Edge banding unit safely turned with the twister tape

Wood milling machine

This machine works the decorative edge of wooden boards. During this process, the work piece is guided past the milling head in several dimensions at speeds of up to 32 m/min. It is this multi-dimensional movement that presents the challenge to the energy supply. This challenge is easily mastered by the igus® e-chain® triflex® R Light. Its low weight also makes high acceleration of the milling head possible

Profile

What was needed: An energy supply system that allows the edge banding unit to be swivelled using 5-axis technology
Requirements: High rotation angle (720° in both directions), suitable for a small installation space, guiding several media in one system, cost-effective
Application: Wood industry, CNC machining center

Homag GmbH in Schopfloch is a specialist in production systems and machines for woodworking and the world market leader in the field of edge banding machine production. The range of products ranges from individual machines for craft businesses to complete networked production lines for highly industrialised, individual furniture production.

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Problem

For coating narrow workpiece surfaces, CNC machining centers with 5-axis technology or edge banding units are standard today. A further development by Homag combines these two technologies and thus opens up new design possibilities for furniture. This is because the machine can glue on slanted edges – a job that was previously only possible manually. For this purpose, the edge banding unit is swiveled using 5-axis technology. This means that both machining and coating with edge strips can be carried out at a free angle on the machining center.

Energy, information and media transmission is one of the most critical points in the combination of these two technologies. Solutions are available for the separate construction of the two technologies. However, the combination now requires more lines. To ensure that there are no restrictions on machining, larger rotation angles must also be possible – at least two full rotations in both directions. The previous solutions are either limited to too few media, allow only low rotation angles, require too much installation space or are too cost intensive.

Solution

HOMAG started looking for energy supply solutions outside the standard and turned to igus. After examining all the possibilities, only one energy supply system came into question: the twisterband is the perfect solution for this application. This is because, despite the heavy filling, it can be used to implement energy supply in a confined space, which also allows flexible equipment depending on the expansion stage. With an outer diameter of 330 mm and a total height of only 320 mm, two revolutions are achieved in both directions at a rotation speed of 120°/s. With the twisterband, different media can be routed in one system and costs can be saved compared to the previous, well-known solutions.

Learn more about Twisterband

The technology of the energy chain has proven itself to such an extent that it will also be an alternative for other machines in the future.

Friedhelm Rempp

Product Manager Stationary Technology at Homag