For many years JJ Smith Woodworking Machinery has offered specialist, bespoke equipment to suit customers individual production requirements. Rather than take a one-size-fits-all approach, the company has carefully selected a number of partners to work with each of whom are specialist in different, but associated sectors of manufacturing.
This is highlighted by the co-operation JJ Smith has established with three leading manufacturers of CNC equipment, Comec Group, Intorex and MZ Project.
The Comec Group and JJ Smith have been working together for over 20 years, initially offering a range of mechanical drilling, slotting, shaping and cutting machines mainly for use in the solid wood furniture industry. As the company grew and expanded it entered into the design and manufacture of a range of specialist CNC machinery that can be adapted and used to produce a wide range of components.
Samples from the Frontal machine
The Frontal series of machines consists of a vertical automatic hopper feed loader, with a step-by-step throughfeed system which delivers the component to different machining stations which can include saw units, horizontal/vertical drilling, routing and end/face milling.
This particular model of machine can be used for producing general furniture components, rails, tenoning/slotting window and door parts and also for machining drawer fronts. The MD series of CNC machining centre, are available in three different versions – MD Classic MD Top and MD Jamb.
Comec's MD Plus
All of these can be configured with a number of different machining heads, including vertical and/ or horizontal milling heads and NC drilling groups which can be specified to work on all the faces/ends of a furniture rail. In addition a C axis can be added meaning it is possible to cut components to size, with either straight or angled cutting.
Another unique feature of the MD is that it can be equipped with an automatic hopper feed loading system to offer continuous production. The MD Jamb model is specifically designed for the volume production of door components and door linings, with the possibility to have automatic infeed and outfeed loading systems.
The impressive Intorex TMC 3000
While Intorex is probably best know for producing woodturning lathes, four and five axis between centres CNC machines now account for over 50% of its annual production with sales being made worldwide. These machines can produce a wide range of traditional, contemporary-or complex-shaped furniture parts along with stair spindles and newel posts.
A unique feature is that they all incorporate CNC controlled sanding heads, which allow for the components to come off as finished sanded items. In addition, thanks to the automatic hopper feed loading it is possible to set up for continuous, uninterrupted production. The TC1000 model is equipped with a CNC-controlled milling head for shaping and then either one or two vertical/horizontal router heads that can perform other machining operations.
The TMC model has five interpolated axes with a total of eight CNC axes that control the shaping head, sanding head, the sawblade for turning and overhead router with eight-position rotary tool-changer.
The working length capacity is either 1500mm or 3000mm while blanks with a section up to 300mm square. can be loaded and machined. On request the TMC can be supplied in the DB configuration meaning it is equipped with either one or two flat bed matrix tables that can be fitted with either vacuum or pneumatic clamping. This gives the machine an even greater level of versatility allowing for standard four axis machining to take place using the router head.
The latest addition to the range is the TKC1500 which can be supplied with up to six different heads for shaping, sanding, milling and turning. All machines are supplied as standard with the intorEDIT 3D design software, while the TMC now also comes complete with the Solidworks and Solidcam software package.
The sawblade that is used for turning on TMC and TKC models has been specially designed for Intorex to its exact specification thus ensuring the very best possible results in terms of detail and finished quality of the turned part.
Another unique feature that is available across the range is the patented eccentric tailstock which gives the facility to load and machine timber blanks that are off centre, which is particularly useful for producing table or chair legs. Lastly one aspect of the machine design that Intorex feels is of great importance is the actual build of the main machine frame.
On all models it uses solid steel, electro-welded basements with a plate thickness of 35mm. Only by using this type of structure can vibration-free, accurate machining be achieved. To date, size machines have been sold into the UK, with one customer recently installing his second machine.
Finally from MZ Project there is a complete range of CNC-controlled bandsaw machines, which eliminates the need for manual cutting, marking out and jigs, meaning the operation is much quicker and safer than when using standard manual bandsaws.
They can be specified to cut either solid wood and/or flat panel material with the top-of-the-range Pluris model being fitted with router and drill heads meaning it is possible to cut nested sofa/chair frame parts from 2.5 x 1.2m sheets, with the possibility to cut up four boards high thus making the machine very productive.
0151 548 9000
www.jjsmith.co.uk
