316 Section 4 Manufacturing Process Database
with push sticks, guards, or hold-down devices when
possible. Often, special-purpose wooden guides
or fences are fastened to the shaper table. At other
times, the stock is held against templates or special
forming jigs.
In production, shaping is often performed using
multiple-spindle shapers, which have a number of
spindles arranged side by side. Automated equip-
ment that clamps the stock to the table and feeds it
into the cutters is also popular.
Routing
The router has become one of the most important
machines in the furniture-making industry because
of its great versatility. Routers can be mounted on a
table or may be handheld. Large production routers
look much like vertical milling machines or drill
presses. Production routers may have motors capable
of rotating spindles at more than 50,000 rpm.
The router is used to add simple round or
decorative shapes to the corners of stock, tables, and
countertops. A router that is mounted in a table can
shape moldings and cut grooves in the edges of stock.
Special templates and fixtures are used with routers
to produce items from intricate carvings, such as
rosettes and overlays, to simple signs often seen at
craft shows. Routers can even be used to produce
spiral flutings and rope moldings on lathe-mounted
work.
When a handheld router is used, it is held
securely in both hands, with one hand grasping a
handle on each side of the tool. The cutterhead is
either plunged into the stock or pushed into it from
the side. The best cut is made by using a fairly rapid
feed rate and several shallow cuts. Usually a tem-
plate or guide is used to produce the desired pattern.
A bushing or bearing on the end of the cutting tool
helps to guide the cutter around the template.
Stationary routers are used to make grooves
and cut irregular shapes. A pin is mounted in the
table and serves as a guide. The template runs against
the pin to shape pieces as desired.
Routers are popular in the furniture-making
and boatbuilding industries. Computer numerical
control (CNC) routers are often used to cut patterns
and designs when a number of identical parts are
required. Figure 21-10 shows an operator loading an
uncut piece of wood onto the router table while the
routing process is carried out on two other pieces.
A computer control unit is located to the operator’s
right. The program for cutting the desired pattern is
stored on a computer disk until it is needed. Then,
the controller transmits the electronic signals to the
router to make the desired cuts.
In industry, it is common practice to use two or
more routers attached to the same control system
so they will perform identical movements on work-
pieces. Figure 21-11 shows an operator waiting for
a pair of CNC routers to finish cutting parts. The
vacuum hoses connected to each router head are used
to draw sawdust away from the router bits, keeping
the cutting paths clear and unobstructed.
Figure 21-10. This CNC router can complete two
workpieces at the same time with great precision because
of the program stored in the computer controller. The
operator is loading an uncut piece of wood on a transfer
table in preparation for the next cycle.
(Stanton Manufacturing Co., Inc. Photo by Matt Bentz)
Figure 21-11. To keep the router path clear, a vacuum dust
collection system is attached to each of the router heads
of this CNC tandem routing machine. The two hoses carry
sawdust away to a central collection point. Note the two
pieces of uncut stock on the transfer table at left, ready to
move into place beneath the routers.
(Stanton Manufacturing Co., Inc. Photo by Matt Bentz)
with push sticks, guards, or hold-down devices when
possible. Often, special-purpose wooden guides
or fences are fastened to the shaper table. At other
times, the stock is held against templates or special
forming jigs.
In production, shaping is often performed using
multiple-spindle shapers, which have a number of
spindles arranged side by side. Automated equip-
ment that clamps the stock to the table and feeds it
into the cutters is also popular.
Routing
The router has become one of the most important
machines in the furniture-making industry because
of its great versatility. Routers can be mounted on a
table or may be handheld. Large production routers
look much like vertical milling machines or drill
presses. Production routers may have motors capable
of rotating spindles at more than 50,000 rpm.
The router is used to add simple round or
decorative shapes to the corners of stock, tables, and
countertops. A router that is mounted in a table can
shape moldings and cut grooves in the edges of stock.
Special templates and fixtures are used with routers
to produce items from intricate carvings, such as
rosettes and overlays, to simple signs often seen at
craft shows. Routers can even be used to produce
spiral flutings and rope moldings on lathe-mounted
work.
When a handheld router is used, it is held
securely in both hands, with one hand grasping a
handle on each side of the tool. The cutterhead is
either plunged into the stock or pushed into it from
the side. The best cut is made by using a fairly rapid
feed rate and several shallow cuts. Usually a tem-
plate or guide is used to produce the desired pattern.
A bushing or bearing on the end of the cutting tool
helps to guide the cutter around the template.
Stationary routers are used to make grooves
and cut irregular shapes. A pin is mounted in the
table and serves as a guide. The template runs against
the pin to shape pieces as desired.
Routers are popular in the furniture-making
and boatbuilding industries. Computer numerical
control (CNC) routers are often used to cut patterns
and designs when a number of identical parts are
required. Figure 21-10 shows an operator loading an
uncut piece of wood onto the router table while the
routing process is carried out on two other pieces.
A computer control unit is located to the operator’s
right. The program for cutting the desired pattern is
stored on a computer disk until it is needed. Then,
the controller transmits the electronic signals to the
router to make the desired cuts.
In industry, it is common practice to use two or
more routers attached to the same control system
so they will perform identical movements on work-
pieces. Figure 21-11 shows an operator waiting for
a pair of CNC routers to finish cutting parts. The
vacuum hoses connected to each router head are used
to draw sawdust away from the router bits, keeping
the cutting paths clear and unobstructed.
Figure 21-10. This CNC router can complete two
workpieces at the same time with great precision because
of the program stored in the computer controller. The
operator is loading an uncut piece of wood on a transfer
table in preparation for the next cycle.
(Stanton Manufacturing Co., Inc. Photo by Matt Bentz)
Figure 21-11. To keep the router path clear, a vacuum dust
collection system is attached to each of the router heads
of this CNC tandem routing machine. The two hoses carry
sawdust away to a central collection point. Note the two
pieces of uncut stock on the transfer table at left, ready to
move into place beneath the routers.
(Stanton Manufacturing Co., Inc. Photo by Matt Bentz)