Saturday, March 3, 2018
First presented in 2017 the multifunction bridge WMS 060 has fascinated timber framers all over the world. In addition to the high processing accuracy especially the wide range of applications is impressive. At the DACH + HOLZ International, the WMS 060 was demonstrated live in various applications. But also information about the carpentry machines could be found. These machines are also used worldwide because of their high-precision. In HALL 7, WEINMANN and HOMAG offered the complete product range for carpentry and prefabricated house manufacturers.
Profitable even for small quantities: The new multifunction bridge WMS 060
The WEINMANN WMS 060 is the ideal entry-level machine for CNC-controlled house manufacturing. The WEINMANN experts have developed this multifunction bridge especially for small and medium-sized carpentry businesses producing small quantities. Whether walls, roofs, floors or gables are to be produced – with the WMS 060, the carpenter makes all elements efficiently and with high precision. Various wall structures and materials are machined fast and accurately.
The latest CNC control combined with state-of-the-art technology ensure high machining accuracy. In this way, elements of high dimensional accuracy are produced, which significantly simplifies assembly on site. With WMS 060 carpenters can rely on a solution that offers an excellent price-performance ratio.
Since usually there is little space available for smaller companies, the machine is compact, requiring little space. For the production of elements with a length of up to 12 m, the multifunction bridge, including a work table, requires just less than 90 m². The CAD data generated in the work preparation are automatically transferred to the machine. The operator opens the data record on the machine and starts the processing. By means of the intuitive control system powerTouch, the machine is easy to operate without any special expertise.
Another highlight was the new developed software tool easyRun which offers an important simplification regarding data creation. If required the data can be inserted fast and easy directly at the machine. There is no need for a CAD-system for the production of easy processing like fastening of the sheathing, routing of openings or formatting of the panels.
During the live demonstration the nailing and routing units were presented. The multifunction bridge is equipped with two stapling and nailing units for automated fastening of the sheathing. The machine receives the stapling pattern specified in the CAD, converting them exactly, so the statics of the elements is ensured. With the integrated routing unit, door and window openings as well as socket outlets are cut out of the element. Also circular or curved shapes and bevel cuts are possible due to the fully interpolating machining. Variations in element thickness are tracked and compensated with the aid of the scanning routing unit.
The fact that the multifunction bridge is a worthwhile investment especially for smaller enterprises shows both the equipment of the machine and its type of construction. Servo-controlled drives offer an energy-efficient manufacturing process. In addition, the WMS 060 can be combined with each kind of WEINMANN work tables such as a self-build table, assembly table or a roof-floor table. In most cases, even existing workstations are compatible.
Automation of the work processes also improves the logistics in the hall. Walking distances are reduced, material storage is optimized and an ergonomic workflow is achieved. The compact machine design ensures short assembly times and thus a fast production start.
Fully automated beam processing:
Processing of all 6 sides of a work piece in a single run
With their compact design and flexible usage options, the WEINMANN carpentry machines can be adapted to suit individual requirements. The high level of processing precision is provided by an NC-controlled gripper system that is combined with vertical and horizontal clamps.
Its compact design means that the WBS 140 carpentry machine requires just 140 m² for 13 m of unprocessed parts. The integrated 8-fold tool changer and the additional pick-up station for the saw blade offers a large number of processing options. The 5-axis technology enables the fast and easy producing of processing like dovetail connections, angular and curved cuts or drillings. The set-up times are minimized and all processing are done in highest accuracy.
The integrated underfloor unit is a highlight of the WBZ 160 powerSIX carpentry machine. All six sides of the component are processed in a single run. In combination with the 12-fold tool changer and a second main spindle, performance and precision are significantly increased. Dovetail connections, lap joints and many more processes demonstrate the range of applications offered by this carpentry machine.
The utilization factor of the machine is further increased and handling of components is simplified considerably in combination with the fully automatic material feed and storage technology. The continuous production flow significantly increases the productivity of the whole production process. All over the world, manufacturers of prefabricated houses, such as Wolf Haus (Austria) or Groothuis (The Netherlands), are already making use of this combination of a carpentry machine with a handling portal.
Blow-in technology 4.0:
Fully automated blowing-in of loose insulation materials
The combination of multifunction bridge and blow-in plate represents a quantum leap in timber construction. Loose insulating material is automatically blown into timber frame elements, insulating exterior walls, roof and floor elements, gable triangles as well as special elements. The CNC-controlled multifunction bridge moves the blow-in plate exactly over the frame work compartments. The new technology has already proven in practical usage: In USA the machine is working since 2 years successfully and also in Germany a carpenter produces all the elements with this technology since almost one year.
All frame work related data, such as position, shape and size of the compartments, are stored in the CAD and transferred to the blow-in plate via an interface. Different kinds of insulation material are blown-in such as wood fiber, cellulose and mineral wool. But also other insulation materials like hemp fiber can be used without any problems.
Depending on the required capacity, there are various options for fully automated blowing-in, starting with the multifunction bridge WMS 150 blowTEC, which does not only blow-in automatically, but also takes care of various fastening and machining processes, to a separate blow-in bridge which only performs the insertion of the insulation material.
The advantages of that new technology lie in the simplified material logistics as well as material savings. Furthermore, they offer human and ergonomic work processes, since the dust exposure for the employees is significantly reduced. In addition, some considerable added value for the companies is the guarantee of consistently high quality, since all filling quantities are verifiable, so a complete documentation is provided.
Robotics in timber construction
For the first time, a WEINMANN production line was delivered at the beginning of 2017 to the German company Bien-Zenker, into which an industrial robot is integrated. Integrated into the frame work station, the robot fully automatically inserts the studs into the frame work structure.
Thus, all types of studs are inserted at any angle. In this way, not only inner and outer walls but also gable walls and miter walls, as well as window and door structures, are manufactured fully automatically. In addition, the 6-axis technology makes it possible to adapt the insertion method for different studs, which enormously increases the reliability of the operating system and virtually compensates current problems, for example caused by crooked wood or the like, without manual intervention.
This combination of man and machine achieves a degree of flexibility, precision and speed, which so far has not existed in timber construction. This technology is also applied in the most modern production facility in Europe, which is currently being developed in Sweden.
HOMAG HPP 300 multiTec:
Today’s way to manufacture facades and partition walls
HOMAG Plattenaufteiltechnik is gaining in importance in the sector of facade and partition wall construction. The DACH + HOLZ International trade fair, staged in Cologne from February 20 to 23, 2018, provided evidence of this. The HPP 300 multiTec was on show there in Hall 7, a saw that can complete no less than three processing steps – sawing, drilling and routing – in a single pass. It’s fast and smart, because this saw gets all the data it requires directly from COBUS NCAD. This makes the HPP 300 multiTec a real interface for efficiency.
Sawing, drilling and routing – all on one machine, fully automated and precise. The HOMAG HPP 300 multiTec makes it possible. The great advantage of this for builders of facades and partition walls is that they can produce ready-to-assemble elements on this saw in a single pass. Subsequent processing on the construction site becomes a thing of the past. This is highly efficient and increases the competitiveness of the users.
The benefits of the HPP 300 multiTec
• Tremendous cost savings
• Ready-to-assemble elements
• Much shorter processing times
• Handling processes are cut to a minimum, reducing the risk of damaging parts
• Dust does not collect on the panel, therefore parts require no cleaning
• Software-controlled with numerous enhancement options
• Suitable for almost all panel materials (e.g. wood, plastics, plaster, composite materials etc.)
Now with innovative interface to COBUS NCAD
New since LIGNA 2017: a special interface to COBUS NCAD. This brings advantages for companies producing facades and partition walls, as it allows them to plan all their projects as usual using their CAD/CAM software. The interface then converts all the results, at the touch of a button, into machine-readable data and transfers it to the correct machine. This could be the HPP 300 multiTec, a HOMAG CNC processing center or a WEINMANN machine. If desired, cutting patterns can be optimized before being cut by the saw, most appropriately with the Cut Rite software.
The user can concentrate on what’s important and plan more flexibly than ever. Spontaneous changes can be implemented at any time and are instantly available for production via the COBUS NCAD interface. In short: work preparation that often used to take a long time now takes just a few minutes thanks to the new interface.
Tags: ascinated timber framers, CAD system, CNC-controlled house manufacturing, COBUS NCAD interface, DACH + HOLZ, HALL 7, high dimensional accuracy, high machining accuracy, high processing accuracy, highest accuracy, homag, impressive, industrial solution, multifunction bridge, state-of-the-art technology, WBS 140 carpentry machine, wide range of applications, WMS 060
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