J.R. Rutter
02-28-2009, 6:33 PM
The latest addition to my shop is installed and making a huge impact on our S4S process. The Compact 23 is no longer made, but had a long run for SCM. This one is a 2001 model, so it matches the color scheme of my shapers and sander! It has 6000 rpm, 40 mm spindles. The capacity is 230 mm wide (9-1/16") x 125 mm (4-7/8") tall. The feed speed is variable. The infeed jointing/straightening table is 2 m (78") long. I went with this one after a deal on a 4 head Weinig Quattromat fell through last fall. This 5-head SCM can squeak by on a 100A circuit because the side heads share a motor. I think that long term, the 5th head (second bottom) on this machine will be a benefit: I'm running some casing next week and using it for the back relief cut.
So it took quite a bit of preparation to get ready. New electrical circuit, reconfigured/new 10" branch on the dust collector, rearrange/remove equipment, work out tooling, etc. Just getting it off the truck was a process because it was centered on the bed and our forklift has short forks. It was "teetery" and nerve wracking, but worked out in the end. It weighs over 4,000 lbs...
It does not work miracles for flattening/straightening, but we have a solid understanding of the manual S4S process and have continued to crosscut as needed to get flat stock out the other side. One of my woodworking buddies said his favorite part was the swish sound of the gas struts on the lid as you lift it up. My favorite part is that we were able to run a batch of 120 3" x 96" solid trim parts through in less than an hour on Friday!
So it took quite a bit of preparation to get ready. New electrical circuit, reconfigured/new 10" branch on the dust collector, rearrange/remove equipment, work out tooling, etc. Just getting it off the truck was a process because it was centered on the bed and our forklift has short forks. It was "teetery" and nerve wracking, but worked out in the end. It weighs over 4,000 lbs...
It does not work miracles for flattening/straightening, but we have a solid understanding of the manual S4S process and have continued to crosscut as needed to get flat stock out the other side. One of my woodworking buddies said his favorite part was the swish sound of the gas struts on the lid as you lift it up. My favorite part is that we were able to run a batch of 120 3" x 96" solid trim parts through in less than an hour on Friday!