to vary their operating speed – an interesting point, the no-load motor speed (RPM) is equal to 60 times the supply frequency (Hz) divided by half of the number of motor poles,” points out Steve. “Hence a two-pole motor on 50Hz would run at 3000rpm, a four-pole motor at 1500rpm, and so on …” “Frequency inverters work by rectifying the AC electrical supply to DC and then switching this DC supply at incredible speeds to output a synthetic three-phase sinusoidal supply, a process known as pulse width modulation. “The key ability of this system is to vary the output supply frequency. This means that a two-pole motor that would usually run at 3000rpm on a 50Hz supply can now operate at 24,000rpm when driven by the frequency inverter’s synthetic supply at 400Hz. “A major benefit to this technology is that the motor-frequency inverter combination offers infinitely variable speed options between 0-24,000rpm – the maximum speed usually limited only by the mechanical constraints of the motor – hence the reason why an air-cooled motor cannot operate at the higher speeds of a water-cooled motor. Usually the ventilation fan limits the maximum speed of the air-cooled motor. “Other benefits include the ability of the frequency inverter to take a single-phase supply and output a synthetic three-phase supply, enabling use of much more simple and robust three-phase motor options on single-phase electrical supplies. “Because frequency inverters operate on a variable-voltage-variable-frequency basis, they are also able to much better control the starting of the spindle motor from standstill with a ramped acceleration function which reduces wear on mechanical components and significantly reduces the motor in-rush current, which on a mains-fed motor at 50Hz could be 10 times higher than the normal full load current of the motor. The starting current limitations offered by frequency inverters allow motors to be used on much weaker electrical supplies than was previously possible. “Considering these and other benefits of a motor and inverter combination, it should come as little surprise that the same motor-inverter systems have taken over from fixed-speed drives and now dominate industrial drive applications in every possible industry, from oil and gas to building ventilation and underground mining.

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“CNC router technology, especially considering the recent advances in specification, have left modern machines wanting for few, if any additional features. Indeed, it almost feels like we have reached the pinnacle of innovation in CNC router development”

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“Another Interesting point,” says Steve, “is that fitting fixed-speed motors with frequency inverters on applications involving pumps and fans, thereby offering closed-loop variable speed operation, can offer energy savings in excess of 80%. “Other significant CNC router developments in recent years have included the migration to heavier-duty fabricated steel and cast iron beds, improving dimensional accuracy, reducing vibration and ultimately contributing to improved repeatability and in most cases a vastly superior cutting finish.” Such recent developments in machine features together with modular designs – and the lean and flexible manufacturing systems of today – mean that customers can now purchase a cost-effective tailor made machine, configured to suit exact needs and expectations faster than ever before. “CNC router technology, especially considering the recent advances in specification, have left modern machines wanting for few, if any additional features,” says Steve. “Indeed, it almost feels like we have reached the pinnacle of innovation in CNC router development. “When considering one can now buy a CNC router with an almost infinite spindle speed range and a plethora of standard features and optional extras such as vacuum bed, toolchange devices, fourth axis and multiple spindle arrangements for such attractive prices, it is difficult to imagine what new developments might be next. “However, as with many products and industries, continual innovation, research and technological development will bring about new machine features that will make us wonder how we ever managed without them!” 01422 310800 www.hpclaser.co.uk

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New additions at Masterwood New additions to the Masterwood range of CNCs bring back two famous names from the past, the successful Winner and Speedy series.

These new developments come in the form of fixed-specification CNC machines available as flatbed nesting machines, pod and rail bed machines and drilling machines. The flatbed and pod machines will be available in three, four and five-axis versions. The benefit of these fixed-specification CNCs is the ability to have them in continuous production at the Masterwood factory in Rimini, which allows faster production and quicker delivery times from order, in as little as 30 days, which ultimately keeps the final prices down. Masterwood will continue to offer fully made-to-order machines to suit customers’ requirements, as well as continuing to develop new solutions in the form of one-off specials and fully-automated systems. Through the Masterwood and KDT partnership, there are now beam saws and panel saws available under the Masterwood name. This follows the introduction of

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edgebanders and drilling machines that were introduced in 2019. All the machines are supplied with the tried and tested MasterWorks CAD/ CAM software from Masterwood’s own software company, an easy to use, but powerful package for most CNC work. To take designing and programming of the CNC machines to a new level, Masterwood offers Master 3D, a powerful package for three, four, and five-axis work covering products such as carvings, decorative panels, lettering and complete products. To add to this there are dedicated individual packages to cover staircases, windows, door sets (timber frame and solid core), traditional box windows, cabinets, furniture, and louvres – and are all fully compatible with the Masterwood CNC machines, new and old.

Any of these packages can be added to a customer’s machine at any time, giving them the ability to change its manufactured products or production methods if required. All the Masterwood software packages come with full on-site installation and training to meet the customer’s manufacturing needs. Masterwood offers not just a machine, but a complete package to ensure its customers get the best results possible. 01293 402700 www.masterwood.com

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Untitled

Made In Italy

Think CNC, Think Masterwood Pod And Rail Bespoke Joinery And Panel Work

Cnc Drillling Drilling And Routering For Panel Work Production Lines Dedicated CNC with Automated Loading And Unloading

Software For Doors, Windows, Stairs, Cabinets, Furniture, And More

Flat Beds For Nesting And Panel Work

Muti Mortisers Oscilating Chisel Mortisers

Masterwood GB Ltd Units 18-23, Hollybush Business Centre, Shipley Bridge Lane, Horley, Surrey RH6 9TL Tel: +44(0) 1293 402700 Email: office@masterwoodgb.co.uk www.masterwood.com

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18 CNC MACHINERY, EQUIPMENT & SOFTWARE

Ferwood: unleashing potential

Biesse Rover B FT 1536

Infinitus Bespoke Interiors specialises in high-end bespoke interiors, architecture and contemporary furniture for luxury houses, superyachts and prestigious commercial projects. Offering a full in-house design, manufacturing and fitting service, each project varies considerably. With high expectations from its discerning customers, the Lancashire-based business knows the importance of investing in good-quality machinery that not only offers superior quality and reliability, but also the scope and ﬂexibility needed to fulfil the most challenging of projects. This, along with an increasing project portfolio, has led the family-run business, co-owned by Joshua, Andrew and Luke Fishwick, to invest in its first five-axis CNC from reconditioned machinery specialist, Ferwood.

“Investing in a five-axis CNC was the best thing we’ve ever done,” begins Luke Fishwick, co-director at Infinitus Bespoke Interiors. “We knew what a five-axis CNC was capable of, but we underestimated the impact it would have on our business.” The craftsmen at Infinitus had been using a standard 8 x 4ft, three-axis CNC machine for flat surface work but, with increasingly challenging designs needing to be fulfilled and an ageing drilling unit, it was struggling to keep up with demand. “We use a lot of MDF and birch ply but we also use premium materials like Trycoya, SikaBlock, solid timber and honeycomb aluminium that we can’t afford to damage if a machine malfunctions. It also

BSolid software package

Pinapple tool in five-axis head of Rover B

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didn’t have end-boring capabilities and, with poor suction on the bed, we were unable to work with large sheets, resulting in us having to manually pin small panels to the depth of the bed. “We needed a CNC that could work easily with bigger sheets and optimise each cut in order for us to reduce material waste and increase yield. We also needed a machine with a boring unit so it could load 10 drill bits without taking up additional tool changer space. Up-to-date software and a faster running time were also desirable

but we didn’t know if these features would be financially viable.” After researching a number of different machinery brands, Luke found the Biesse Rover B FT 1536 on Ferwood’s website and, after viewing the machine at Ferwood’s UK showroom, he knew it fit his requirements perfectly. “We originally went to see two machines that had the specification we were after, but we knew this was the machine for us. The Biesse Rover was only two years old with 50 hours on the clock and, because it fell under the Ferwood Functional brand, the machine was function-tested by a specialist prior to being sold. Not only were we getting a fantastic piece

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Head with grooving saw

of nearly-new machinery for -50% less than what we would have paid for it if it was new, it was also delivered, installed and calibrated by Ferwood’s engineers within two weeks. Ferwood even updated the BSolid software package for us so it included the very latest nesting software. We couldn’t have asked for more.” Once the machine was installed, the company started to see a return on its investment almost immediately. “In under eight months, it had paid for itself twice over,” admits Luke. “We get at Toolchanger position 1

Toolchanger position 2

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“We save time using the CNC, even when we’re running the machine at lower speeds. That’s why we now use it for everything we make. Processing fielded panels on our old CNC was a slow process and could take up to 90 minutes per panel. I’ve just run 27 off and made all of them in a space of a morning” least four enquires a week relating to five-axis machining work which, in turn, has changed our approach to design and manufacturing considerably. “Not only has this machine’s five-axis capabilities opened new doors for us, it’s allowed us to optimise and de-skill our old processes. Now, an order that requires 60 doors to be designed with intricate detailing, locks, hinge slots and end-boring can be completed in one hit without the need for routers, jigs or excessive handling.” It also speeds up the company’s manufacturing processes. Luke says: “We save time using the CNC, even when we’re running the machine at lower speeds. That’s why we now use it for everything we make. Processing fielded panels on our old CNC was a slow process and could take up to 90 minutes per panel. I’ve just run 27 off and made all of them in a space of a morning. “It’s also helped us save time on simple things like cleaning a corner out on a panel. Instead of physically setting to work with a chisel, we now

have a 60° corner cutter that cleans each corner perfectly. It’s so much quicker, painstakingly accurate and, because of the machine’s cyclone tool and impressive extractor, it’s considerably cleaner to use too. It’s such a game-changer for us and, if the cutting times on the machine’s simulator are anything to go by, things are only going to be better.” Luke adds: “I cannot rate the machine or the service from Ferwood more highly. Ferwood’s knowledge and experience of working with this calibre of machinery is second to none. Ferwood gave us a lot of advice about the different machines and models available to us and because of that, we were able to make the best decision for our business. Knowing that machines of this quality and condition are available through Ferwood has opened our eyes to the fantastic opportunities used machinery can bring to our business. I couldn’t recommend them enough.” 0113 286 6689 sales.uk@ferwoodgroup.com www.ferwoodgroup.com

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Tool focus: what you need to know about heat shrink technology, and why you need it … Leitz Tooling aims to increase efficiency and productivity in every workshop across the UK. Its focus for this issue is its heat shrink technology – ThermoGrip shrink fit. Leitz Tooling guarantees its ThermoGrip heat shrink chucks for life (or 10,000 shrink fit tool replacements) as well as providing ongoing free shrink fitting of Leitz replacement tools and free balancing every time a ThermoGrip heat shrink tool is resharpened. The problem Poor cut quality? Excessive noise? Tools not lasting long? Running CNC machines slower than one should? These problems are not limited to poor tool holding, but a good place to start would be to look at the tool holding systems. “When you are trying to run an efficient business, you’ve got no room for error, wasted product, wasted downtime or setting time,” says Brian Maddox, national sales manager for Leitz Tooling. “CNC spindle RPMs and processing speeds are fast, and running machines at the optimal RPM for your processes is essential.” The solution Leitz ThermoGrip heat-shrink chucks offer the simplest and most rigid link between the machine spindle and cutting tool. ThermoGrip chucks are one-piece tool holders, without moving or mechanical parts to wear or maintain. Tools are changed by Leitz quickly and easily using electromagnetic induction heat to essentially create a single-piece machining unit.

The price How much does it cost? “We work with individuals and SMEs right though to international manufacturers, and that is invariably the first question we hear,” continues Brian. “It always turns out that what businesses actually want to know is ‘how much are these problems costing me now?’ This is a tough question for any manufacturer to ask of its own business, because the answer is not going to be pretty. “The nature of ThermoGrip heat shrink technology means that yes, of course it will cost more than a standard collet. But you are also getting a conservative +25% increase in tool life, combined with an equally conservative +10% increase in machine productivity. We have evidence of real-world customer application tool life increases of +50-100%, and productivity improvements of +20-25%, which can easily double annual savings, if not more.”

Brian continues: “At Leitz, we don’t just sell and service tools. The operator and production management experience we have in-house is exceptional, and we share this expertise with every one of our customers across the UK to find the right tooling solutions for their applications.” Right now, there is a special offer on all Leitz High Precision ThermoGrip Shrink fits (without chip) based on HSKF63 at £95 each net – for any quantity. 01279 454530 salesuk@leitz.org www.leitz-tooling.co.uk

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The Worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Biggest Brands Reconditioned to the Highest Standards

Find out how some of the largest companies in the UK and Ireland have already realised the quality and value, without compromise, of machines supplied by Ferwood.

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Impressive CNC solutions from AES are ideal for a wide range of applications Established in 1989, the AES Group is a successful international supplier of one of the most comprehensive ranges of heavy-duty, high-quality industrial CNC machines available today – at prices which represnt impressive value for money. The strengths of the AES CNC machines can be quite clearly seen in the heavy-duty construction of the frames, which endow its machines with high positioning and processing speeds to allow maximum productivity. These machines generally weigh more than most to readily absorb positioning speeds which start at 70m/min – and they are built to ensure long-term reliability and accuracy. “If you were to strip down an AES machine, you would see that only the frame and assembly takes place in their manufacturing plant of over 170,000ft2 in Bursa, Turkey,” explains J & C O’Meara MD, Carl O’Meara, “and all the working parts are from the leading sources including Becker vacuum pumps, HSD router and drill heads, Yasakawa inverter drives, THK linear guides, Schmaltz vacuum pod and consoles, Osai controllers and so forth.”

Vega 5X

Super Nova

Quality process Every one of the 300 machines produced every year goes through a number of stringent and rigorous quality checks and procedures to ensure every machine meets or exceeds customer expectation. “Every AES machine comes complete with industry leading Alphacam CAD/CAM software, starting with Essential 2D which can be upgraded to further packages depending upon customer requirements and, of course, allowing every customer the possibility to ‘grow’ with the machine,” explains Carl. Door production With a choice of three- and five-axis machines, AES has several solutions depending on customer requirements. One of the most popular choices is the AES Vega Evo which has a 9Kw router head and double-sided 5.5Kw dedicated horizontal router head to machine pockets for locks and recesses for hinges. The easy-to-use AES door macro allows one-off programming in minutes, which include final sizing of the door blank, machining of locks, hinges, keyway, handle hole, rebates and eurogrooves. Spy holes and cut-outs for letterbox and vision panels can also be added with ease. Panel processing From the entry-level Flexa/Flexa Pro to the standalone Super Nova and the heavy-duty Extreme and Raptor Ultra machines – which can be supplied as automated line machines – AES has possibly one of the largest series of flatbed/nesting machines available. As manufacturers’ requirements – and indeed budgets – are different, AES has a range of machines to suit most industrial requirements, with each series of machine having the choice of several bed sizes depending on the maximum sheet size to be cut.

Raptor Ultra

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Drilling The AES Sirius is a throughfeed drilling machine, again offering the traditional heavy-duty rugged structure and using all quality, branded components. This machine has the option of a router and also the option of a six-position toolchanger, giving it large machine capabilities in a smaller space. The Vega is the stand-alone solution for modular furniture or processing door blanks and is available with a dedicated horizontal router head and C-axis. Five-axis The five-axis machines are becoming more and more the norm. The AES Vega five-axis machine has a gantry construction to ensure ultimate stability when machining all round, and is complete with a liquid-cooled 11Kw HSD infinity head which can offer 360° endless machining to give a seamless finish. This machine is also complete with the powerful Alphacam Ultimate CAD/CAM software. Training One of the country’s leading woodworking machinery dealers, J & C O’Meara is well placed to offer advice on software solutions to allow CNC machines to be integrated into any existing working environment, whether a customer is new to CNC or a third-party CAD/CAM package is already being used. J & C O’Meara’s experienced team is also available to offer practical advice on machining styles, strategies and automation. “Our training is not only about showing the function of the software but taking a customer from design through to production, and includes pre-delivery training, training on-site, along with ongoing training,” concludes Carl. 01704 893 109 www.ukwoodworkingmachinery.co.uk

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t +44 1869 244943 f +44 1869 253498 e sales@rwmachines.co.uk

www.rwmachines.co.uk

Providing the service you deserve: yes, yes, yes… and yes! ANDERSON GS710 LINEAR DRIVE Anderson’s most advanced CNC nesting router, driven by linear motors, routing at 50m/min.

BUSELLATO JET MASTER The latest Pod&Rail CNC from one of Italy’s most renowned manufacturers! 3-4-5 axis models.

FIORENZA A unique Italian supplier, providing solutions for the manufacturer of 5-piece doors with dedicated standalone machines through to high volume automated lines.

STEMA The company that always says YES! Offering endless options of bespoke CNC equipment for the panel/furniture industry.

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24 CNC MACHINERY, EQUIPMENT & SOFTWARE

Fercell and CNC World – demonstrating team work As part of a continued expansion driven by strong sales, CNC machinery specialist CNC World needed to develop its demonstration area. As a specialist in all things CNC, CNC World provides CNC routers, plasmas, water-jet cutters and lasers. As the enlarged demonstration fleet required effective extraction and material control, CNC World approached Fercell to define a ventilation solution to suit the needs of the new demonstration area. Fercell’s brief was to provide comprehensive ventilation systems – dust and fume – for the router, plasma and laser cutters and ensuring optimum extraction, when demonstrating the CNC equipment, with various materials. CNC router ventilation Acting as a standalone product, a CNC cutter will create a lot of fine dust, which may not be immediately visible. However, to comply with safety standards, this must be controlled and removed. Dust inhalation is a serious issue and if not properly addressed can cause irreversible damage to the health of operators, and in the case of CNC World, visitors. By installing the correct ventilation system, it is possible to take control of hazardous materials and issues that could develop from working in an environment with concentrations of dust and fumes. For the dust side, one of Fercell’s UF dust extraction unit was a suitable solution – its large collection capacity and generous filter make it an adaptable and economical solution. Suitable for commercial applications, its increased filtration capacity for high concentrations of dust suited the brief. Any waste material is discharged directly into dust collection sacks, which can be easily released and locked back into place ensuring minimum downtime. For CNC World, the ventilation system is not only a safety requirement to utilise the CNC machinery, but also demonstrates a complete solution.

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CNC laser ventilation For the laser-cutting processes, a correctly sized and balanced, centralised ducting system, with powerful high-pressure fan set was specified as the best solution for the control of the broad range of materials processed, while demonstrating the equipment. Furthermore, this has led to a partnership between CNC World and Fercell to offer the ventilation equipment as a package option, delivering the customer the complete concept from one place. Darren Ray, Fercell’s ventilation sales director, says: “It’s a great opportunity for both CNC World and us to cross-promote our product offering, with our solutions complementing each other and providing the end customer with a core solution.” Along with the work on CNC World’s demonstration area, Fercell has already successfully installed one of its F-Series ventilation system for a CNC World customer. The F-Series is a popular choice for operations which need to extract dust and vapour at the source as the compact design of the series is ideal for smaller operations. Creating value from your waste Although the conversation was concentrated around the ventilation for the CNC demonstration area, it soon became clear to CNC World that it could provide its clients and would-be customers with an even better product offering. Fercell operates two divisions, one specialising in ventilation systems, and the other recycling solutions. The two often go hand in hand, as is the case with CNC World, where Fercell was able to offer a complete suite of products to achieve circular manufacturing, including waste wood shredding, briquette press and biomass heater. Key components for the solution consisted of a Weima Ultra 60 Shredder, Weima C140 briquette press and CS-200 woodburning space heater. Use of CNC machinery will often result in wood

waste from offcuts. Over time this can add up and cause excess wood waste. Disposal of wood can become costly, whilst there is an initial investment cost to briquette production it delivers a number of long-term benefits. Any scrap wood can be broken down, freeing up valuable space and saving money on previous disposal costs of waste wood. Users have the option to use the briquettes to reduce heating costs or they can be sold on to create extra revenue. It is a process Fercell’s service did not stop following delivery of equipment to CNC World – its complete service package included supply, installation, training and servicing. Following the installation of the recycling and ventilation equipment, Fercell’s service engineer carried out operator training for the staff, which is a crucial element to ensure maximum output, effectiveness, machine capabilities and safety guidelines. Of course, the job does not stop once a project is complete – Fercell also offers servicing, allowing customers to prolong the life of the machinery, and its team of trained LEV engineers can carry out CoSHH assessments. As is the norm these days with any ventilation equipment, it requires a LEV test to be carried out every 12-14 months. This ensures no fumes or vapours are escaping and that companies comply with legal standards. Fercell has been successfully delivering complete industrial recycling and size reduction systems and industrial ventilation equipment for over 47 years. No one customer is the same, and Fercell can design a solution to meet a customer’s exact requirements. www.fercell.com www.multicam-uk.com

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Perfect cut in upscale craftmanship with serial production

Pure power with technology for top performance Beam Saws from HOLZ-HER combine precision technology with intelligent handling solutions for effective and precision panel cutting. These beam saws are distinguished by their powerful performance packages. Michael Weinig (UK) Ltd | 5 Blacklands Way, Abingdon, OXON, OX14 1DY | www.holzher.co.uk

PROFESSIONAL CNC TOOLING T: 01580 890500 E: sales@wealdentool.com

NEXT DAY FROM STOCK

A long-established company with an increasing presence in the CNC tooling market, Wealden Tool Company has at least 95% of its range in stock at any time, meaning that orders can be dispatched the same day, offering customers a rapid source of supply. The wide range features traditional solid spiral cutters including larger sizes and many innovative cutters hard to find elsewhere. Some cutters feature replaceable tips, offering the benefits of constant geometry and easy maintenance. All cutters plus toolholders, collet nuts and collets available online or call Wealden for technical advice or to discuss a particular requirement.

www.wealdentool.com 2 Clinton Business Centre, Lodge Road, Staplehurst, Kent, TN12 0QF

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PROFESSIONAL CNC TOOLING

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Design-led decors and superb services at Lawcris’ Creative CNC February saw the release of a brand-new collection of melamine and laminate décors from Egger. This much-anticipated range features an abundance of new decorative surface options, including on-trend material replicas and style-led uni-colours. Woodgrains are more realistic than ever before, thanks to Egger’s digital décor printing, whereby real timber is scanned to create the décor image, increasing the appearance of texture and depth. These décors are exclusive to Egger and all available at Lawcris. The company has made a name for itself for its speedy delivery and huge stockholding, but it is its impressive Creative CNC that really sets it apart. A reliable and rapid laminate bonding service means even more choice for furniture manufacturers and designers, while the Creative CNC offers the final piece of the puzzle, with an array of services that include cutting, routing, machining, drilling, edging and more. State-of-the-art machinery and highlytrained staff mean Lawcris’ Creative CNC is on hand for clients that wish to streamline their own manufacturing processes, or perhaps require a buffer when their own capacity has been reached. The company encourages its customers to think of the CNC facilities as an extension of their manufacturing capabilities, while Creative CNC stress that it is not an end manufacturer but merely augments its customers’ own efficiency. In recent years, Creative CNC has

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increased its production capacity twofold to meet ever-growing demand. Always striving to ensure it remains cutting-edge, the company has made huge investments into machinery, now boasting two Homag Holzma Sawteq B-500 beam saws, a BHX500 Drillteq V-500 Multiborer with hedgehog feeder and a Homag Edgeteq S-5000 single-sided edgebander with a PUR glue system, plus much more. The beam saws use office-based Magi-Cut software to provide the maximum yield cutting facilities, with the edgebanding machines ensuring superior edge appearances. Creative CNC also offers a useful edge-slitting service. Lawcris stocks edgings to match every décor in the new Egger range, as well as Accent edgings. Buyers can purchase edging from its huge offering of options and have it cut to a bespoke width, to be applied in-house, or shipped to them on the roll. Visit the Lawcris website to view all of the brand-new Egger décors and find out more about Creative CNC’s services. To showcase its services to existing and prospective customers, Creative CNC has released a new brochure detailing the full array of services on offer. For those experiencing high work volumes, or who simply would like an extra helping hand with manufacturing, Creative CNC can ease the load. 0113 217 7177 cnc@lawcris.co.uk www.lawcris.co.uk

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Cutting | Drilling | Edgebanding | CNC machining | Edge slitting Get in touch to find out more. W: www.lawcris.co.uk E: cnc@lawcris.co.uk P: 0113 217 7177

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Door production boost at Heron Fit Out The Heron Group was founded in 1956 in Draperstown, Northern Ireland and now has offices in both Glasgow and London. It works on a national basis throughout the UK and Ireland, specialising in high-quality joinery products for new-build housing, refurbishment and the corporate sector. A subsidiary company within the group is Heron Fit Out, an award-winning construction and property development company working in a wide variety of sectors including healthcare, education, leisure and stadia along with community and regeneration schemes. Heron Fit Out provides a range of different products including bespoke fitted furniture, windows, skirting and architraving. One area that has seen significant rapid growth in recent years is doors and door kits. As a result, commercial manager Michael Kearney and factory manager Terry Porter were tasked with the job of increasing production of internal doors at the 50,000ft2 manufacturing facility in Cookstown. Having already used standard flat-bed CNC machines for processing the door blanks, the duo quickly realised this was not going to be the answer for the production output they required. Although they are flexible, and can be used for a number of different machining applications, they are not necessarily the best solution for volume door production. Michael takes up the story: “We knew that we needed something that would carry out all the required machining operations on the door, and came to a conclusion that with the amount of doors we are outputting per week, we needed to move away from conventional standard door routers which were taking up to 10-12 minutes to carry out all the required operations. “We contacted several different machine manufacturers to see what solutions they could offer, including Paul Parker from JJ Smith who was recommended to us by some mutual clients we had both previously worked with.” So a meeting was set up with Michael, Terry and Paul to discuss possible solutions. After carefully analysing all of Heron’s production requirements, a machine from specialist Italian manufacturer Essepigi was suggested. A visit was organised to the impressive Essepigi factory near Pesaro where Michael and Terry were shown a range of different types of machines for door production from through feed lines to fully automated systems for frames – all QR Controlled. Following further discussions, a detailed quotation was put together for an Essepigi CNC Doormatic Evolution throughfeed machine capable of carrying one-size short-batch or high-volume production in quick succession, with little or no set-up time between different size doors. Thanks to the double-sided operation for machining the lock slots, handle holes and key slots on one side, while simultaneously machining the hinge recesses on the other, the approximate machining time for a door is just one minute.

Additionally the machine was offered with a dedicated vertical router head with eight-position rotary tool-changer giving the machine additional machining capabilities including actual sizing of the blank,cutting apertures for vision panels, letter box opening or drilling for a spy hole, etc. Carrying out a full machining operation, including sizing the blank, machining for the drop seal and drilling for spy hole, takes just four minutes. For the actual handling of the door, the machine was specified with automatic loading and unloading conveyors. In terms of programming, this is simple and quick thanks to the resident Door Pro software featuring macro templates, while automatic thickness and width sensors measure each door blank that enters the machine which then automatically sets itself to suit. Lastly, a QR code reading system for batch production was also included. A couple of weeks after the visit to Italy, Heron confirmed the order for the machine as per the specification that had been suggested. Following final customer inspection testing at the Essepigi factory, the machine was delivered on schedule and jointly installed by JJ Smith and Essepigi technicians. Michael comments: “The new door line has how been installed several months and it is performing exactly as we had hoped and has already given us a significant boost in production output. From the outset both JJ Smith and Essepigi were professional with their recommendations, plain speaking and offered exactly what we needed. I look forward to working with them again on future projects.” An Essepigi CNC Doormatic machine will be on demonstration at JJ Smith’s forthcoming Door Processing Machinery Show (24-26th March) at the company’s Liverpool showroom. Other machines on show will include frame processing equipment, automatic cross-cut saws and doorwrapping machines. Register at www.jjsevent.eventbrite.co.uk. For more information, contact JJ Smith on 0151 548 9000 or sales@jjsmith.co.uk, or visit www.jjsmith.co.uk.

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Efficient Production

with HOLZ-HER’s intelligent Nesting CNC Machining Centre

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Lohmeyer technology from Ney

Lohmeyer machines have been sold successfully in mainland Europe for a number of years. Peter Lohmeyer began working with China several years ago. Having spent most of his career within the Homag Group, his engineering team has developed its products to a high standard. “Focusing on CNC routers, machining centres, beam saws and high-specification edgebanders, the brand has now come of age,” explains Ney’s Mike Dunning. “The machines are manufactured in one of the largest and most technically advanced factories in the world.” The standard components are sourced from some of the world’s leading suppliers, with every aspect of design and development overseen by the German specialists. What does this mean for the end user? Quality, durability, high engineering standards and the assurance that spare parts are held either in the UK or Germany for immediate dispatch.

“Focusing on CNC routers, machining centres, beam saws and high-specification edgebanders, the brand has now come of age”

CNC Lohmeyer’s BAZ range has six models available in three bed sizes – 8 x 4ft, 10 x 5ft, and Jumbo sheet if required. “Lohmeyer is a great fit for Ney because the entry-level machines offer high-quality German engineering to the smaller workshop,” says Mike. “They’ve been designed for quick installation and fuss-free operation. We stock standard parts and have next-day delivery available, so servicing and aftercare is as straightforward as the machines themselves.” Beam saws Lohmeyer offers two ranges of beam saw. The entry level machine BAZ 525 IQ has a cut height of 80mm with a cutting length of 3300, 3800 or 4400mm, whilst the NP series offers a cut height of 120mm and is designed and built for high production levels. Edgebanders The range of edgebanders from Lohmeyer all feature high feed speeds and a range of working units designed to meet the demands of flexibility and high production volumes. Whisper cut pre-milling blocks have a capacity of up to 60mm. All machines have two end-trim saws which permit feed speeds of up to 26m/minute whilst minimising the space between panels. For further information, contact Mike Dunning at Ney. 0247 630 8100 www.ney.co.uk

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28/02/2020 14:12 Full page.in

EDGING PERFECTION From the specialists for 38 years

ULTIMATE COLOUR-MATCH SYNERGY

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32 CNC MACHINERY, EQUIPMENT & SOFTWARE

RW Woodmachines: the service you deserve The RW Group will shortly be celebrating its 40th birthday, and during this it time has secured possibly the most advanced range of CNC equipment available, selecting each and every manufacturer for being a specialist within a given field. Here the company gives its views of its impressive CNC line-up … Anderson Anderson’s reputation for strong build quality has never been questioned. They have recently produced the GS Linear, which is considered by many to be the most productive CNC nesting router available on today’s market with routing speeds up to 50m/min and drilling speeds of up to 90m/min. This is thanks to the unique design and the use of linear drive motors. The GS Linear is not only the fastest CNC but thanks to the linear drive floating on air cushions it is also economic in terms of maintenance – a truly outstanding machine. Stema Stema supplies to the world’s most prestigious furniture and kitchens manufacturers, providing bespoke solutions. Its offering goes from standalone drilling/dowelling/insertion machines to one-off automated solutions made to order. It has recently expanded with launching storage/buffering modules between production lines, allowing the panels to be stored and handled in sequence for the next production phase or cabinet building – no more stacks of panels on the factory floor.

Fiorenza – a unique Italian supplier, providing solutions for the manufacturer of five-piece doors with dedicated standalone machines through to high volume automated lines

Anderson Gs710 Linear Drive – Anderson’s most advanced CNC nesting router, driven by linear motors, routing at 50m/min

Busellato Busellato’s CNC equipment has for many years had an impressive reputation for both quality and performance. RW Group is pleased to announce the launch of the latest Jet Master, not one machine but a complete range of equipment. Busellato Jet Master – the latest pod and rail CNC from one of Italy’s most renowned manufacturers, with three, four and five-axis models

From an entry-level three-axis machine, to a sophisticated five-axis with a working area of up to 5m, this is another impressive new range from Busellato. Fiorenza Fiorenza is possibly one of the best-kept secrets in the panel industry. It has provided specialised equipment for fivepiece doors, supplying Italy’s top

kitchen manufacturers, along with its export business with the US’ largest manufacturers and Russian and Eastern European kitchen producers. Fiorenza currently has ongoing business with the UK’s top kitchen manufacturers for both standalone machines for just-in-time production along with high-volume automated lines. “If five-piece doors is your business, then Fiorenza should be your supplier,” states RW. 01869 244943 www.rw-machines.co.uk

Stema – the company that always says ‘yes’, offering endless options of bespoke CNC equipment for the panel and furniture industry

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An instant connection Deanhouse Interiors is a shopfitting and joinery contractor that specialise in commercial projects for the hospitality, retail and commercial interiors industry. In recent months, the West Yorkshire-based company has chosen to use Lamello’s P-System for one of its biggest project to date – the fit-out of the Brooklyn Hotel, a brand-new luxury hotel in the heart of Manchester.

Morbidelli Author m400 F

“This was the first project we’d used Lamello’s connectors on,” begins Peter Hillman, production manager at Deanhouse Interiors. “As well as doing the ground floor fit-out, we also had to supply and install all the fixtures and fittings in the hotel’s bedrooms, including 189 wardrobes.” Peter and his team had to create highspecification fitted furniture that not only offered pleasing aesthetics but could also deliver on the strength and durability needed to sustain commercial use. Removable components needed to be integrated into the designs in order to retro-fit damaged parts in the future and, when faced with a 4 x 5ft trade lift or nine flights of stairs, easy transport and simple, onsite assembly was key.

Software example

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“Biscuits were simply not going to cut it,” admits Peter, when asked how he tackled the manufacturing and installation of the four-star hotel’s wardrobes. “Due to the bespoke nature of this project, the timescale we were working to and limited access in and around the hotel, we needed to find an alternative that could work efficiently with our five-axis CNC machine.” When it came to building the first sample room, Peter sourced some cheap connectors to see if they might offer a simple, automated solution. “We needed them to pull wardrobe panels together so we could do-away with glues, clamps and screws, but it was clear they were not up to the job. They didn’t offer us any tolerance whatsoever. You only needed to be

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0.2mm out on a groove cut and they wouldn’t click together or if they did, there was an ugly gap between each panel. Their thickness also posed a problem – we were working with 18mm MDF boards and the connectors were measuring 14mm thick and required a deep cutting depth. This caused a weakness in the board and reduced the strength of the panel.” Lamello’s demonstration of its three and fiveaxis P-System range at Deanhouse’s factory in Honley could not have come at a better time. “The difference in quality and strength was visible from the start and we knew that, not only could it shorten our current machining process and speed up production, it could work directly with our CAD/CAM software. It also offered us considerably more flexibility when it came to transporting and assembling volume items and because of the design of the connectors, they required a minimal cutting depth, offered a lateral tolerance, high clamping force and gave us a seamless join every time.” The company needed to invest in two new tools before production could begin on its Morbidelli CNC. “We bought a disc cutter and a router cutter to profile grooves and reduce milling time. We also needed a 6mm CNC drill bit to perform vertical and horizontal cuts but that’s standard on a five-axis CNC. “At the same time, we upgraded our existing software package, which allowed us to programme the machine to position drill holes and process profile grooves on the surface and

side of each panel, ready for the insertion of Lamello’s connectors (Clamex P detachable furniture connectors, Divario P self-clamping invisible connector for slide insertion and Tenso P self-clamping gluing aid). Peter says: “All I need is a geometry line from a drawing and I can add the necessary macros into it and input the tool path. From this, you know the CNC’s cutters will work at the correct speed and won’t burn out, guaranteeing a clean, accurate cut every time, even when working with solid woods and Birch plywood. It’s safe to say that you could easily triple your production rates if you’ve been using traditional joining techniques.” Transport and installation was also considerably quicker and more manageable. “We’d normally part-build furniture in our workshop before transporting it to site but space was at a premium. Lamello’s clever technology meant we could flat-pack every wardrobe and build it on-site without losing any strength. You certainly couldn’t do that with a biscuit because once the glue joint is broken, it’s lost its strength. We wouldn’t have had the manpower, time or room to clamp each panel if we were to glue on-site. It’s simplified the whole process, meaning we only needed semi-skilled workers putting each panel in place.” Clamex P connectors were favoured to hold the wardrobe’s carcasses in place because they offered precise on-site assembly, strength and durability. Panels could also be pre-

Examples of Lamello’s P-System

installed with the connector for a speedy build. The Divario P connectors were used to slide and click shelves into place that may need to be removed at a later date, making volume work a cinch. Peter adds: “Thanks to the time-saving benefits of using Lamello’s P-System on our CNC, one job has absorbed the cost of the new simultaneous software. Lamello’s range has changed the way we approach our work and our clients are very happy with the results. It’s also opened new doors for us and, whether we’re working on batch runs or one-off projects, Lamello’s fixings are now a staple tool in our workshop. Partnered with our five-axis CNC, Lamello’s P-System connectors are a force to be reckoned with.” For more information on Lamello’s P-System, visit www.lamello.co.uk

Hotel Brooklyn bedroom

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36 CNC MACHINERY, EQUIPMENT & SOFTWARE

Wealden provides solutions to problems next-day from stock A long-established company with an increasing presence in the CNC tooling market, Kent-based Wealden Tool Company has at least 95% of everything in its range in stock at any time, meaning that orders can be dispatched the same day, offering customers a rapid source of supply. The wide range includes traditional solid spiral cutters, including large sizes and other items such as chipbreaker spirals for stringless cutting on solid timbers. Many feature replaceable tips, offering the benefit of a constant diameter and easy maintenance, the blades being rotated to present new cutting edges. There is also a comprehensive range of solid tungsten carbide bodies with PCD (polycrystalline diamond) tips for increased wear resistance when cutting abrasive materials. New products include the Persistence Pro range of upcut, downcut and compression spirals, featuring a DLC (diamond-like carbon) coating offering two-three times the life of uncoated tungsten carbide, a low co-efficent of friction and smoother cutting on all timber based materials. The company also produces an increasing range of Swop-tip replaceable insert tooling,

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many of which were produced to answer customers’ specific problems, such as the Cove Surfacing cutter – a two-flute TC replaceable tip cutter to produce recesses with a flat bottom and radiused corners, overcoming the need for separate cutters for the radius and clearing out and thus eliminating problems of height alignment. Wealden has designed other innovative cutters such as: the handleless drawer/door cutter to produce finger pull mouldings on MDF and timber doors and drawers; Vari-Angle cutter heads and cutter blocks to take the range of spindle moulder euro knives, offering compatibility between spindle moulding and CNC sections; Arris Round/Chamfer with two TC planer knives to edge plane in addition to rounding/chamfering; and Undercut Chamfer cutter to produce 45° under-cut chamfers featuring replaceable TC knives. Although Wealden does not produce one-off specials, it can produce custom cutters in production quantities and is always happy to go out of its way to help customers with their projects. 01580 890500 www.wealdentool.com

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Another VWM Technos Flex sold The first day back in the New Year brought a nice surprise for sales staff at VWM – a positive phone call within the first hour came from someone who attended the inhouse exhibition in December 2019. VWM’s sales director explains: “The company manufactures refrigerated vehicle backs out of composite materials and aluminium sheet, and after seeing his material machined on one of our demo machines, went away very impressed. Just imagine our surprise when he phoned up and just gave us the order first day back!” The machine ordered was a new VWM Technos FLEX, with table size of 3200 x 1600mm with solid matrix vacuum table and a 250cm/hr vacuum pump, one 9kW spindle, an eight-station rotary automatic toolchanger carried with the gantry for faster tool changes. To comply with health and safety, all machines are supplied with full guarding around three sides and light beams to the working side. All tool changers comes fully loaded with tool holders, two-year warranty, and CAD/CAM software as standard. All this, and delivered within the week. VWM delivers, installs and commissions all

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machines with its own transport. Its ethos is not to rely on a third party, because this is when the customer can get let down – from program training and service work to repairs, VWM has it all in hand, and says it places great

emphasis on looking after its customers – no doubt this is why so many continue to come back, and even become friends, it suggests. 01282 870077 www.vwm.co.uk

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38 CNC MACHINERY, EQUIPMENT & SOFTWARE

AXYZ Inﬁnite sets new standard in CNC routing performance

Important new design features, combined with increased machine configurability and ﬂexibility, have enabled the latest AXYZ Infinite to set a new standard in CNC routing performance. Offering a choice of single, dual and triple routing/cutting heads and different-sized processing areas, this multi-purpose machine will handle a wide range of materials used in the furniture and joinery and industrial woodworking

SO MANY WAYS TO DRILL THE PERFECT

HOLE

sectors and provide users with one of the most compelling price-to-performance solutions currently available. Vectric VCarve Pro software supplied as standard and a host of optional machine enhancements further extend Infinite’s capabilities, enabling new market opportunities to increase business growth and commensurate profitability. 01952 291600 www.axyz.co.uk

A FURNITURE & JOINERY PRODUCTION SUPPLEMENT

Smart Furniture Production Distributed with the May issue of Furniture & Joinery Production

To be a part of this supplement contact Lisa Williams lisa@gearingmediagroup.com / 01424 776102 ADVERTISING DEADLINE 17/04/20

sales@calibretooling.co.uk www.calibretooling.co.uk

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Discover Endless Possibilities Redesigned from the ground up, the AXYZ Infinite is the most configurable CNC Router solution in the market, catering to customers looking for a CNC Router machine capable of handling the most challenging jobs.

axyz.co.uk/infinite Call Us: 01952291600

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VWM TECHNOS CNC MACHINING CENTRES – ALWAYS IN STOCK CALL US FOR SPECIAL DEALS ON OUR EX DEMONSTRATION MACHINES

TECHNOS FLEX •

Various table sizes, including Euro sheets

•

Nesting, automatic loading and unloading

•

Standard 9Kw spindle

•

Automatic tool changers

•

Minimum of 250cm/hr vacuum pumps

•

PC controller with in-built graphics

•

Fully guarded and light beams on the working side, to comply with CE and Health and Safety

•

And many more options available

3 YEAR WARRANTY

(conditions a

pply)

CAD/CAM software included

TECHNOS ECO •

Less expensive (dip your toe in the water machine)

•

Various table sizes, including Euro sheets

•

Nesting, automatic loading and unloading

•

Standard 9Kw spindle

•

Automatic tool changers

•

Minimum of 250cm/hr vacuum pumps

•

Hand-held controller

•

Fully guarded and light beams on the working side

www.vwm.co.uk T 01282 870077 F 01282 870088 E info@vwm.co.uk VWM Ltd, Lodgeholme, Skipton Road, Trawden, Nr. Colne, Lancashire, BB8 8RA

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