Solid Wood Machining

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

Weinig Powermat

4/27/17       
Bill

What is a realistic setup time that can be expected with a new 6 head Weinig Powermat with the HSK spindles and NC positioning of the spindles?

Any users care to comment?

Thanks

Bill

4/27/17       #2: Weinig Powermat ...
Chad Hunter  Member

Website: islandshutter.com

Are you asking the question on time based on the machine positioning itself. I have a 6 head unimat with positioning on the last top and left head. I could set up my P-23 much faster but it often took several test pieces for set up. The new moulder takes a few minutes longer measuring the tools optically and clicking on computer but that time is quickly made up with the first piece out being near perfect. Some setups naturally take more time changing the width of feed rollers or repositioning fences.

4/28/17       #3: Weinig Powermat ...
Russ

Website: http://www.mr-moulding-knives.com

Bill
I was a Weinig Tech for eight years, this is the most common question I would get from management on every install.
My answer was always this.
Be more concerned about the operator learning the machinery and being safe at the same time producing a great product.
There is a learning kerf for everyone in everything we do. This attitude approach will keep everyone safe, produce an outstanding product, and keep the machinery in good working condition.
Now, in time you see the operator is just taking way too long to set up the machine, it might be time to look for a new operator.
During Weinig demos, the set ups are performed by professionals with many years experience, it's not realistic to expect everyone to set up the machinery in the same amount of time.
So kickback, relax, and concentrate on operator safety and awesome looking mouldings. The set up time will slowly decrease as the operator is more comfortable with the machinery.
All the best
Russ @ MR

4/28/17       #4: Weinig Powermat ...
Bill

Let me ask the question a different way. Not second guessing an operator but deciding if the added expense of the NC positioned axis's, measuring equipment, HSK heads.... is worth it. Would it enable more change overs and thereby allow you to make shorter runs more profitably?

4/28/17       #5: Weinig Powermat ...
Russ

I happen to be old school moulder operator.
I can set up a moulder in almost the same time as a fancy moulder with all the bells and whistles, let's say maybe a five minute difference realistically.
Now the question is this, how many setups will it take to pay the difference in price from a plain Jane machine, versa a moulder with all the bell and whistles.
Don't forget you will now have more moving parts and more things that could potentially go wrong over time. Technology is always changing, what we buy today is out of date tomorrow, so computers on moulders today will be rapidly outdated in the life of the machinery.
It's a tough choice and needs some serious consideration. I have clients with the machinery you're describing and they love them. Weinig has always been a leader in moulder operations, the best thing to do is talk to the operators of the machinery, they know the most about how the machine performs.
I hope that helps
Russ @ MR

4/28/17       #6: Weinig Powermat ...
Russ

Bill This is just my opinion, and we all know what they say about opinions. I would buy higher RPM machine, like 8,000 or 10,000 and increase my feed rate to quicken the smaller lineal foot runs, 40-45 feet per minute for 8000 rpm and 45 -50 feet per minute for 10000 rpm. I posted an article that explains it better Have a good weekend Russ

Moulding Knife Marks

5/23/17       #7: Weinig Powermat ...
Bill

Russ you article says that 90% of the moulding made today is made with a round cutterhead. What is the other 10% made with moulding planes? Extruded MDF?

5/23/17       #8: Weinig Powermat ...
Russ

Older moulders that use square cutter heads

8/24/17       #9: Weinig Powermat ...
David Waldmann Member

Website: vermonthardwoods.com

I could well be wrong, but I don't believe you can get a Powermat without NC controlled top/left heads. You can't even get one without a computer of some sort - their default is PowerCom and you can downgrade to the [whatever the cheaper one is].

We didn't want a computer on our new moulder. Had/have a Unimat with PowerCom (but all manual heads) for 11 years and wished we hadn't gotten the computer. Just ordered the Powermat 700 on Tuesday with PowerCom because the cheaper system is still a computer and at least we know the PC and we can transfer all our info over to the new one.

Going back to the original question, setting up our 5-head Unimat with conventional spindles can take anywhere from 3 minutes* to 3 hours depending how many heads need to be changed, bedplates replaced, chipbreakers moved/changed, special pressure shoe adaptations, feed rollers moved/changed, and probably other things I can't think of right off.

*a lot of our profiles are variations using the same knives, so we may be able to make a new profile just by changing the thickness, width or axial position of either the top, left or right head.


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)