Resources
Maintenance and technical guidance
Written by the people who install and service these machines, for the people who run them.
Preventive Maintenance Schedule for CNC Routers and Edgebanders
The machines that last longest aren't the ones that never break down — they're the ones on a disciplined maintenance schedule. Here's a daily-to-annual plan for both machines.
Luc Bergeron
Automating a Machining Cell: Robot Tending vs Pallet Systems
Both extend unattended running hours, but they solve the part-handling problem differently. Here's how to match the automation approach to your actual part mix and fixturing.
Dev Malhotra
Press Brake Tonnage: How to Size a Brake for Your Parts
Undersizing a press brake shows up gradually, in bowed parts and premature tooling wear. Here's how tonnage, bend length and die opening actually interact — and a worked example.
Hana Kowalczyk
Buying a Used CNC Machine: A 12-Point Inspection Checklist
A used machine can be a great capital decision or an expensive lesson. Here's the same checklist our own technicians run before any used machine goes on our floor.
Luc Bergeron
When Does 5-Axis Machining Pay Off?
The extra two axes cost real money. Here's how to tell whether your parts actually need simultaneous 5-axis capability, or whether the real payback is in 3+2 setup reduction.
Hana Kowalczyk
Bridge Saw, Saw-Jet or Waterjet for Countertop Fabrication?
Adding capacity to a countertop shop usually means one of three paths. Here's how to tell which one actually solves your bottleneck instead of duplicating what you already have.
Hana Kowalczyk
Nested-Based CNC Routers: What Cabinet Shops Should Check Before Buying
Table size and spindle horsepower are the easy numbers to compare. Vacuum zones, tool changer capacity and dust collection sizing are what actually decide whether a router keeps up with your shop.
Dev Malhotra
Fiber Laser vs Plasma vs Waterjet: Choosing a Cutting Process
Fiber laser, plasma and waterjet all cut metal, but they get there differently. Here's how to match the process to your material mix, thickness range and tolerance needs instead of guessing.
Hana Kowalczyk