Has anyone come across an article that compares and contrasts various power feeds across various applications? Of particular interest is the use of power feeds on shapers (3 HP), table saws (3 HP), and also for use on large bandsaws (e.g., 36" 5 HP) for resawing. I didn't find anything like this on the FWW or PWW sites though Lonnie Bird's book on shapers discusses power feed use but in generic terms...
Thanks,
John
What, specifically do you have in mind as points of comparison?
For anything of the size of 3 HP and larger the question of trying to get by with 120V instead of 240 is just silly unless there's some really, really, really unusual reason. If one has access to 3 phase one can find much cheaper deals on used gear because the general population of potential purchasers goes way down which if one is looking for acquisition can make up for a large part of the cost of a converter.
As for controls, it's also just silly to not put LV controls on any and everything of such size...
But, if there's something else bothering you, ask away... :)
Lonnie Bird's book on shapers discusses power
If you are asking about the usage on various pieces of equipment I have an "opinion" so a "comparison" of usefulness if that is what you are after.
Lots of good reasons to use them on shapers and I would always go to the tr ouble if I had one available. I think more wheels are better than wider whe els but the choices are pretty slim anyway. They all work.
Table saws not so much except for real production work and even then a rip saw with a chain feeder would be better .
Resawing for sure if you do it a lot and have some level of production. Har dly worth the effort for a one-off cut but slicing 1/4's off of raw stock o ver and over it is a dream. However, I think the resaw feeders are the most expensive of this expensive group of machines. I think you can use a stand ard feeder for resaw but I am talking about the dedicated versions. Never w orked with a regular on setup like that.
On 10/10/2013 4:51 PM, dpb wrote: ...
Ahhh...power feedERS not feeds...big difference. :)
Other than for repetitive production work I find them more nuisance than value for such small machines...
I haven't seen any articles, but I have used power feeders a lot.
On table saws they do increase setup time to the point that I wouldn't consider using one for less than 30 pieces and depending on the job might stretch that out to fifty pieces.
On a shaper though there are jobs that I would set one up for a one off, such as profiling a round table top edge, with straight work it would be much the same as table saw work.
basilisk
Yes when I used to get mags I had read one. Can't remember which it was. Made me want one due to the ability to dial one in for the perfect feed, no burn on cherry ..
wish I could tell you which mag it was.
------------------------------------------------------------ Can't answer your question directly; however, some info that may be of interest.
A few weeks ago saw an old tape of a "This Old House" program that showed a CNC controlled machining center that reminded me of a typical Warner & Swasey Wiedeman CNC Turret Punch except instead of cutting metal it was cutting wood.
Given what I saw, the day of the individual machine ranks right up there with the dodo bird in a production operation.
The typical CNC machining center will have a turret containing at least 90-135 separate tools and can easily eliminate routers, shapers and most table saw functions.
This will show an old Warner & Swasey Wiedeman Model W-3050 CNC Turret Punch in action.
Lew
Points of clarification:
I've got several projects in mind. One involves making thousands of square feet of flooring from cants and bolts. Thus lots of resawing (for the bolts, after squaring) and lots of shaper work, both of which would clearly benefit from power feeding the stock. What makes this viable is that the cants and bolts would be practically free. Another project involves relatively small, but relatively frequent, production runs of parts made from sheet goods (nominal 16" x 32" and 12" by 32") which is where the table saw comes in. I've considered also setting it up on the 8" jointer for face jointing as I think it would work fine with relatively short stock (3-4 foot long). The thickness planer has it's own feed!
The comparisons I am curious about involve the X & Y adjustments across various feeders, how much HP is needed for various tasks, and what wheel composition and number of wheels seem best for various tasks.
See... simple questions where there would be utility in having a real comparison chart!
John
------------------------------------------------------------
I saw that episode of TOH also... it got me thinking about a couple projects where CNC methodology would be fantastic for work with sheet goods. I suspect it is perhaps not so good with solid woods due to the grain... which metals don't have from a machining perspective. Yes I know metals have grain but the grain in metal generally does not affect its machining the way grain affects the machining of wood (try jointing the end grain of wood vs. running steel in any orientation through a milling machine if you don't believe me... ;~) ).
If my project involving the sheet goods turns into mass production (ha ha ha...) I'd certainly go with the CNC so that whole sheets could be slapped on a vacuum table and CNC machined into finished parts!
One big hunk of iron. Probably lives in China by now.
"G. Ross" wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------- I had automotive customers that had maybe 20-30 Wiedeman's in their plant.
Today, Warner & Swasey is gone from E55th & Carnegie in Cleveland as well as Wiedeman.
Cleveland had many machine tool builders in the 50's and 60's.
To the best of my knowledge, all are gone.
Lew
------------------------------------------------- That's why you have software to address the above.
-------------------------------------------------------- There is also the idea of becoming a stand alone machining center in you area to supplement a CNC.
Lew
That is in my mind plenty of work to justify buying a really nice heavy duty power feeder and with the need for production work later on, something you want ever regret.
All the feeders I have used were either three or four wheel models, with table saw and shaper work any number of wheels and hp will work fine. Resawing and jointer work will benefit from having the longest body, most wheels and as much horsepower as you want to invest in.
One of the great benifits to power feeders is the fact that feather boards, holdovers, holddowns and all such similar devices are not needed, properly set the feeder will take care of all these functions.
I have never used one of the track feeders that are available now, and I don't see the need for a track feed. Could be that I am clueless about some magic property they have.
Get one of the universal mounting arms, easily adjustable six ways from Sunday. makes life much simpler. These will require drilling mounting holes in tops and or fashioning heavy mounting brackets along side the top of any machine you want to use it on. Some will cringe at the idea of drill ing holes in tablesaw tops, it is done as a matter of course for any need that arises in production work, and no one bats an eye-YMMV.
Everything is relative, how sharp everything is, speed at which you want to work, cost of equipment etc. I don't think you'll find a chart that factors in how fast you and a helper can comfortably feed and restack the material. :) A good tablesaw, sharp blade, and almost any size power feeder will keep you hustling handling material.
basilisk
That is where I am in my thinking.
That is the kind of insight I was seeking....
This is high on my list of reasons for pursuing power feeders... No matter what I do on the shaper I cannot help but think that the consistency of feeding the stock with electrons vs. with meat would lead to better and more consistent results.
I'm not clear on "why" either... haven't seen any that explains the difference/benefits.
Are you referring to something different from what comes with the Delta 1/4 HP unit?
This could lead to additional purchases... e.g., stock tables that lower from tool top height by the thickness of the stock with each completed piece that is added. ;~)
Thanks!
John
That's what I am calling a universal mount, it will allow you to set just about anything.
basilisk
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