Saws & Tooling

Futuristic Panel Saw

The futuristic looking Striebig Standard S model, the newest of the six Striebig models, is built on the same foundation as the legendary Striebig saws and is still a simple, powerful, manual machine. Large, hard to handle sheets are quickly and easily managed and precisely cut on a Striebig saw that takes much less than half the floor space of horizontal saws and produces smooth, quality finish cuts on all types of plastic up to 3 1/8” thick.

The optional full wood back support wall is ideal for supporting thin, flimsy plastic sheet, and adds another level of dust or chip control in the shop. The popular optional Comfort package includes Y-axis digital measuring for horizontal cuts with push-button carriage clamping and motorized bump-switch control for fine adjustment, auto-locking support rollers, and laser cut line and is ideal for making horizontal rip cuts easy and precise. It is available in nine standard frame sizes to cut from 5’6” x 10’10” to 7’4” x 17’4” and special sizes that can be made to cut up to 10’ x 50’. It is also available with a two-speed motor for exceptional finish quality on thermoplastic materials.

If you would like a more automated machine for greater ease and production, the Control model provides automatic travel and a whole host of other standard and optional features. If you are more budget conscious and don’t need as much power, take a look at one of the Compact models which are also available in the similar standard frame sizes.

For more information, contact Mary Polleys, Colonial Saw Company, Inc., 781-585-4364 x221, E-mail: mpolleys@csaw.com, Web: www.csaw.com/striebig-vertical-panel-saws/.

Powerful Panel Saw

Stiles Machinery proudly provides the HOMAG HPP 400 P (U.S. Edition) Panel Saw to the plastics industry. This powerful and versatile machine combines state-of-the-art technology with innovative German engineering for the ultimate in power and precision. With advanced standard features and a wide variety of highly customizable options, HOMAG’s HPP 400 P is designed to meet all of your unique production needs. The machine’s main saw motor features variable RPM speed control for high-quality performance, while its reverse cutting capabilities enable processing of thin plastic sheets without the risk of damaging delicate materials. Featuring a central side pressure device integrated into saw carriage that works from below the machine bed, the HPP 400 P is able to achieve precise alignment of thin sheets as well as full stacks of dense material. This machine also comes standard with air tables at the front of the saw and a complete air bed with dustEx at the cut line for effortless material handling and superior chip collection. HOMAG’s HPP 400 P U.S. Edition features HOMAG’s easy-to-use CADMatic operating software and powerTouch control system for intuitive machine control and operation. Moving graphics on the controller walk the operator through even the most complex cutting operations with ease.

For more information, contact David Mays, Stiles Machinery, 3965 44th St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49512, 616-698-7500, E-mail: dmays@stilesmachinery.com, Web: www.stilesmachinery.com.

New Panel Saw Line

CMS North America introduced the Helix Line of panel saws which are engineered specifically for cutting advanced materials including plastics, composites, foam and aluminum. These automated fully equipped plastics saws include many key features to help you process better quality parts faster and more safely.

The Helix Line offers a pusher/clamping system that automatically positions heavy stacks of material for every precision cut which improves safety and reduces hand and back injuries. A blade projection from 3” to 6.5” allows for the of cutting thicker materials. The panel saws are precision engineered, with a heavy-duty machine base that ensures saw cutting repeatability of high precision parts, faster machine cycle speeds, improved productivity and vibration free cutting of pieces which do not require subsequent edge finishing in many cases. The robust main motors from 18-60 HP can process a wide variety of plastic materials and the redesigned pressure beam with four ports efficiently evacuates chips for cleaner parts. It offers a specially designed cutting table with narrow grooves and clamps that enable chip free cutting of thin materials. A 4’ rear phenolic table supports narrow strips and rods for cross cutting into small pieces. The on-board optimization software increases material yield and reduces waste while the new 21.5” touchscreen PC with Maestro Software allows storing of specific plastic cutting parameters.

CMS North America is a division of SCM Group, a leading manufacturer of CNC panel saws, CNC routers, sanders and other products for the plastics market.

For more information contact Phil Bryant, SCM Group North America, 2475 Satellite Blvd., Duluth, GA 30096, 404-759-3534, E-mail: pbryant@cmsna.com, Web: www.cmsna.com.

Cutting Precision

Selco’s Sektor Series of panel saws are the optimal solution for manufacturers looking for safe, efficient and flexible production. With the addition of the 4 Series Twin Pusher 1.2, the latest design from Selco, they deliver the most innovative, flexible and feature rich machine available. This system can improve the output of a standard Sektor Series machine by up to 25%, and because of the cutting-edge engineering of the Biesse Group, this is the most affordable twin pusher design available in the industry. The 4 Series Twin Pusher 1.2, is configured with 1 controlled axis and 2 additional grippers. The main pusher is servo controlled, and through a unique breaking system, the independent grippers utilize the main pusher for positioning.

For more information, contact Gerri Yarbrough, Biesse America, 4110 Meadow Oak Drive, Charlotte, NC 28208, 704-357-3131, Fax: 704-357-3130, E-mail: marketing@biesseamerica.com, Web: www.biesseamerica.com.

No-Melt Blades

Modified triple-chip grind tooth style and specially engineered side clearances make Forrest Manufacturing's carbide tipped No-Melt blades the perfect choice for cutting single or multiple stacked sheets of plastic without chipping or melting.

The No-Melt blade is just one of the many award-winning general-, special- and custom-purpose blades and dados offered by Forrest Manufacturing, a family-owned business for more than 50 years. All Forrest blades are manufactured in the U.S. to exacting standards, using proprietary grinding techniques and hand straightening. The result is exceptional perimeter concentricity, an astonishing +/- .001” side runout and super fine-tooth grind for smooth, quiet and precise cuts.

The No-Melt blade is no exception. Its numerous teeth allow fast feeding of brittle acrylics. Super-hard C-4 micro grain carbide tips ensure 50 to 300 percent longer life between sharpenings. The No-Melt blade is available in 7” to 20” diameters with 60 to 120 teeth. It is particularly appropriate for cutting acrylics, Delrins®, ABS, styrenes, PVC, and high- and low-melt nylons. Forrest blades come with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Factory sharpening services for all makes of carbide tipped circular blades is also available.

Forrest also offers their Duraline blades available in different tooth styles to meet different needs. The TCG for plastic cuts smoother than No-Melt due to narrower clearance angles. Use #11 TCG to prevent chipping edge of acrylic sheet. Also keep blade height low if on table saw. Made with double-hard C-4 Submicron Carbide for longer life between sharpenings.

For more information, contact Jay Forrest, Forrest Manufacturing Company, 457 River Road, Clifton, NJ 07014, 800-733-7111, Web: www.forrestblades.com.

Saw Blades for Plastics

Atlas Saw & Tool, LLC, a market leading producer of saw blades and custom tooling since 1948, offers an extensive line of saw blades engineered exclusively for the plastics industry. With decades of plastics saw blade manufacturing experience and a dedicated team of application specialists, Atlas continues to be a preferred supplier to the plastics industry. Headquartered in Illinois, with additional locations in Florida and Arizona, Atlas provides its plastics customers with a broad range of saw blades designed to cut all types of acrylics and mechanical plastics. Atlas’ top-selling Acrylic RV saw blades are engineered to reduce chipping on thin acrylic sheets and feature a unique grind pattern to minimize heat and prevent melting. The company’s mechanical plastic saw blades feature a unique tooth geometry design, allowing for smooth, easy cuts on ultra-low melt plastics – including nylon, polypropylene, UHMW and HDPE. “What makes Atlas Saw & Tool a market leader is the fact that we have blades designed for every plastic-cutting application,” said Kent Kerns, Atlas’ General Manager. “No matter the machine, blade size or type of plastic that needs to be cut, Atlas has a compatible saw blade. And, our full line of saw blades is always ready-toship and typically arrives to the customer within 24 to 72 hours.”

For more information, contact Kent Kerns, Atlas Saw & Tool, LLC, a Fletcher Business Group Company, 7801 Industrial Drive, Spring Grove, IL, 60081, 815-675-1333. E-mail: kent@atlassaw-tool.com, Web: www.atlassaw-tool.com.

Eco-Friendly Coating

Amana Tool's “non-melt” saw blades (for example, Item #LB10801C) are specifically designed for cutting plastic, Plexiglas®, polycarbonates such as Lexan™ and other materials. Available in their signature ElectroBlu™ Ecofriendly non-stick coating, these blades feature a micron-thin translucent layer, which helps to prevent resin buildup and is even more resistant to corrosion. This yields super smooth cuts in plastic materials without damaging the edges. The non-melt Amana Tool saw blades provide optimum performance yet makes cleanup a breeze. Amana Tool also produces industrial-quality carbide tipped, solid carbide and replacement carbide cutting tools. They recently introduced their Spektra™ extreme tool life coated CNC router bit line. The bits feature a nACo® nanocomposite coating with an extreme Nano hardness and heat resistance and can say sharp up to 2.5 times longer than non-coated router bits.

For more information, contact Frank Misiti, Amana Tool, 120 Carolyn Blvd., Farmingdale, NY 11735, 800-445-0077/631-752-1300, Fax: 631-752-1674, E-mail: frankm@amanatool.com, Web: www.amanatool.com.

Plastic Cutting Tools

Fabrication Tools and Materials, Inc. (FTM) offers a large selection of saw blades, router bits and drill bits specifically designed and manufactured for cutting all types of plastics. These saw blades are manufactured in the U.S. with meticulous attention to every aspect of saw blade engineering and design. These precision saw blades exceed even the most critical cutting needs.

FTM also offers Whiteside Machine’s complete line of made in the U.S. router bits and stock the most popular choices use in the plastics fabrication industry, flush trim, round overs, chamfers and ‟O” flutes. From small fabrication to production routing, they have you covered.

FTM’s complete line of made in the U.S. drill bits with specialized rake angles and cutting edge clearance are ideal for drilling acrylics. This line covers fractional sizes from 1/16” up to 1”, lettered A-Z, numbered 1-52, and even metric sizes 2mm-13mm. If your size is still not here, it can be special ordered with a short lead time and at a reasonable price. Whether you are production drilling, or drilling in the field, FTM has tools for all your cutting and drilling needs.

For more information, contact Robert Ashcraft, Fabrication Tools and Materials, Inc., 327 Industrial Dr., Unit 1, Placerville CA 95667, 530-626-1986, Fax: 530-642-2602, E-mail: info@123ftm.com, Web: www.123ftm.com.

Yield Optimization & Quoting Software

Falcon Optimizer announces the newest release of their CNC cutting yield optimization and quoting software. With over 1,000 North American users in the plastics distribution and fabrication industry across the U.S., Canada and Mexico, Falcon Optimizer continues to generate the best yields in the industry while providing convenient plastics cut to size quoting data such as: individual part pricing, estimated cutting time, estimated shipping weights, labor/cutting charges, and more.

Additionally, new improvements have been made to their optimal custom sheet generator, helping to create even better yields by reverse engineering custom sheet sizes that yield more efficiently than standard stock sheet sizes. In version 2.7, users can also account for stack height, which creates even more precise estimated cutting times, making the quoting process more accurate.

For any plastics distribution or fabrication business, Falcon Optimizer can help you increase profit margins, close more orders, and streamline the quoting process. By leveraging their remnant sheet functions, it is also easier than ever to utilize remnant pieces more efficiently than ever before. Join the #1 yielding software in the plastics industry by scheduling a demo at www.falconoptimizer.com.

For more information, contact Aaron Rappaport, Falcon Optimizer, 4440 PGA Blvd., Ste. 505, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410, 800-583-4726 x118/561-775-6110, E-mail: arappaport@falconoptimizer.com, Web: www.falconoptimizer.com.