"Which router should I buy?" This is one of the most frequently asked questions we encounter. As you can imagine, the answers vary depending on demand, material, manufacturing processes, and more.
For those new to routers, a Stand Alone (SA) machine refers to a single router that is manually loaded and unloaded. This in commonly done to save money, but you still get the benefits of a CNC router.
A Nested Base Cell (NBC) is a router that is linked (or is capable of linking) with other automated machines such loading, labeling, and more.
When we are working with a customer to find the right router, we weigh the following:
- Demand: what is the production target number of sheets your shop needs to hit in a day? How many shifts do you run? If you're looking for a high production router, the Rover B might be worth considering. We'll talk about the Rover B in another post, but you can check out our video of it in action here.
- Material: Smaller material work generally leans toward a Pod & Rail routing machine while larger sheet cutting is best on a flat table nested base cell. Our favorite router table is 5x10 and works for most standard cabinetry. If you're cutting 7x9 Euro size sheet stock, you'll need a wide format table.
- Space: what are your incoming space requirements? If you have the room, we recommend considering the Biesse Windstore. Depending on floor space available, on-load and off-load conveyors can be used.
- Level of Automation: Always keeping budget in mind, we try to get our customers the highest level of automation possible. Some of the routers listed below are Nested Base Cell routers with automated loading, labeling, offloading, sweeping, etc. This allows for one employee to run the entire process.
- Growth Plan: We always want to help the customer reach the goals they are working toward. Planning for increased production must be considered when buying a new machine. We suggest buying machines that will be able to still keep up with your demand up to 5 years after installation.
- Budget, as always, must be appropriate.
A Brief Introduction to the Biesse Router Family...
- Usually, the first in line for working with plastics, soft materials, aluminum, and foam.
- Highly versitile, has the ability to drill block and oscillating knife
- Great for low to medium production
- Small footprint: 5x10 cutting table
- Boring Block: 5 tool positions, variety of tools for crease wheel, oscillating knives, drill block, clapping features
- Limited automation configuration: processing direction is not changeable, more difficult to add optional fetures, more difficult to link additional automated equipment (Windstore, conveyors, etc.)
- Great for sheet stock, typical entry point for case work or cabinetry
- Usually first in line for standard cabinetry nesting CNC machine and will meet the needs of a small shop with room to grow
- Limited automation configuration: variable processing direction, multiple configurations with varied automation (Windstore, conveyors, etc.)
- Boring Block: BH10 10 drills, rack on left side of the machine, will change on size between 9-11 tools, can have 6-14 tools
- Great for sheet stock, plug-n-play
- Can be integrated into further automation with Winstore, auto-labeling, conveyors, etc.)
- Boring Block: 21 tool positions, tool holder can hold up to 16 tools
- Typically, a single shift router
- Higher cutting capacity router
- Variable processing direction
- Easily linked to other automated machines (Windstore, auto-labeling, conveyors, etc.)
- Can be configured to fit the shop floor with space-saving or a fence that allows for faster operating speeds
- large Boring Block
- Great for sheet stock, advanced profiling, and mitre folding
- Compact machine, 5-axis
- Closed Configuration: processing direction is not changeable, more difficult to add optional features, more difficult to link to additional automated equippment (Windstore, conveyors, etc.)
- Bumper Machine: this machine doesn't have built-in fencing or light curtains which gives it a smaller footprint. Since it doesn't have a safety fence, the machine operates at a slower speed than the Rover A.
- Typically, single shift operations
- Large Boring Block
