Mouldinss bank on MDF

be used when processing MDF work pieces. This is especially important if the moulding is to be painted with a high gloss or if a fine foil is to be used as a wrapping rather than a thick foil. If conventional tools are used, however, short cutter marks are only possible with a slow feed speed (2640 ft./minute). According to Michael Weinig AG, this disadvantage can be overcome by using jointed hydro tools. Thanks to the hydraulic clamping, the cutter head fits with zero tolerance to the spindles, while at the same time jointing guarantees that all tool cutters are used uniformly. This ensures an optimum true running so that the desired surface quality can be achieved, even at high feed speeds. The prerequisites for jointing are a heavy construction moulder with a smooth and even feed, and high-performance spindles with optimum speed.

When MDF work pieces are moulded, the fibers on the surface are cut out. The "hairs" sticking up must be removed before the mouldine is

Why are so many

milling companies jumping on the bandwagon?

coated with fine foil or painted, preventing them from remaining visible as a rough surface. This is done by sanding.

Weinig, in fact, now offers a highspeed moulder for longitudinal processing that moulds and sands MDF work pieces in one work sequence. Based on the time-tested Hydromat series, these combination moulder/ sanding machines have special aggregates and a unique spindle arrangement.

MDF mouldings that are coated with thick foil may not need sanding.

In the end, MDF is a low-cost, hightech material extracted from natural substances. A material that is finding more uses, MDF reportedly is easy to process as long as its features are taken into account and suitable machines are used.