It’s a current trend that more and more nesting machines are being used
Logical!
The cost of production will be reduced by tens of percent compared to the production with a cups / beam machine.
In combination with FixChip, the savings in production time can easily go up to 50%
The origin of FixChip
Next to FixChip BV, i’m also co-owner of PaletteCAD Netherlands VOF. These businesses are strictly separated, however with PaletteCAD i’ve gained many years of valuable experience concerning the use and programming of CNC machines. We clearly see more and more cabinet makers transfer to nesting machines. Even with the traditional wood connectors more people tend to see the advantages of a nesting machine. Traditionally the wood connectors are designed from a functionality point-of-view. We have turned this proces around and started thinking from an efficiency perspective on a CNC nesting. The result is the FixChip.
Motivation
Everyone who wants to buy a new CNC machine should consider to choose for a nesting table. Before the FixChip the wood connector of choice would suggest the cups / beam machine is the most efficient option. This because there was no method to produce a technically and economically healthy wood connector for a nesting table.
Horizontal operations are not easily producable during the first CNC program on a nesting table. This is history with the arrival of the FixChip. The old problems enumerated; leaving too much space in between two boards, cutting recesses in boards in order to have a fragile drilling unit make the horizontal drillings, long production times, inefficiëncy, pollution on the table and leftover pieces are all tackled when using the FixChip wood connector.
The FixChip is a responsible connector made of recycled FSC high density fibreboard, or HDF. This is a big improvement towards the many environmentally taxing plastic connectors. The environment is important, which is also the reason why we produce energy nuetral. The power that we use for production is self-generated and now the gas line is completely shut off.
Aside from the advantages mentioned before, the FixChip allows you to produce with more spead, cleaner and economically efficiëntly. Without compromises in quality.
Some of the benefits at a glance
100% accurate
No failure-sensitive aggregates
Lower investment in machine equipment
Higher efficiency from gross boards
Less pollution of the machine
Less leftovers on the machine
FSC recycled HDF
Produced energy neutral
FixChip compared to traditional joining methods
The dowel is still the most used connector for furniture.
What are the advantages and disadvantages relative to the FixChip
The dowel has a smaller glue surface, why more dowels have the be used per cabinet.
When a dowel is used, the CNC produces with three different operation units:
1. formatting of the piece with the main spindle,
2. horizonal drilling with a drilling unit,
3. vertical drilling with a vertical drill spindle.Any deviation from the individual spindles is reflected in the end result. Adjusting and calibrating the machine is therefore often an expensive affair that must be carried out by the machine manufacturer.
However, when a FixChip is used, all operations will be executed with the main spindle. In other words, even if there is a deviation in the machine, the FixChip always fits 100%.Apart from the adjustment of the machine, drills always have deviations because they find their own way. The horizontal drills in particular always deviate. You do not have this problem with the FixChip either, because the operations for it are executed with stable tools.
If you look at the picture of the FixChip, you will see that the weft depth is limited, which means that you always have the ideal weft depth for both sides and that the adhesive is distributed optimally. With a dowel it may be that the dowel in the end face is too deep or too shallow, as a result of which the glue does not distribute in the counter side or that you cannot assemble the parts properly.
Steps by using the FixChip
Recommended production method for FixChip
Traditional CNC machines
Saw parts with 4 mm excess
Format (main spindle)
End machining for fix chip (Groove cutter 35 × 6 on the main spindle)
other operations such as handle bars and hinge holes
Vertical notches (6 mm groove cutter on the main spindle)
CNC nesting machines
End grooves (Groove drill-mill 35 × 6 on the main spindle)
Nest out plates 0.4 oversize and leave 0.5 mm in depth (tension of the plates)
Vertical notches (6 mm groove cutter on the main spindle)
Other operations such as hinge holes, recesses for handle strips, etc.
Cut and mill parts to size
Tools required
Groove drill-cutter 35 × 6 mm (specially made for Fixchip)
available in the webshop
Groove cutter 6 mm (standard tool)
Assembly with the FixChip
Large production numbers
For large production numbers, you can first glue the Fixchip on the end side (on the stack)
The assembly process is thus comparable to the dowel
The Fixchip has a facet all around
Assembly pieces production
Customers often choose to mount the Fixchip in the flat surface first
The rounding and facet of the Fixchip makes mounting on the flat surface very easy
The fit is also perfect because all operations are made with the main spindle
When pressed together, the parts slide over the curve exactly to the size
