A pair of compound saw guides mounted to finish off the C61400 wear plate side after bonding to the guide body.
The 3rd and final op of a tool plate that mounts on a FANUC industrial robot via a De-Sta-Co hand changer. This plate holds 5 custom tools built for use in an automated tagging application. It is easily completed in 3 operations with the travels allowed on the new Sharp Industries Box Way Vertical Machining Center SV-6332SX vs. 12 operations on Innovative Economical Solutions' smaller machines.
A pair of saw guides in process. The new Sharp Industries Box Way Vertical Machining Center SV-6332SX allows the fixture of multiple parts on the table, which results in a longer unattended cycle time. This is a key concept to allow a single operator the ability to run several machines at once. With automated probing as part of the setup, the operator can mount the raw stock or parts in a fixture, hit cycle start and walk away, returning only to remove the parts and fixture for the next set. The operator is free to go to another machine and repeat the same process for a different operation or part.
For years Innovative Economical Solutions was forced to enlist outside help when work for parts of a size exceeding 40" came in because their VMCs were simply not capable of handling them. Stuart Caruk, founder of Innovative Economical Solutions, began to consider the purchase of a new machine in order to broaden the company's scope. He felt that working on larger sized parts was a niche his company should be able to satisfy for his customers.
Mr. Caruk looked into available options that could handle the dimensions he required and found that within the suitable size class the new Sharp Industries Box Way Vertical Machining Center SV-6332SX stood out in regards to its specification and particularly its weight. It is approximately 33,000 lbs. with a rigid C frame design using hardened and ground box ways and structural components made of Meehanite casting with internal ribs running through each section. "For stability, mass really does make a difference and I could not be happier with the parts produced. With the 200 block look ahead on the FANUC control the O.D. and I.D. contours are simply perfect," said Mr. Caruk.
Innovative Economical Solutions builds different styles of saw guides. "Our competition builds a standard guide that is +/- .005" and the premium guide has a tolerance of +/- .0025". On our new Sharp SV-6332SX, we can consistently hit +/- .0002". This allows our customers the ability to run a much thinner guide, which yields a thinner plank that is easily able to clean up any mismatch between the upper and lower saw blade sets. This amounts to a higher yield of marketable lumber from the raw log, rather than sawdust, allowing our customers to generate annual savings in the millions of dollars," said Mr. Caruk.
Innovative Economical solutions can now handle work of dimensions it was not able to before. In addition, the Sharp SV-6332SX brought a substantial improvement in productivity. Its large table area, 70.8" x 33", allows for the ganging of multiple parts in a single setup. "High volume, low cycle time parts do not work well in a one man shop, but once you get cycle times up above an hour or two it is incredibly productive," said Mr. Caruk. The shop often runs four to five machines at a time building different styles of saw guides.
Innovative Economical Solutions offers full design and manufacturing capabilities with special emphasis on automated production and high precision parts. The company has focused on shop work for customers in the medical, performance automotive, robotics integration and sawmill industries as well as the building of custom parts in support of companies such as a paraglider towing company.
For more information contact:
Stuart Caruk
Innovative Economical Solutions
23102 NE 3rd Ave.
Ridgefield, WA 98642
360-887-0702
stuc@iesonline.cc
Sharp Industries, Inc.
3501 Challenger Street
Torrance, CA 90503
310-370-5990
www.sharp-industries.com