Edge grinder: operating principle, types, prices

In furniture production, a special place is occupied by decorative finishing processes. This group includes a number of processing operations aimed at correcting small defects and giving a refined appearance to individual parts and surfaces of a wood structure. A special approach in terms of mechanical refinement is required and the edge details. To work with them, the edge machine is used, which, depending on the modification, can not only ensure the smoothness of the sides, but also automatically trim them with a special material to ensure decorative to the final product.

The principle of the edge machine

The operation of the equipment is formed from several actions. The essence of the process is most often the preparation and gluing of a special tape on the surface of the edge. The first stage is realized in the form of fixing the consumable material in a special machine store. Further, the edge band is integrated into the feed system. The most important category of operations during such finishing is the handling of glue. The reliability of the work done, that is, the strength of the fixation and the retention of the tape during operation, will depend on how well the composition is prepared.

A group of functional mechanisms in a well-coordinated mode performs the application of preheated adhesive mass to the surface of the edge, after which a direct application of the tape is made. Further, a special press comes into play, which promotes reliable coupling of the material with the edge line. Like all modern equipment for furniture production, such machines allow full automation. Some models are equipped with sensors for positioning and movement of the guide rollers, which contributes to an increase in the accuracy of work.

The main working nodes

The main node is the feed module, which makes the direction of the tape in the desired direction relative to the position of the edge itself. The control also occurs automatically in accordance with the specified program. For work with glue, another node that can have different operating principles is responsible. For example, the process of heating the adhesive can be provided by either an infrared lamp or an industrial hair dryer. At the same time, the approaches to applying the solution differ. One part can be processed, and the edge with a tape. As already mentioned above, the edge band is pressed against the work surface at the end of the process. To carry out this function, support rollers with a special platform are used. By the way, it can work automatically, and at the expense of manual effort.

Varieties

The main feature of the difference between machines of this type is the level of automation. Fully automated lines are commonly found in large-scale production. In this design, the edge machine is able to provide whole batches of blanks for a short period of time. Another thing is that the simplest models of this kind can work with typical formats of edges - most often rectangular.

Especially for servicing curvilinear parts, semi-automatic or manual modifications are used. This is just the case when the physical force remains relevant even against the background of the active spread of robotic mechanisms. The positional or manual edge machine is characterized by high quality of performing gluing operations, but also has its drawbacks. In particular, on such equipment it is impossible to effectively maintain large batches of blanks. Therefore, the positioning apparatus is mainly used by private craftsmen or owners of small factories with small-lot or piece-by-piece manufacturing of furniture.

Additional Functionality

For the successful and high-quality completion of the tape gluing operation, final processing is required. The fact is that decorative strips are initially selected to the part in such a way that both a width and a length remains a small protrusion. After the work of the clamping support press and the gluing of the glue on some machines, the correction mechanism is activated. For example, the edge machine for chipboard, MDF or other wood-shaving materials can be equipped with two cutting machines - milling and trimming. The first realizes a delicate removal of the excess part from the width of the tape, and the second performs trimming along the length.

Manufacturers of equipment

The advanced manufacturers of this equipment include the well-known in the industrial sector companies Jet, RAUTEK and Brassa. They produce powerful and productive units, the power potential of which on average is 2000 watts. This is enough to equip a full-fledged furniture production. High-quality equipment with lower performance indicators is developed by HighPoint. In this case, the machines of the first group do not win in low-power technology in all parameters. In particular, models with a power of about 1000 W from the manufacturer HighPoint are characterized by high processing speed and compact dimensions.

How much is the edge machine?

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 enterprises on average for 130-150 thousand. And this is not always the proposal from the manufacturers of the first row. Industrial units can cost 200 thousand. A multifunctional edge machine, whose price is about 300-400 thousand, in addition to a high degree of automation and the availability of corrective mechanisms, will also provide the user with the ability to manage through a stand-alone electronic unit.

What to consider when choosing?

It is necessary to take into account the design features, speed of operation, the possibility of servicing complex shapes, the same capacity, etc. The choice will be determined mainly by specific requests in terms of equipping the work line. Much will be decided, in particular, the planned volumes of material with which the edge machine and its functional organs will have to work. In advance it is necessary to provide and additional equipment, not directly connected with the process of decoration of edges. Such equipment includes the same heating fenders for glue, voltage regulators, as well as separate supply lines for consumables.

Conclusion

Approaches to the technical equipment of production factory conveyors have changed significantly over the past few years. Serious impact on the organization of the work process was provided by the introduction of automation systems, but not only. Modern equipment for furniture production is developed taking into account ergonomic nuances and regularly increasing requirements for safety. So, for the convenience of operators, special pedals with lightweight force transfer mechanisms, performance indicators and software tools are provided, thanks to which the entire control process is simplified. With regard to safety, then to maintain it, use more and more technological protective systems like automatic shutdown and blocking of individual functions when sensors detect signs of equipment overheating.