ALPHACAM Helps CNC World Diversify Into Wood Cutting
A woodworking machine tool distributor has diversified into cutting wood for customers who are working to capacity and need to fulfil another order, or if they’re asked to cut a different material from normal and do not have a suitable machine for it.CNC World are the UK’s sole distributor of MultiCam 3- and 5-axis routers, offering them with ALPHACAM, from Vero Software, in order to optimise their performance. ALPHACAM also drives the Series 1000 demonstration machine which they use for the new cutting service.
“When our machine wasn’t being used for demonstrations it was standing idle,” says Sales Director Jason Rowe. “Customers receiving orders for cutting a different material have to subcontract it out, and we were often asked to recommend companies to undertake emergency cutting, so decided to start using our own machine for it.”"It’s extremely powerful software that can be adapted to every customer’s specific, individual requirements, and that’s vital as everyone needs something different."
Jason Rowe, Sales Director
They have also hired a programmer with extensive knowledge of ALPHACAM to ensure they provide customers with the best possible solution.
The service has proved particularly useful for machining overspill when a manufacturer’s shop floor is full to capacity, and when a customer needs to work with material they do not normally cut. He explains that as CNC World also supply lasers, plasmas and water jets driven by ALPHACAM’s sister software, Radan, they are able to cut metal, which wood-focused customers cannot undertake.
“It means we can offer metal cutting for woodworkers, and wood and plastic cutting for metal manufacturers. For example, a woodworking company recently needed to cut a couple of pallets of stainless steel as part of a cabinet-making contract. We were able to do that for them.”
The cutting service has also helped CNC World to secure a machine order. “We’ve been cutting parts for a manufacturer which led to him winning a major contract. The additional work that is bringing in justified them investing in a new machine from us,” says Jason Rowe.
CNC World distribute a range of MultiCam routers including the Classic entry-level, 1000, 3000 and 5000 series, along with the fast high performance 7000 series and the 5-axis 8000 series. “Many decorative furniture parts and moulded plywood chair parts require simultaneous 5-axis machining, and the 8000 features standard X, Y and Z axes plus a rotational C axis and swing A axis, meaning it can machine in all five axes simultaneously or rotate around a part, machining on all five accessible surfaces.”
A number of customers have used MultiCam routers to manufacture sets for film and television productions including Harry Potter, James Bond and X-Men, and are currently working on the new Star Wars films.
When specialist builders Facit Homes were creating a customised house for the Grand Designs TV programme an 8 x 4 MultiCam 1000 series router was taken to the site in Hertfordshire to cut the plywood sections. “Whenever the programme’s repeated we get enquiries about the 1000 from woodworking companies who’ve seen it on television.”
He explains why they decided to offer ALPHACAM to customers as an option with all their routers, and why they use it to program the 1000 for their new cutting service: “It’s extremely powerful software that can be adapted to every customer’s specific, individual requirements, and that’s vital as everyone needs something different.
“Customers using the cutting service simply send us the files – often their own machines are programmed with ALPHACAM anyway, so they send us ALPHACAM files – and we prepare and run the job for them.”
About the Company
Name: CNC World
Business: Machine Tool Distributor
Web: www.cnc-world.co.uk
Benefits Achieved
- Keeps material wastage to an absolute minimum and reduces cycle times
- Versatility of being able to cut wood or metal depending on a customers needs
- Helped to secure a machine order
Comments
“It’s extremely powerful software that can be adapted to every customer’s specific, individual requirements, and that’s vital as everyone needs something different.”
Jason Rowe, Sales Director
