A modest investment

After looking last time at the CNC router from Protek, which by any stretch is a highly capable accurate production class piece of kit, I started to wonder what if you want to dip a toe in the water or perhaps your requirements are a bit more modest, along with your budget?

I have mentioned previously that CNC cutters and routers were displayed in greater numbers at this year’s Sign and Digital UK, which was good to see. What is more, now more than ever there is a growing number of manufacturers and products to suit most budgets.

It is a production process that has often been overlooked in recent years with the push towards digital print and direct-to-substrate printing, but greater numbers of small businesses are probably realising the potential to increase the capabilities of their business with the addition of some form of CNC cutting device for rigid materials.

From lasers to CNC routers, there a whole range of abilities out there and the possibilities they bring stretch as far as your imagination. Improvements in technology have not just been restricted to printers. Motors have become more accurate giving better alignment, and spindles have got better giving smoother cutting which in turn gives a better finish. In fact, on some of the high-end routers it is difficult to tell the finish has not been done with a laser.

All these advances have had an impact on costs at both ends of the market. Whilst the entry level on production class machines is now pushing six figures on some larger-format routers, this progress has also opened up the market to some newer players who can offer the smaller companies a route to market that offers up some really interesting opportunities.

Small businesses

It is a fact that our industry is made up of predominately micro and small businesses, and it is all too easy to forget that budgets for kit do not run into big numbers. But the ingenuity that keeps these businesses thriving and keeps our industry vibrant can sometimes be too easily overlooked.

There is a growing number of suppliers that recognise this, and their business model is based around serving this market. One such company to enter this arena is Radecal Machine Sales and Service, with their range of Piranha CNC routers and lasers.

The range starts with the 1313, which is a smaller-format router with a bed size of 1,300 x 1,300mm. The machine itself takes up an area around 2 x 1.5m. As you would expect, it offers a fairly standard specification with a 5hp water cooled spindle offering speeds up to 24,000rpm.

It has a vacuum bed and comes complete with extraction. If you plan to cut metals, such as solid aluminium, not composite, maybe steel at a push, you will need to specify the optional mist coolant system too. Whilst there is not a tool changer option at this size, you could upgrade to the next one in the range, the 1325, for that.

This also gives an increase in bed size up to 2,500 x 1,300mm. I would imagine for most work, doing the tool changes yourself is more than acceptable, although the 1313 is limited to half sheet sizes, but again depending on what you see as your main business, this could be more than adequate to get you into the marketplace and increase the products you offer.

The bed is a traditional ‘t’ slot type and the gantry sits 250mm above, so most of the materials you are likely to come across will fit under here with ease. The base of the table is fully enclosed which helps with keeping all your work looking tidy. The handles for the zoning of the vacuum bed are fitted to the front panel. The extraction, in common with most is fitted to the foot and attached to the spindle.

Some demonstration machines I have seen had an additional brush fitted around the cutter. While this will help with the swarf control, care would need to be taken with this fitting if cutting material that has no covering as this could scratch the substrate if swarf became lodged in the bristles. The vacuum seemed more than enough to cope with acrylic and aluminium composite material (ACM).

The software that comes bundled with the routers seems up to the task and, like a lot of others, there is plenty of other experienced users to take advice from through the various message boards—along with Radecal’s own in-house knowledge.

The Piranha range are solid looking bits of kit. They are neatly finished and have some nice touches. This range of equipment is not aimed at larger firms with big workloads, but at the smaller forward thinking companies who recognise what adding such kit can do for your business.


It is easy to see the differences in these machines when compared with their more expensive cousins from the likes of Summa and Zund. Those machines are out of reach to most businesses and that level of investment is probably not necessary either. That is not to take anything away from the Piranha, it is still a well-built basic bit of kit. I spoke to one user of their laser technology, he confirmed that his modest investment was already paying off by cutting lead times, but also increasing the opportunities available to his business.


Radecal have a range of technology on offer that would lift any business up and away by offering some true signage options. The ability to be really creative and keep all of the increased margin available, but doing things that bit different from your competitors means they are worth a look, and from what I saw of their stand at Sign and Digital UK, you will not be the only one.



Allen Signs is an established family run business with over 100 years of combined experience.
 
It provides a complete sign, display, and vehicle livery solution from concept and design through to final installation and maintenance.
 
For more information on the issues discussed in this article please visit www.allen-signs.co.uk or tel: 0115 704 3017

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