Why an Automated Bandsaw Will Save You Money

When operating a machining or fabrication shop, every dollar counts. Most shops have a bandsaw in their equipment lineup to alleviate the cost of getting custom-cut lengths from a metal supplier. While having a bandsaw is useful, it can still be a drag on your checkbook because of the manual labor required. Normal bandsaws have a simple design: you lift the blade, set up the stock, fire up the saw, check the hydraulic cylinder so the blade doesn’t fall too fast for the metal you’re cutting, and let the saw do its thing. After the stock is cut, you need to repeat much of that process, which means you need someone in your shop babysitting the saw. While automatic bandsaws have been available to free up the operator manning the process, their pricing of $20K and up didn’t make them a money-saving option. Even a used automatic saw can cost around $10K. Until now. The Tormach AF50 Autofeed Bandsaw is currently in beta, and things are going well! With the AF50, you can program up to 999 strokes, meaning there’s no longer a need for a dedicated operator to spend valuable time and effort cutting raw materials. And, even if you’re on a budget, it'll be available for under $7K. [youtube]NMDSmxCKp6c[/youtube] Our bandsaw can save you money in three major ways:

1. Cheaper Cost per Cut

A manual saw requires somebody to stand at the saw, lift the blade, and set the stock for every single cut. That costs time and money. With the AF50, you can program a given length and dial in up to 999 strokes, letting you set it and forget it. The system provides an automatic feed feature, which keeps your saw cutting and feeds in new stock.

2. Get More Stuff Done

Since you no longer have to be tethered to your bandsaw for each cut, you or operators can work on CAD or machining with your other Tormach machine tools or a variety of other stuff in the shop while the AF50 does the work for you.

3. Lights-Out Cutting

Maybe your stock arrived right at the end of the day or you have other machines to tend to. No problem! The AF50, like larger automated bandsaws, gives you the ability to run at the end of a shift, turn out the lights, and let the magic happen. This saw does the work for you, even if you’re not in the shop. There’s more to come, so if you want to be the first to hear about the AF50’s release, sign up for updates here!