Improved workflow
Router manufacturers have also streamlined workflow features to ease the process from design file creation and transfer to machine operation and final product output.
It is common, for example, for today’s CNC software to offer automatic layer toolpathing, which allows operators to take an image created in standard vector-based design software and transfer the computer-aided design (CAD) file directly to the machine without having to manually create its toolpath. Eliminating this step in the workflow process not only helps cut down on processing times, but also means employees can operate the machines with less specialized knowledge than before.
Indeed, minor advances in software have had profound effects on production, reducing the hardware’s cycle times.
New router keypads use graphical versions of traditional pushbutton ‘pendant’ controls.
Pendant control
Traditionally, displays on routers’ keypads have been analogue, offering very little functionality. Today, many machines have gone digital, offering greater flexibility through their keypads. And most recently, new versions of these keypads offer graphical versions of traditional pushbutton pendant controls.
By using large graphic icons instead of complicated codes, these graphical pendants make it easier for operators to control the machines. They can set job parameters, jog the machine, perform system tests and download jobs from a remote computer system, all through a user-friendly interface. This means less training is necessary for new operators in the first place.
Automated dust collection
A dust collector is used to remove excess material during and after cutting, essentially performing the same function as a vacuum cleaner. Clearing away excess material allows for cleaner cuts and provides safer working conditions for shop employees. One of the problems with regular dust collection, however, is the dust hood does not change its positioning for different lengths of router bits.
If one router bit is longer than the other, for example, then the distance between the material and the dust collector will be larger for the longer bit. And the larger this distance, the less effective the dust collector will be at removing excess material.
For this reason, some machines are now equipped with programmable or ‘active’ dust collectors that change their position automatically to maintain the same proximity to the material, independent of the tool length. This is especially important if a sign shop uses multiple tools for the same project and frequently switches between them.
Some machines are now equipped with programmable or ‘active’ dust collectors that change their position automatically to maintain proximity to the material, independent of the tool length.
Affordable progress
So, with the technological advances that have reached the market in recent years, there are many different features and platforms that can improve workflow and broaden a sign shop’s capabilities.
Other options that may be worth noting include the following:
- Automatic misting systems for cutting non-ferrous materials.
- Conveyors for automatically indexing material into the cutting zone for uninterrupted operations.
- Surface setting options, which allow the operator to take the guesswork out of setting the proper ‘zero’ reference for tools or knives.
- Advanced software that supports both both two-dimensional (2-D) and three-dimensional (3-D) cutting.
- ‘Nesting’ options that optimize material use and reduce excess waste.
Sign shops do not necessarily need the most expensive or heavy-duty routers to be competitive. Investing in affordable add-ons can help them provide new products to their customers and process existing products faster and more efficiently.
The smallest sign shops may never have the most capital, but they will always have ways to innovate, enhance their workflow and prepare for future opportunities. The key is to focus on constant progress and not stagnate or get left behind.
Griffin Coulter was a marketing intern this summer for MultiCam Canada in Concord, Ont., which sells and supports CNC cutting equipment. For more information, visit www.multicam.ca.
