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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Brisbane
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    42

    Default 5 axis machining

    Gidday folks

    I, like many other woodworkers, am in the process of upgrading the cutter head on my thicknesser. Mine is a fairly big bugger, on SCM S50.

    My saw doctor had a contact who could fabricate the required item here in Australia for a price that was competitive with China, until he sold his 5 axis machine about 8 weeks ago. Damn, damn damn!!!!

    It would be my preference to have the item made here in Oz. So the question is, does anyone here know of a company that might be able to manufacture this locally.

    Scan of the item attached.

    Cheers
    Bevan
    There ain't no devil, it's just god when he's drunk!!

    Tom Waits

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Location
    Norwood-ish, Adelaide
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    59
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    6,540

    Default

    I can't see anything there that needs a 5 axis machine to make it. Most decent machine shops should be able to do it, as should a few of the members here.
    Not being in Brisbane I can't give you specifics.

    Michael

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    sydney ( st marys )
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    64
    Posts
    4,887

    Default

    So this is a piece of pipe or hollow bar with solid ends welded,would that be correct.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
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    Tas
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    66
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    30

    Default

    I assume this thing rotates at a fair clip (although it looks more like a feed roller than cutter ). Given the size needing to dynamic balance may be more an issue rather than manufacture. Of course if it is just a feed roller scrub previous comment

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Brisbane
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    42

    Default

    Excuse the basic drawing. The item is a cutting head for a thicknesser. Manufactured from solid. Probably weighs about 45 kg. Presently the item has 4 knives held by gibs. I wish to have a head made that uses insert cutters, probably 6 rows cutting in shear. Commonly referred to as a HELICAL HEAD.

    Yes the item spins at a fair clip and would need to be dynamically balanced.

    Cheers
    There ain't no devil, it's just god when he's drunk!!

    Tom Waits

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Brisbane
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    42

    Default

    I'll scan a couple of brochures to give you guys a better idea of what I am after.
    There ain't no devil, it's just god when he's drunk!!

    Tom Waits

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    42

    Default

    Here you go. There are 3 pages to the PDF.

    Cheers
    There ain't no devil, it's just god when he's drunk!!

    Tom Waits

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Sydney
    Posts
    55

    Default

    100% buy imported,

    crown tooling also sold there 5 axis cnc a few months back.

    price imported is no where near aus price

    give him a call he may still have a few in stock, Crown tooling st marys

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    42

    Default

    Yeah, I know he sold it. There lyeth the problem. I know I can import but was figuring that if Crown could do it here then others might be able to. I would prefer to support Oz manufacturing even if there is a small premium for the privilege.

    Cheers
    There ain't no devil, it's just god when he's drunk!!

    Tom Waits

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Location
    Norwood-ish, Adelaide
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    59
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    6,540

    Default

    Looking at the additional information I think that can be done on a 4 axis machine, which is far more common. If someone had a large mill with (preferably a DRO and) a rotary table they could do it on that. Any half decent tool room should be able to make it for you (although it might cost).

    Michael

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Sydney
    Posts
    55

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Enfield Guy View Post
    Yeah, I know he sold it. There lyeth the problem. I know I can import but was figuring that if Crown could do it here then others might be able to. I would prefer to support Oz manufacturing even if there is a small premium for the privilege.

    Cheers
    he actual developed the sprial head, other guys brought one off him and copy it and now importing them,

    i would not waste the money on trying to get one made from some one who has not made them before its big $$ to buy plus labour to put in,

    best bet is try and get a US made one, try woodweb for a suppiler in US.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    The Fabulous Gold-plated Coast.
    Age
    69
    Posts
    2,251

    Default

    Big call, that. I owned a spiral cutter head for my spindle molder that would be twenty years old at least by now.

    I agree that a US one at under a grand would likely be cheaper than a locally sourced item, especially when you inlcude the carbide cutter inserts and screws. The very best cutters have carbide seats for the inserts too, for a very long life. I don't know if there are any wood working cutters so made.

    Finally, a caveat that I'm sure you must have already read elsewhere: carbide cutters have many benefits including long life working our often abrasive timbers. What they lack is refinement...so it often pays to have a HSS cutter head for final passes on your project timber. This approach of course assumes that you are doing one project at a time, and can afford the change-over time to the standard cutter block for those final few passes on all of your project's cuttting list at once. There are of course other, more primitive solutions that involve hand planes and scrapers

    Scurries away looking for cover before the woodies find me....

    Greg
    It's all part of the service here at The House of Pain™

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