CNC

You are not logged in. [ Login ] Why log in
(NOTE: Login is not required to post)

Pod and Rail CNC dead space

3/2/17       
Jason Howard Member

My team and I are currently in the market for a pod and rail CNC. I have quotes from Biesse, Weeke, Holzher, and morbidelli. Our currently machinery consists of a nested based router, 2 linear edgebanders, contour edgebander and a panel saw. Our plan is to cut the parts to finished outside dimension on the panel saw and then move them to the pod and rail system to add the interior cutouts, end bore and line bore. The trouble I am having is that all of these machines now have a 4 foot wide hood on them. This means that on a 12 foot long table the longest I can pendulum process is 49" long parts. This leaves me with a 49" "dead space" in the center of the table. As Im sure everyone knows in a manufacturing facility space is at a premium. I need to be able to pendulum process 70" long parts. This puts me at a 18 foot long table and still does not give me a solution for the "dead space". The other option I am considering is purchasing 2 10 foot table and setting them up so one operator can run both at one time. This will allow me to run 2 different jobs at once, as well as, pendulum process. I need to find a happy medium where Im not paying for "dead space" and I still can produce parts at a high rate. Any thoughts from fellow manufacturers?

3/2/17       #3: Pod and Rail CNC dead space ...
Rich  Member

Website: http://www.hausmann.com

We purchased a Morbidelli Uniflex. It has clamps that move instead of pod and rails and 2 heads (top and bottom). Depending on type of parts you run the clamps have no setup time like a pod and rail machine and will move out of way during cycle if necessary (saves lots of time and never cut up pods). Also you can now run machine with anyone as there is no setup other than calling up program (assuming you program in office).
This allows us to load two panels at the same time and machine top and bottom parts at same time (as long as no thru holes). We are also able to machine single parts (like partitions) with different patterns on each side in same machine cycle.

3/3/17       #4: Pod and Rail CNC dead space ...
Michael Cassell

Website: http://holzher.com

I am the CNC Product Manager at Holz-Her

If I understand your question/concern

Yes the new hoods are large, this is due to new CE safety regulations, but the center area is not " dead space", you can machine under the hood, there is a center section of the safety mat that is always active but the other sections of the mat allow for an operator to be on it while the machine is cutting in the opposite zone.

On a 5' x 12' Holz-Her CNC, you can be standing on the left mat and route up to 75" to the left and 63" on the opposite side
without interupting the cycle

The other alternative is to look at a Evolution Vertical Machining Center but is it a single zone machine but no limit on length and much more economical

3/6/17       #5: Pod and Rail CNC dead space ...
Dan

Jason,

Not sure how the newer machines run, but the older Biesse machines would park the head on the side of the table the part was being run on. Thus when the part in the right zone was complete the head parked in the back right side. When a part finished in the left zone, the head parked in the back left. If while running a part, the head crossed the center line and the operator was on the mat, the machine would stop, until the operator stepped off the mat and pushed the button to continue.

The way the machine was set up, we are able to pendulum process the maximum part for each zone.

What is the setup for the pods on the new machine you are looking at. Is this automated or manual. Either way there is setup time between parts, you should take in consideration. Also, pods will be hit and need replacing at a cost.

We used our Biesse similar to what you are thinking. Cut the parts on a beam saw and then run parts on the Biesse CNC. We have a flat table machine so there was no set up tip between parts. Though, I see you would be horizontal boring with your new machine which is something we do not do.

Since we have changed to a new flat table router and do mostly nesting. If I were to go back to cutting parts on a saw and machining, I would lean toward a vertical cnc or a flat table machine and a dedicated machine to horizontal bore. Horizontal boring is a time consuming process on a CNC and is much more efficient and accurate on a dedicated horizontal boring machine.

3/8/17       #6: Pod and Rail CNC dead space ...
Taylor Jones

Jason:

Hello, my name is Taylor Jones and I am the local distributor for Stiles Machinery (Weeke / Homag / Heian CNC Routers). I would like to talk about the application as it sounds like we may have quoted this already. We have options for pod based machines that do not require fixed zones with safety mats and increase the flexibility of the zone sizing, vertical machining centers, and nesting solutions. Each have benefits and constraints. Please give me a call at 678-677-3668 to discuss or if there may be an opportunity to come by and re-visit the application. If you are in Atlanta I could take you to visit each of these solutions locally at end user facilities.


Post a Response
  • Notify me of responses to this thread
  • Subscribe to email updates on this Forum
  • To receive email notification of additions to this forum thread,
    enter your name and email address, and then click the
    "Keep Me Posted" button below.

    Please Note: If you have posted a message or response,
    do not submit this request ... you are already signed up
    to receive notification!

    Your Name:
    E-Mail Address:
    Enter the correct numbers into the field below:
     

    Date of your Birth:



    Return to top of page

    Buy & Sell Exchanges | Forums | Galleries | Site Map

    FORUM GUIDELINES: Please review the guidelines below before posting at WOODWEB's Interactive Message Boards (return to top)

  • WOODWEB is a professional industrial woodworking site. Hobbyist and homeowner woodworking questions are inappropriate.
  • Messages should be kept reasonably short and on topic, relating to the focus of the forum. Responses should relate to the original question.
  • A valid email return address must be included with each message.
  • Advertising is inappropriate. The only exceptions are the Classified Ads Exchange, Machinery Exchange, Lumber Exchange, and Job Opportunities and Services Exchange. When posting listings in these areas, review the posting instructions carefully.
  • Subject lines may be edited for length and clarity.
  • "Cross posting" is not permitted. Choose the best forum for your question, and post your question at one forum only.
  • Messages requesting private responses will be removed - Forums are designed to provide information and assistance for all of our visitors. Private response requests are appropriate at WOODWEB's Exchanges and Job Opportunities and Services.
  • Messages that accuse businesses or individuals of alleged negative actions or behavior are inappropriate since WOODWEB is unable to verify or substantiate the claims.
  • Posts with the intent of soliciting answers to surveys are not appropriate. Contact WOODWEB for more information on initiating a survey.
  • Excessive forum participation by an individual upsets the balance of a healthy forum atmosphere. Individuals who excessively post responses containing marginal content will be considered repeat forum abusers.
  • Responses that initiate or support inappropriate and off-topic discussion of general politics detract from the professional woodworking focus of WOODWEB, and will be removed.
  • Participants are encouraged to use their real name when posting. Intentionally using another persons name is prohibited, and posts of this nature will be removed at WOODWEB's discretion.
  • Comments, questions, or criticisms regarding Forum policies should be directed to WOODWEB's Systems Administrator
    (return to top).

    Carefully review your message before clicking on the "Send Message" button - you will not be able to revise the message once it has been sent.

    You will be notified of responses to the message(s) you posted via email. Be sure to enter your email address correctly.

    WOODWEB's forums are a highly regarded resource for professional woodworkers. Messages and responses that are crafted in a professional and civil manner strengthen this resource. Messages that do not reflect a professional tone reduce the value of our forums.

    Messages are inappropriate when their content: is deemed libelous in nature or is based on rumor, fails to meet basic standards of decorum, contains blatant advertising or inappropriate emphasis on self promotion (return to top).

    Libel:   Posts which defame an individual or organization, or employ a tone which can be viewed as malicious in nature. Words, pictures, or cartoons which expose a person or organization to public hatred, shame, disgrace, or ridicule, or induce an ill opinion of a person or organization, are libelous.

    Improper Decorum:   Posts which are profane, inciting, disrespectful or uncivil in tone, or maliciously worded. This also includes the venting of unsubstantiated opinions. Such messages do little to illuminate a given topic, and often have the opposite effect. Constructive criticism is acceptable (return to top).

    Advertising:   The purpose of WOODWEB Forums is to provide answers, not an advertising venue. Companies participating in a Forum discussion should provide specific answers to posted questions. WOODWEB suggests that businesses include an appropriately crafted signature in order to identify their company. A well meaning post that seems to be on-topic but contains a product reference may do your business more harm than good in the Forum environment. Forum users may perceive your references to specific products as unsolicited advertising (spam) and consciously avoid your web site or services. A well-crafted signature is an appropriate way to advertise your services that will not offend potential customers. Signatures should be limited to 4-6 lines, and may contain information that identifies the type of business you're in, your URL and email address (return to top).

    Repeated Forum Abuse: Forum participants who repeatedly fail to follow WOODWEB's Forum Guidelines may encounter difficulty when attempting to post messages.

    There are often situations when the original message asks for opinions: "What is the best widget for my type of shop?". To a certain extent, the person posting the message is responsible for including specific questions within the message. An open ended question (like the one above) invites responses that may read as sales pitches. WOODWEB suggests that companies responding to such a question provide detailed and substantive replies rather than responses that read as a one-sided product promotion. It has been WOODWEB's experience that substantive responses are held in higher regard by our readers (return to top).

    The staff of WOODWEB assume no responsibility for the accuracy, content, or outcome of any posting transmitted at WOODWEB's Message Boards. Participants should undertake the use of machinery, materials and methods discussed at WOODWEB's Message Boards after considerate evaluation, and at their own risk. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages it deems inappropriate. (return to top)


  • Forum Posting Help
    Your Name The name you enter in this field will be the name that appears with your post or response (return to form).
    Your Website Personal or business website links must point to the author's website. Inappropriate links will be removed without notice, and at WOODWEB's sole discretion. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages with links it deems inappropriate. (return to form)
    E-Mail Address Your e-mail address will not be publicly viewable. Forum participants will be able to contact you using a contact link (included with your post) that is substituted for your actual address. You must include a valid email address in this field. (return to form)
    Subject Subject may be edited for length and clarity. Subject lines should provide an indication of the content of your post. (return to form)
    Thread Related Link and Image Guidelines Thread Related Links posted at WOODWEB's Forums and Exchanges should point to locations that provide supporting information for the topic being discussed in the current message thread. The purpose of WOODWEB Forums is to provide answers, not to serve as an advertising venue. A Thread Related Link that directs visitors to an area with inappropriate content will be removed. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages with links or images it deems inappropriate. (return to form)
    Thread Related File Uploads Thread Related Files posted at WOODWEB's Forums and Exchanges should provide supporting information for the topic being discussed in the current message thread. Video Files: acceptable video formats are: .MOV .AVI .WMV .MPEG .MPG .MP4 (Image Upload Tips)   If you encounter any difficulty when uploading video files, E-mail WOODWEB for assistance. The purpose of WOODWEB Forums is to provide answers, not to serve as an advertising venue. A Thread Related File that contains inappropriate content will be removed, and uploaded files that are not directly related to the message thread will be removed. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages with links, files, or images it deems inappropriate. (return to form)
    Suction Cups, Vacuum Lifters, Vacuum Pumps from Anver Corporation ecabinet systems.com Thermwood Limtech Industries, Inc.