By Olivia Cahoon
Part 2 of 2
Semi-automated cutting devices are designed in vertical and horizontal orientations. These solutions offer a variety of blade types including cutting wheels, drag knife blades, scoring tips, and saw blades in addition to specialty features such as CCD registration systems, conveyor tables, job storage, and material gripper systems.
Semi-Automated Cutting Devices
The CWT CTR2517 large format system from CWT Work Tools USA is designed for precision with three tool modules that allow for maximizing efficiency in production when multiple cut types are required. It is a horizontal device with a variety of blade types including a universal cutting tool, v-cut, kiss cut, oscillating knife, rotary tool, router, and CCT for creasing corrugated material.
The device features a full conveyor system for continuous operation, triple tool module for complete processing, auto knife initialization for quick depth registration, variable vacuum zone control, and a camera registration system for precise finishing. “Our precision conveyor table and CCD registration system provides a print-to-cut finishing system designed to produce composites, contour cut graphics packaging, floor graphics, hanging signs, prototypes, and point of sale displays with ease,” says Mike Osman, president, CWT.
The CWT CTR2517 cuts a maximum of 62 inches. It handles a variety of materials including aluminum AB, acrylic, cardboard, corrugated paper, corrugated plastic, foam, foamboard, grey board, honeycomb board, KT board, MDF board, PP paper, plastic, reflective, textiles, vertical corrugated, and vinyl stickers. According to Osman, the CWT CTR2517 is available for $68,995.
Fletcher-Terry Company offers the TA-350 saw, an automatic double mitre saw cutting and joining process with up to six process stations including material handling, a material gripper system for moulding to cutting station, double mitre cutting with two 350 millimeter saw blades, movement of cut pieces, and process completion with frame joining. The saw is primarily used for cutting wood moulding and metal frames.
“The system is well suited for production double mitre cutting for picture framing, canvas stretcher bars, and any other assembled moulding or trim board,” says Jim McNickle, marketing director, Fletcher-Terry.
Simple and practical, the system features three major components—a vertical or horizontal material feeder, cutting station with two saw blades fixed at a 45 degree angle, and an unloading belt with a kicker that allows cut pieces to be pushed aside to avoid damage.
The TA-350 has a production output range from 1,000 to 1,500 pieces per hour. According to McNickle, actual customer production rate is dependent on a number of variables—length of moulding at in-feed stage, length of cut, moulding cross section, and moulding type. McNickle says it’s available for $70,000.
Improved Efficiency
Semi-automated devices allow manufacturers and print shops to replace traditional cutting equipment without the investment of a fully automated solution. This allows companies to offer more solutions to their current and potential client base in addition to taking on larger and more complex jobs.
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Oct2018, Digital Output
DOSC1018
