Technolegno and its UK/Irish agent Elliot Machinery have worked together to develop a profile sanding technology to cut the downtime traditionally involved when handling batches of different components.
Profile sanders have counter-profile pads that are machined to be mirror images of the component and which press the continuous sanding belt accurately against the contour of the workpiece. For smaller volume requirements and for the increasingly popular small batch, just-in-time production, the downtime required to change the counter-profile pads for different components can be significant.
On Tecnolegno’s Compact 28 machine there are two sanding heads, each carrying two counter-profile pads. Both heads and all four pads can be operated independently, which allows the machine to be set up for two, three or four different components (depending on the complexity of the profile).
The heads are PLC-controlled to ensure accurate sanding (no rounding or ‘dubbing’ of corners) and are set-up from the main console sited next to the operator. Simply pushing the appropriate buttons brings the required pads instantly into play and excludes the others – enabling efficient production of small batches and even one-offs.
‘Tecnolegno machines offer a wide range of solutions,’ said Mike Hill, managing director of Elliot Machinery. ‘They can be supplied with milling heads as well as profile sanding heads and they deliver a top quality finish.
‘The Compact 28 represents a further advance in profile sanding technology which will help customers to improve production efficiency and cut costs.’
At its showroom in St Neots, Cambs, Elliot Machinery has a twin-head, four pad Compact 28 with PC push-button controls available for demonstrations or immediate delivery.
