Eastman Sells Yet Another Cutting Machine
The Eastman Machine Company was pleased to add Sherwood Advanced Composite Technologies to its list of clients who have recently purchased an automated cutting machine. Eastman has been designing, manufacturing and selling material cutting machines for over 100 years. Eastman is known for having the industries widest range of cutting products with robust performance, superior customer support and industry experience. The reputation of their machines is durability, reliability, the highest quality materials and performance, while requiring little maintenance and service.
Sherwood purchased an M9000 Static Table Cutting System with multiple tool head, diagnostics control system, computer with operating system software, design and nesting software station, 8 roll material handing rack, and an additional static table top. The M9000 can handle material widths up to 70 inches and cutting lengths up to 9 feet at a maximum speed of 60 inches per second with an accuracy of +/- .015". The multiple tool head includes several types of blades, laser alignment diode, and an air-brush marking system for material labeling. The M9000 promises "superior cutting performance and increased throughput...capable of marking, cutting, drilling and punching virtually any material", according to Eastman.
Operators program their cutting requirements into the computer and pieces are "nested" to allow for the most optimum use of material. The material to be cut is then spread across the static table and vacuumed to the surface to ensure no movement for cutting accuracy. As cutting begins the gantry passes over the material, cutting with speed and accuracy.
"Sherwood has been interested in acquiring a cutting machine for some time now", said President Greg Brookes. "We looked around for several months and reviewed all the competitors but found Eastman to be the best choice for construction, reputation, and reliability. We hope to be able to increase material usage and decrease scrap by as much as 15%, which will lead us to provide a more cost-effective solution to our customer's composite manufacturing needs."
With the addition of the cutting machine, Sherwood is ramping up a comprehensive "kitting" program to provide even greater cost-savings and efficiency to their in-house manufacturing capabilities. The "kitting" program will allow Sherwood's composite technicians access to product materials that are pre-cut, pre-aligned, sequenced and marked for enhanced fabrication efficiency. Greg added, "All-in-all, we expect to get a rather quick return on our investment from the overall capabilities and potential that this Eastman cutter has brought to us."