Saws & Saw Blades

Flexible Panel Saw

Holzma is introducing the HPP- 250 Plastics machine. The HPP-250 P is a flexible panel saw with features to handle cutting sheet goods with a variety of properties. Low melt materials are cut using the standard misting unit. The misting unit is easily accessible so filling it with fluid is effortless. The variable speed main saw motor means you have the right RPM for any material and blade combinations you might be cutting. The narrow finger clamps minimize the gaps in the tables cutting thin brittle material without fracturing. The patented side pressure device rising from below the table means that the saw can align thin sheets as well as a full stack of heavy material. The large air flotation tables on the front of the machine makes moving material effortless keeping your operator productive all day long. The HPP-250 P does not just use UL approved electric devices, it is electrical system is UL approved. It is heavily built for years of trouble free operation. The saw is PC based with a graphically operator interface. In short this means it is easy to use for your operators. Prompting them on the steps of cutting.

For more information, contact Amanda Dombeck, Stiles Machinery Inc., 3965 44th St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49512, 704-861-8239, E-mail: adombeck@stilesmachinery.com, Web: www.stilesmachinery.com.

New Saw Lines

Hendrick introduces a complete new line of horizontal panel saws for the plastics industry; the all new Hendrick CH4, HC4, NP4 & SS6 Series. These four new models are available in the following standard lengths of cut: 5Õ, 8Õ, 10Õ & 12Õ. The CH4 Series is an economical solution for automated panel processing. A user-friendly HMI touchscreen controller allows for fast and easy programming to increase productivity. The CH4 offers manual, semi-automatic and fully automatic cut modes. Key features include variable saw carriage feed by remote dial for on the fly speed adjustments, as well as material indexing via closed loop AC Servo system features precision ground linear ball screw, guide ways and bearings. The CH4 has a solid back table and solid pusher, 4Ó depth of cut and 15hp main blade motor.

The Hendrick HC4 is a high-speed computerized panel saw configured with a solid back table, solid pusher plate & gripper combination. The machine is equipped with a variable speed RPM 20hp main blade motor, material indexing speeds up to 3000 ipm, 4Ó depth of cut, spray mist blade coolant system and hydraulic quick blade change. The HC4 is available with a Windows 7 based PC or HMI touchscreen controller; including on-board optimization software and diagnostics that point to problems and provide Òhow-toÓ solutions.

HendrickÕs heavy-duty NP4 offers a full 4Ó depth of cut and is equipped with 25hp main blade motor with 800- 4500 RPM variable speed by AC Inverter utilizing a remote dial. Dual independent full-length pneumatic pressure beams, as well as AC encoded front and rear side aligners maximize positioning and cycle times. Front mounted pressure regulators allows for quick adjustment to pneumatic devices during operation. The NP4Õs industrial PC controller comes standard with a digital RPM readout and ammeter to monitor saw blade load.

Named for its robust specs as the premier plastics cutting panel saw; the SS6 is HendrickÕs Signature Series. With solid back tables and solid aluminum pusher plates between pneumatic material grippers the SS6 offers the ideal plastics configuration for processing heavy-duty mechanicals up to a thickness of 6Ó. Precision accuracy is ensured by the magnetic encoded pusher feedback and stout rack and pinion design. In addition, the machineÕs base and back tables are fly-cut to guarantee extreme levelness, rigidity and repeatability. Weighing in at an excess of 20,000 lbs. the SS6 comes standard with a 30hp main blade motor.

Vertical Beam Saw Series

HendrickÕs heavyweight, fully automatic PRO-V vertical beam saw features ±.005Ó of straight line accuracy while requiring minimal floor space. An operator merely needs to place the material against the stop, press the button to activate the hold-down bar and then press the start button to rip or crosscut anything ranging from less than 1/2Ó squares up to 10Õ sheets. The solid table design with solid cut plates is ideal for plastics applications.

The full-length heavy-duty pneumatic pressure beam eliminates any bow in thin gauge materials while allowing for cutting of narrow strips. The PRO-V offers excellent chip collection with two dust ports and a completely concealed saw blade. With a saw blade that is ÒbehindÓ the machine the operator is never exposed to it during operation. Pressure sensitive safety tapes along each side of the pneumatic pressure beam for enhanced safety are standard. The compact saw offers single blade scoring and three cutting modes: normal, reciprocating and scoring. Driven by a 9hp motor, the adjustable saw blade travels on precision machined ways and the 2hp variable speed automatic saw carriage traverse motor by AC inverter is standard with speeds up to 75 fpm. The machineÕs small footprint saves valuable floor space.

For more information, contact Whitney Wiggin, Hendrick Manufacturing Corporation, 32-34 Commercial Street, Salem, MA 01970, 978-741-3600, Fax: 978.744.0242, E-mail: wwiggin@hendrickmanufacturing.com, Web: www.hendrickmanufacturing.com.

Vertical Panel Saws

Csaw announced the release of a new specialized STRIEBIG brochure for plastics fabricators working with various sheet plastic including polyethylene, polypropylene, polycarbonates, nylon, PVC, acrylics, thermoset materials such as phenolics, PaperStone, Trespa, and solid surface materials.

As an inventor and world leader in vertical panel saw technology, legendary Swiss-made STRIEBIG saws offer the widest selection of models, sizes and accessories to enable the greatest range and flexibility in plastic sheet cutting up to 10Õ x 30Õ. All STRIEBIG saws cut safely and easily both vertically and horizontally with great precision, while taking up a fraction of the floor space of large CNC beam saws and routers. Stack-cutting sheets is also common practice.

With five models to choose from, including the top-of-the- line Control model, which features variable speed automatic travel, touch-screen control, digital measuring, automated set-up features, and the full-support wood back grid for full support of thin, flimsy sheets. Cut lists can be uploaded via USB memory stick, and output can be maximized with the new optional EPS programmable positioning of the saw head and measuring stop. Two-speed and variable speed motors are also available for ultimate control of the finish cut.

For more information contact Dave Bull, Colonial Saw, Inc., P.O. Box A, Kingston, MA 02364, 888-777-2729/ 781-585-4364, E-mail: dbull@csaw.com, Web: www.csaw.com/striebig/plastic.html.

High Precision Saw

Schelling offers the fk4 panel saw designed and engineered specifically for high speed, precision cutting of plastic panels. This includes acrylic, PETG, polycarbonate, polyolefins, PVC, UHMW, phenolics, mechanicals and other specially engineered materials.

The fk4 provides extremely tight cutting tolerances and chip-free cutting of material as thin as .020" without the use of a protection board. The machine is also equipped with material recognition software, a saw blade change database and total panel control features that provide fast setup times when changing materials.

Additional features include: rigid heavy duty construction; state-of-the-art material handling technology that automates the loading, cutting and off loading processes; on-line remote diagnostics for increased uptime and productivity; saw blade rpm control combined with blade cooling; online downloading of optimized cutting patterns and label printing.

For more information, contact Stephen Bailey, Schelling America, Inc. P.O. Box 80367, Raleigh, NC 27623, 919-544-0430, Fax: 919-544-0920, E-mail: sbailey@schelling.com, Web: www.schelling.com.

Heavy-Duty Plastics Saw

The SCM Sigma 107 Plast designed specifically for cutting plastics, combines a heavy-duty structure with high performance making it the ideal machine for shops requiring exceptional quality and flexibility. The Sigma 107 is packed with features including: a higher blade projection of 4.21Ó for cutting thicker materials; a precision engineered, heavy-duty machine base which ensures maximum rigidity, supports fast cycling speeds and ensures vibration free cutting of tight tolerance parts; a large 20hp main motor that can process a wide variety of plastic materials; a redesigned pressure beam which efficiently evacuates chips for cleaner parts; a quick blade change with pneumatic switch (no wrench required); a specially designed cutting table and clamps that enable chip free cutting of thin materials; a 4Õ rear phenolic table which supports narrow strips and rods for cross cutting into small pieces; a variable blade rpm and saw carriage control for flexibility to produce an optimum finish; on-board optimization software that increases material yield and reduces waste; and non proprietary PC with user friendly Windows¨ OS.

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

Saw Blades for Plastics

Fabricators of plastic material know to turn to LMT Onsrud for their routing tools. These same fabricators can now turn to Onsrud for their sawing needs as Onsrud offers a line of 8Ó, 10Ó and 12Ó blades for plastic materials including acrylic, derlin, ABS, styrene, PVC and nylon.

The line offers premium performance resulting in cool, clean cutting of plastic without chipping or melting. The saw blades are designed to be used on table, miter and panel saws.

For more information, contact Jennifer Neubauer, LMT Onsrud LP, 1081 S. Northpoint Blvd., Waukegan, IL 60085, 847-932-0269, Fax: 800-557-6720, E-mail: jneubauer@onsrud.com, Web: www.onsrud.com.

No-Melt Blades for Plastics

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 +/- .001Ó 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 micrograin carbide tips ensure 50 to 300 percent longer life between sharpenings.

The No-Melt blade is available in 7Ó to 20Ó diameters with 60 to 120 teeth. ItÕs 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 are provided at reasonable cost.

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

Plastic Cutting Saw Blades

FTM, Inc., offers a large selection of saw blades specifically designed and manufactured for cutting all types of plastics. They stock blades manufactured by General Saw Corp., a name synonymous with cutting excellence within the plastics industry. General Saw pays meticulous attention to every aspect of saw blade engineering and design, producing precision saw blades, which exceed even the most critical cutting needs.

Things to keep in mind when selecting a saw blade are the thickness, hardness, and heat sensitivity of your plastic. The thinner the plastic the more easily it will chip, therefore the more teeth the blade will require, the lower the rake angle, and the thinner the kerf. The harder the plastic is, the more likely it is to chip, also requiring more teeth. Heat sensitive plastics require fewer teeth, more radial clearance angle, and more tooth overhang.

Use these guidelines to select the best blade for your material: use the maximum number of teeth to reduce or eliminate chipping but cut back on the number of teeth when smearing (overheating) begins to occur; use a blade with the thinnest practical kerf; use stiffening collars when possible; always service your blades at the first sign of dulling.

For more help selecting the perfect saw blade, visit FTM's website and click on the "SAW-LECTOR GUIDE" for blades.

For more information, contact David Geer, FTM, Inc., 327 Industrial Drive, Unit 1, Placerville, CA 95667, 530-626-1986, Fax: 530-642-2602, E-mail: info@123ftm.com, Web: www.123ftm.com.