Edging machine: principle of operation, types, prices

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

In the furniture industry, a special place is occupied by the processes of decorative finishing. This group includes many processing operations aimed at correcting minor defects and giving an ennobled appearance to individual parts and surfaces of a wooden structure. The edges of the parts also require a special approach in terms of mechanical refinement. To work with them, an edging machine is used, which, depending on the modification, can not only ensure the smoothness of the sides, but also automatically finish them with a special material to ensure the decorativeness of the final product.

The principle of operation of the edging machine

Equipment operation is formed from several actions. The essence of the process most often consists in preparing and gluing a special tape to the edge surface. The first stage is implemented in the form of fixing consumables in a special machine magazine. The edge tape is then integrated into the feed system. The most important category of operations during this finishing is the handling of the adhesive. The reliability of the work done, that is, the strength of fixation and retention of the tape during operation, will depend on how well the composition is prepared.

Group of functionalmechanisms in a coordinated mode carries out the application of a preheated adhesive mass on the surface of the edge, after which the tape is applied directly. Then a special press comes into play, which contributes to a reliable adhesion of the material to the edge line. Like all modern equipment for the production of furniture, such machines allow for the possibility of full automation. Some models are equipped with sensors for the position and movement of the guide rollers, which helps to improve the accuracy of work.

Main work units

The main unit is the feed module, which directs the tape in the right direction relative to the position of the edge itself. Management also occurs automatically in accordance with a given program. Another node is responsible for working with glue, which may have different principles of operation. For example, the process of heating the adhesive mass itself can be provided either by an infrared lamp or an industrial hair dryer. At the same time, approaches to applying the solution also differ. Both one detail and an edge with a tape can be processed. As noted above, the edge tape at the end of the process is pressed against the work surface. To perform this function, support rollers with a special platform are used. By the way, it can work both automatically and by manual effort.

Varieties

The main difference between machines of this type is the level of automation. Fully automated lines are usually found in large industries. In this version, the edgingthe machine is capable of providing entire batches of blanks with tapes in a short period of time. Another thing is that the simplest models of this kind can work with typical edge formats - most often rectangular.

Specially for the maintenance of curved parts, semi-automatic or manual modifications are used. This is exactly the case when physical strength remains relevant even against the background of the active spread of robotic mechanisms. A positional or manual edging machine is characterized by a high quality of gluing operations, but it also has its drawbacks. In particular, it is impossible to efficiently serve large batches of workpieces on such equipment. Therefore, the positional apparatus is mainly used by private craftsmen or owners of small factories with small-scale or piece production of furniture.

Additional functionality

For the successful and high-quality completion of the operation of gluing the tapes, final refinement is also required. The fact is that the decorative strips are initially matched to the part in such a way that a small protrusion remains both in width and in length. After the work of the clamping support press is completed and the glue hardens, on some machines, the correction mechanism is activated. For example, an edging machine for chipboard, MDF or other wood-based materials can be equipped with two trimming mechanisms - milling and trimming. The first implements a delicate removal of the excess from the width of the tape, and the second performs trimming to length.

Equipment Manufacturers

The leading manufacturers of this equipment include Jet, RAUTEK and Brassa, well-known in the industrial sector. They produce powerful and productive units, the power potential of which averages 2000 watts. This is enough to equip a full-fledged furniture production. High-quality equipment with less high performance is developed by HighPoint. At the same time, the machines of the first group are far from outperforming low-power equipment in all parameters. In particular, HighPoint's 1000W models are characterized by high processing speed and compact size.

How much does a edging machine cost?

Rarely in this segment there are machines, the cost of which is less than 100 thousand rubles. Even the budget class is available to small businesses for an average of 130-150 thousand. And these are not always offers from first-line manufacturers. Industrial units can also cost 200 thousand. A multifunctional edging machine, the price of which is about 300-400 thousand, in addition to a high degree of automation and the presence of corrective mechanisms, will also provide the user with the ability to control through an autonomous electronic unit.

What to consider when choosing?

Consideration should be given to design features, speed of work, the ability to service workpieces with complex shapes, the same power potential, etc. The choice will mainly be determined by specific requests in terms of equipmentworking line. Much will be decided, in particular, by the planned volumes of material with which the edging machine and its functional organs will have to work. In advance, it is worthwhile to provide for additional equipment that is not directly related to the process of shaping the edges. Such equipment includes the same heating dryers for glue, voltage stabilizers, as well as separate supply lines for consumables.

Conclusion

Approaches to the technical equipment of factory production conveyors have changed significantly over the past few years. The introduction of automation systems had a serious impact on the organization of the workflow, but not only. Modern equipment for the production of furniture is developed taking into account ergonomic nuances and regularly increasing safety requirements. So, for the convenience of operators, special pedals with lightweight force transfer mechanisms, performance indicators and software tools are provided that simplify the entire control process. As for safety, more and more technologically advanced protective systems are used to maintain it, such as automatic shutdown and blocking of certain functions when sensors detect signs of equipment overheating.