AXYZ urges industry to maximise kit potential
AXYZ International has set out a new strategic plan to help router owners get the most out of their kit and ensure they are maximising the potential of the technology.
Thursday, 01 Feb 2018 09:39 GMT
Robert Marshall, vice-president market development at AXYZ, says CNC routers are “one of the most versatile and flexible production tools available” in the industry
Robert Marshall, vice-president market development at AXYZ, describes the CNC router as “one of the most versatile and flexible production tools available”, but also warns that not all users are getting the full benefit of this kit.
Marshall says it is important for industry members to understand the kit that is available to them before they make a purchase, as this will enable them to pick out the right solution that can address various issues in their workflow.
“Understanding the technology available, the decisions that need to be made prior to the purchase of a CNC router, the operator training necessary and the different tools and settings available are critical to maximisation of the potential that exists for fuelling business growth and increasing profitability,” Marshall says.
Understanding the technology available, the decisions that need to be made prior to the purchase of a CNC router, the operator training necessary and the different tools and settings available are critical to maximisation of the potential that exists for fuelling business growth and increasing profitability”
Ged Lodge, application engineer at AXYZ International, picks up on this and goes on to offer some useful guidelines to help CNC router owners understand all of these influencing factors.
Lodge says it is critical that the machine settings are correct; this begins with use of the correct feed rates, router spindle speeds and the depth of cut specific to the material being processed, all of which should be available from the supplier of the machine
“These settings are interrelated,” Lodge says, adding: “For example, cutting at a higher feed rate may require a faster spindle or a reduction in the depth of cut. Tool selection and the type of processing program employed will also have an effect.
Ged Lodge, application engineer at AXYZ International, says operators should
consider five key factors for routing and cutting kit
“Again as an example, a small-diameter router tool will normally be run at a lower feed rate than that of a larger-diameter tool. This is one of the areas where expertise gained over time will make it easier for operators of CNC routers to sense when there is a potential machinery malfunction, with the noise of the router when cutting providing a good indicator of whether or not the settings are correct.”
Also of great importance is selecting the right routing or cutting tool, with Lodge giving the example of users considering if the material could be more effectively processed using a traditional router spindle, and if so in what size or, for more malleable materials, would an oscillating or tangential knife be the better option.
“When processing new and possibly unfamiliar materials, it is advisable to run some preliminary tests involving different spindles or knife blades to establish which of the two works best for a given application,” he says, adding: “Again, the machine supplier can help or the information will be available via the router/cutter guides supplied.”
Meanwhile, using the right material hold-down system will better ensure that the material is held in place to avoid an incorrect cutting depth and tolerances not maintained that will lead to costly scrapping of the material being processed.
When processing new and possibly unfamiliar materials, it is advisable to run some preliminary tests involving different spindles or knife blades to establish which of the two works best for a given application}”
Building on this, Lodge says it is critical to provide machine operators with the appropriate training t use the kit, as this will allow them to identify root causes of any problems from the data programmed, through to the type of tool used and the routing/cutting speeds and feed rates required.
In addition, Lodge urges industry members to develop a program strategy and incorporate quality data: “If CAD/CAM data is of a sub-standard, the finished routed/cut product will be correspondingly so. Make sure the cut lines of a job are straight and the curves smooth.
“Program strategy is equally important. The positioning of the ‘start’ points, cut direction and the order in which parts are processed can make a huge difference to the quality of the end-product.”
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