Machinery & Tooling
3-D Trimming
Thermwood introduces their 5-
Axis Model 90, a state-of-the-art
CNC router revolutionizing
plastic trimming
and thermoforming
processes. Designed for
three-dimensional applications,
this high-speed
machine delivers exceptional
precision and efficiency
in the plastics industry.
With a robust build, the Model 90 excels in trimming
thermoformed plastics, composite materials, and fiberglass
parts. It seamlessly converts CAD data into patterns
and molds, guaranteeing flawless results. Equipped
with a 12 HP router and standard 4-position automatic
tool changing system, it offers single (5’x5’, 5’x10, 10’x5’)
or dual moving aluminum tables (5’x5, 5’x10’ and 5’x12’).
Larger routers and extra tool changers are also available.
Optional features like automatic tool length sensor, lubrication
system, gantry lighting, and machine enclosure
optimize performance. The continuous C-axis and acculube
mist coolant system ensures precision and quality.
Choose from a 6-position bar style automatic tool
changer and ten-position rotary automatic tool changer
for enhanced workflow.
Thermwood, a renowned multinational CNC machinery
manufacturer, presents the Model 90 as the ultimate solution
for plastic trimming and thermoforming. Their expertise extends
to various industries, from aerospace to entertainment.
Experience the limitless potential of the Thermwood 5-Axis
Model 90, elevating your plastic trimming capabilities to new
heights with unrivaled precision and efficiency.
For more information, contact Duane Marrett,
Thermwood Corporation, 904 Buffaloville Rd., Dale, IN
47523, 800-533-6901, E-mail: duane.marrett@thermwood.com, Web: www.thermwood.com.
Trimming Machines
GEISS AG, a worldwide leader in technology, quality,
and performance, manufactures trimming and vacuumforming
machines that can be configured exactly to
meet the customer’s specific requirements.
Depending on the customer’s specific application, the
Geiss machine can be produced in any nominal size and
delivered with and in any combination of the more than
100 options to meet any need in terms of the materials
to be processed as well as the capacity requirement. They
are able to deliver a full range of features to result in
equipment best suited for any need starting at basic
manually loaded, semi-automation all the way up to
fully-automatic operations. The idea is to be able to deliver
the most cost-effective solution for meeting a full
range of requirements regardless of product size or the
material type being processed, at any production capacity
within a wide range of their clients and budget.
Geiss has now introduced the market to a fully integrated
forming and trimming solution. They now offer to
configure their forming and trimming machines together
with an integrated six-axis robot that allows for a full-automatic
solution. The user can start with palletized
sheet material and without human intervention, get out
the finished parts because all the handling between
forming, trimming is done automatically. Addition further
operations such as management of the scrap and
dust and chip mitigation, or part inspection with vision
systems can be integrated. Geiss already offered automatic
exchange of sheet material and molds.
Despite the possibility to run in a fully automated configuration
both the vacuum forming and trimming machines
can be run independently of each other without
the use of the robot.
Cycle times can be balanced between the thermoforming
and the trimming processes by using multiples of the
machines of either type together with robotic integration
to reach an ideal configuration.
For more information, contact Michael J. Roche, Geiss
LLC, 42 Ozick Drive, Unit 6, Durham, CT 06422, 203-988-9426, E-mail: michael.roche@geissllc.com, Web: www.geiss-ttt.com.
New CNC Machine Series
ShopBot Tools announces the launch of their PRS5 line
of full-size gantry CNC routers. All three machine
models - the PRS5 Standard, PRS5 Alpha, and PRS5
Alpha ATC - feature a streamlined, modular design that
emphasizes stability and accessibility. Table sides and
rails are level with the tool bed, allowing for 360° visibility
of the cutting area and
providing the convenience
of loading and
unloading materials
from
all sides of the
machine.
The PRS5
models boast the
reliability, speeds,
and customer support that ShopBot has become known
for in their 25+ years of operation. The new frame design
is based on both welded and bolt-together components,
designed to increase rigidity while keeping the area
under the machine open for a vacuum pump or material
storage.
The PRS5 ATC system holds 9 or more interchangeable
bits on a toolbar that automatically retracts below the
work surface when not in use; preserving easy access to
the machine work area from all sides between cuts.
PRS5 Alpha and Alpha ATC models are available in
table sizes from 48” – 192” and gantry beam widths from
32” – 108”. The more affordable PRS5 Standard models
are available in table sizes from 48” – 96” and gantry
beam widths from 48” – 60”. Custom table sizes, accessories,
and add-ons are available, including metric bits
and collets.
All ShopBot CNC machines are engineered, manufactured,
and supported in Durham, NC, USA.
For more information, contact Sales, ShopBot Tools,
Inc., 3333 Industrial Dr., Durham, NC 27704, 888-680-4466/ 919-680-4800, Fax: 919-680-4900, E-mail: sales@shopbottools.com, Web: www.shopbottools .com.
CNC for Rapid-Prototyping
AXYZ Tailored Router Solutions™
now offers the AXYZ Innovator
Router to their line-up of
CNC machines. This entry-level
industrial CNC router
replaced the legacy
Z-Series model, offering
a significant increase
in performance
while including a robust
construction and high precision accuracy
that AXYZ machines are known for, all at a cost-effective
price.
The AXYZ Innovator is available in two standard sizes,
4’ x 4’ (1.2m x 1.2m) and 5’ x 8’ (1.5m x 2.4m), with a
gantry clearance of 6” (152mm).
The Innovator has been engineered to include the following
new features: a heavy-duty frame with cast
gantry legs for added rigidity; integrated servo motors
replacing stepper servos for smoother motion and
higher speeds; premium helical racks offering a new
level of cut quality, and it is designed to be more easily
upgradable for option installations in the future, including
the exclusive 3-position tool changer.
For more information, contact AXYZ Tailored Router
Solutions, 5330 South Service Rd., Burlington, ON, L7L
5L1, Canada, 800-361-3408/905-634-4940, E-mail: enquiries@axyz.com, Web: www.axyz.com.
Plastic Working Machinery
Cutting large panels
quickly and efficiently
is a necessity in
today’s competitive
markets. A Super-duty
20 to 25 HP NC/Computer
Panel Saw from
Castaly Machine with pusher or
ripper feed has the capacity to cut panels quickly, easily,
and accurately. The saw promises dramatic productivity
gains with advanced computer control, a high efficiency
automatic gripper feed system, reduced cycle time and
perfect square cutting accuracy. The automatic gripper
feed system is driven by a 2 HP AC servo motor for accuracy
within 0.001" and 100 ~ 330 FPM high feeding performance.
The controller can be online at the office with
a personal computer through a RS-232 interface or USB
to download cutting information.
It is equipped with a touch control screen for convenient
operations eliminating the problem of dust
contamination, and features a self-diagnostic function
provided with comprehensive probable
cause of error and detailed
troubleshooting
guide. The scoring
blade may be laterally
adjusted for a burrfree
cut or vertically
adjusted for a proper
cut. A 2 HP AC motor
drives the saw carriage with variable speeds changed
by frequency control 16 ~ 495 FPM with retract 400
FPM speed. The table surfaces are covered with Bakelite
or rubber rollers to prevent scratching of the panel
during feeding.
Castaly also offers reliable and affordable quality CNC
equipment configurations that suit a variety of applications
such as router, laser, plasma, oscillating knife, lathe,
and boring. These machines are specifically designed for
cabinetry, closets, signs, and plastic applications for small
to large-sized companies.
For more information, contact Jeff Ou, Castaly Industries
Corp., 637 Vineland Ave., La Puente, CA 91746, 626-
968-6330, Fax: 626-336-2890, E-mail: jeff@castalymachine.com, Canada Branch: 956 Rue André-Liné, Granby, QC J2J 1E2 CANADA, 450-372-3876, Web: www.castalymachine.com.
Versatile CNC Routers
Since 1986 Techno has been perfecting the balance between
low cost, and high-quality CNC routers. The
Atlas and Titan Series CNC routers are the culmination
of over 30 years of design and field experience.
Both the Atlas and the Titan feature an all-steel construction,
ensuring
clean cuts
in the most
difficult
materials
like hard
woods, aluminum, and hard plastics. Precision helical
rack and pinion drives provide accurate, repeatable, highspeed
cutting capability superior to that of typical ball
screw or straight rack and pinion drives. Both machines
are available as stepper or servo machines and have a reliable,
easy to learn hand held pendant for its operation.
Each machine has a permanent, heavy duty phenolic
vacuum table with T-slots, making it the most reliable
and versatile platform for fixturing and vacuum hold
down. Techno uses Becker vacuum pumps as standard
on its 4Ĺ~8 and 5Ĺ~10 sizes.
The Atlas (shown) comes in at a low cost with an air-cooled,
4 hp HSD industrial grade spindle. This machine
is perfect for sign shops, general woodworking, plastic
fabrication, and point of purchase display makers.
The Titan features an air-cooled, 12 hp HSD automatic
tool change spindle, allowing for more aggressive cutting
and multiple tool operations. This machine is perfect for
cabinet shops, furniture manufacturers, and any application
using multiple tools to process each sheet or part.
Techno’s technicians are highly knowledgeable and
ready to help with machine operation, tooling selection,
tech support, and troubleshooting.
For more information, contact Techno CNC Systems,
29 Trade Zone Dr., Ronkonkoma, NY 11779, 631-648-7481,
E-mail: technosales@technocnc.com, Web: www.technocnc.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 Rd., Clifton, NJ
07014, 800-733-7111, Web: www.forrestblades.com.
Cutting & Milling Tools
Hufschmied offers a range of tooling specifically designed
for milling plastics. With plastic materials it is
crucial to keep the milling temperature
as low as possible. This
can be achieved with tools from
their Universal-Line and Sharp-
Line. Depending on your requirements
and your machinery, the
solution to your processing problem
offers you a choice of one,
two or three-flute cutters.
Hufschmied tools
are designed to minimize
burr formation
and provide a quality
edge finish at high
feed rates minimizing
secondary operations.
When it comes to cutting
thermoset the
avoidance of burr formation
is critical to a
high-quality edge finish.
Their Universal-
Line and Proto-Line
are well suited for this category of materials.
For the processing of PMMA, cast or extruded, the
Frasen Per Plex product range of single-fluted milling cutters
produce a mirror-like surface finish without the need
for additional polishing tools or any other polishing action.
When working acrylics, milling cutters and drills need to
produce sharply defined cutting edges. For this approach,
Hufschmied supplies the FPE tool system with a single-step
roughing and finishing cycle producing these very
sharply defined edges. For polycarbonate and PET their
Sharp-Line will provide a sooth finish with long tool life.
For more information, contact Steve Holbrook, Hufschmied
USA, 42 Ozick Drive, Unit 6, Durham CT 06422,
419-341-6337, E-mail: sales@hufschmiedusa.com, Web:
www.hufschmied.net.
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