CabinetMaker+FDM - September 2010

PRECISE CNC

Biesse Rover 27 point-to-point
machining center features a
10-spindle tool changer, multiple
heads and large process area.

Despite having a machine that could cut two parts at the same time, the company was running at full capacity in just over a year. Rick and his two sons who had joined the business bought a larger Axyz 5018 Series machine, and two more machines were added within three years.

All of these new machines were the 5018 Series configured with twin heads and an additional pneumatic drill. The process area on the 5018 is 70 x 216 inches which met Precise CNC’s needs.

“The other reason for a larger process area is that it allows a standard 4 x 8 foot sheet to be loaded on the front half of the table with another one on the back half,” Lemson says. “After the front sheet has been machined the router will continue processing the sheet on the back half, allowing the operator to change out the front sheet without pausing the machine.”

A memorable one-time job for Precise CNC was the remaking of a set of interior panels for a 1932 hearse. There were no drawings available so Rick Lemson had to use the original, rotted panels as templates and painstakingly recreate the correct contours in CAD for an accurate machined reproduction.

Lemson says that the hearse job was fairly straightforward since the customer had deteriorated parts that needed replacing. The project was made fairly simple by using the CNC’s plotting feature to lay out parts and then Precise CNC’s technicians cleaned up parts and produced them instead of countless hours of pattern making as would have been done in the past.

Lemson says there are many unusual projects his team tackles every day. Another is 1-inch thick aluminum logos for the MGM Grand casino in downtown Detroit.

From casino signs to hearse interior panels

Precise CNC also has a Giben computerized auto feed and rear loader panel saw, two Biesse point to point machining centers including a Rover 27. The shop also has sanders, table saw and edgebanders and has been powder coating MDF wood products since 1999, making it one of the first companies to use this technology on wood products. There are now two powder coat lines. Lemson also provides plastic fabrication, print graphics and display services.

Repeat cycle

Lemson says that Axyz has also listened to his feedback and often uses his suggestions for product development and improvement. One example was his suggestion of a “repeat cycle” function on the controller. Even with the continuous cycling of front/back machining it

Axyz International, CNC routers 800-361-3408 www.axyz.com BiesseAmerica, Point-to-point machines 704.357.3131 www.biesseamerica.com Giben America Inc., Panel saw 770.448.9140 www.giben.com For more info:

Or go to CabinetMakerFDM.com

was still necessary to press the start button after each cycle which sometimes caused delays in productivity. Now, with this new feature, an operator can preset the number of cycles to repeat for uninterrupted operation.