HOMAG DRILLTEQ V-200 CNC – Three machines in one for Mark Finn Laboratory Furniture

Established over 35 years ago, Mark Finn Laboratory Furniture is a family-run business based in Keighley, West Yorkshire. It has grown into one of the leading lab furniture manufacturers in the UK, offering high quality British-made products. The Mark Finn Group has expanded to include brands such as Lab Tables, UK Lab Chairs and UK Toilet Cubicles.

“Our track record shows that we have become the leading expert in all aspects of the manufacture and installation of lab furniture,” claims company director, Tom Finn. He continues,

“The philosophy of the business has always been based around quality and service. The lab furniture we make is handmade in Yorkshire and designed to last a lifetime.

“The company has a policy of continuous improvement in our manufacturing processes. Last year we were looking at ways to increase efficiency by improving the production throughput speeds of the plant. It became clear that we needed to improve the dowel edge boring, hinge drilling and routing, as these processes were creating somewhat of a bottleneck.

“With this objective in mind we set out to find the best solution. I researched a lot of machines in the market and from an initial five that looked promising, we whittled them down to three before making our final choice.”

“I spoke with representatives from all the companies that had machines which met our manufacturing requirements,” Tom continues.

“From the outset, the HOMAG team was very responsive, particularly with detailed information about the machine’s performance. They went the extra mile to provide us with all the data we needed to make a truly informed decision.

“At the time, HOMAG also happened to have an Open House at its Castle Donington headquarters. This enabled us to see the machine in action. In addition, we visited another furniture manufacturer that already had a DRILLTEQ V-200 CNC in its production facility. The visit enabled us to get a more ‘warts and all’ unbiased opinion of the machine’s performance in a real working environment.

“The capabilities of the DRILLTEQ V-200 are impressive, but our decision to invest in one was helped by the popularity of the model in the marketplace. Compared with our other two top choices, the V-200 had already been selling in large numbers. The fact that so many companies had invested in one gave us real confidence in opting for the HOMAG solution.

“Another benefit is the popular woodWOP control software. Once you gain confidence using it, woodWOP helps extract the best out of the machine. The more our operators use it, the higher productivity we will attain with the V-200 as we learn what can be achieved with this advanced piece of equipment.”

“Since commissioning the DRILLTEQ V-200, it has been doing the work of three machines – dowel edge boring, hinge drilling and routing. Whereas before we had to move each workpiece to three different machines in different locations, the DRILLTEQ V-200 carries out all three operations quickly, accurately and with an excellent finish quality.

“When we were evaluating the various machines, there were four key advantages we wanted the machine to deliver. These were the flexibility of the drilling head, a compact footprint (mainly governed by how jobs are fed into the machine), the build quality and hence the reliability of the CNC and, of course, its functionality.

“The HOMAG DRILLTEQ V-200 CNC has delivered on all these criteria and it has resulted in a significant increase in our ability to process workpieces through our facility. Not only does it help us process higher volumes of work, but it also enables us to handle more ‘last minute’ jobs.”

“It’s early days, but given the benefits we have seen to date, we would estimate the return on investment for the V-200 to be within five or six years. This is the first time we have purchased HOMAG equipment, and given the performance of the machine alongside the professionalism of the HOMAG team, it’s unlikely to be the last investment we make with them,” concludes Tom.

For a demonstration or further information on HOMAG woodworking machinery or software, contact Adele Hunt at HOMAG UK on 01332 856424 or email: info-uk@homag.com www.homag.com www.mark-finn.co.uk

Waywood is renowned for its award-winning bespoke furniture. Here, we explore the unique fusion of specialisms and techniques that set this Oxfordshire-based business apart, and learn how an upgrade in its CNC machinery has enhanced Waywood’s capabilities ...

Founded in 1986, Waywood assimilates the varied skillsets of three furniture designers/ makers, with backgrounds as diverse as fine art, cabinetmaking, boat building, computeraided design and CAD/CAM manufacturing.

These highly experienced and time-served craftsmen have always shown a penchant for experimentation in their work and, sparked by an interest in CAD/CAM technology, have created a workshop with one foot firmly rooted in craft traditions, and one stepping out into the future.

“We often approach problem solving from completely different directions,” comments Barnaby Scott, owner and founder of Waywood. “Our collaborative design process and approach to problem solving allow a wealth of options for design and making solutions.

“As furniture designers, we are inevitably influenced by contemporary aesthetics, but we are not distracted by passing fashion. The warmth and infinitely variable nature of wood inspires us to treat it with respect, rather than design in a way that ignores the material we are working with. “We think a blend of subtlety and character is key to enduring design.”

It was in 2007 that Waywood added CNC machining to its bow, with a significant part of the business now dedicated to CNC machining as a sub-contracting facility. Today, the business provides machining solutions to artists, designers, furniture makers, interior specifiers and fabricators across a diverse range of design areas.

Everything from a stand-alone cutting service of 2D shapes, to a fully project managed CAD design service, with 3D shaping and assembly, is offered. “Our background as award-winning designers and makers of bespoke furniture means that we can offer a specialism in solid wood shaping and machining which few can equal, and have built a reputation as specialists in solid wood CNC machining,” says Barnaby. “Complexity of work is viewed as a challenge which we enjoy, and we treat problem solving in partnership with the client, as a standard approach to our work.”

The team was initially able to work around the limitations of its three-axis CNC machine, but began the lengthy process of adding five-axis capability to the business, not only with a view to expanding the capabilities for its own designs, but also to offer a greater range of options to its CNC customers.

Barnaby and CNC manager, Simon Smith, began researching different manufacturers in 2019 to gauge the various options available –these ranged from large format CNC machines to trying out robot arm technology.

“There were some specific criteria in choosing a new machine, ranging from what we could physically fit into the workshop, the limitations of the machines’ different axis and most importantly the accuracy of the machine over the size of the bed,” explains Barnaby.

“Another important factor was making sure the machine software would work with our existing CAD/CAM packages to minimise any further disruption.” >>

Barnaby and Simon both decided on a Maxicam five-axis CNC from Powell CNC, as this particular machine offered many of the required features and maximised the size of machine they could fit into the space.

The upgrade to five-axis machining means Waywood can machine some of the most complex three-dimensional work, both in solid wood and a range of composite/sheet materials.

“We excel at working both on long term projects where CAD design and project development are key, and large assemblies where integration of design and manufacture are essential to the job,” concludes Barnaby.

“In house expertise in CAD modelling and specialist knowledge of working with solid wood mean that we offer an excellent skillset to clients with complex projects.”

01608 676433 www.waywood.co.uk

Maxicam Excitech's diverse array of solutions is specifically designed to oversee the entire manufacturing process for the joinery industry. These solutions aim to reduce lead times, enhance quality, and lower production costs. The comprehensive range is readily available to manufacturers of all sizes, from entry-level workshops to industrial production facilities. The integration of parametric furniture design and manufacturing software ensures a seamless transition from initial design through to manufacturing, making the entire process effortlessly efficient.

BAR-CODE, LOADING UNLOADING