Automated Accu-Slice System
The Automated Accu-Slice System is a system for the automatic slicing of boards on the band saw. The system enables the automatic indexing the boards to be cut to the desired thickness and then enables the repeated and unattended slicing of multiple boards on the band saw.
the Automated Accu-Slice System was developed during the first half of 2021. We modified our standard Accu-Slice Model AS266 Index Table to enable the unattended and automatic slicing of boards of the band saw.
The Automated Accu-Slice System is available from Accu-Slice by custom order only. The customer should have experience in the operation of the standard Accu-Slice System. Any system will need to be custom ordered. Each system is custom assembled and delivery time is normally 8 to 12 weeks. Call John Manura at Accu-Slice for additional details.
The total Automated Accu-Slice system includes the following:
The Automated Accu-Slice System is a system for the automatic slicing of boards on the band saw. The system enables the automatic indexing the boards to be cut to the desired thickness and then enables the repeated and unattended slicing of multiple boards on the band saw.
the Automated Accu-Slice System was developed during the first half of 2021. We modified our standard Accu-Slice Model AS266 Index Table to enable the unattended and automatic slicing of boards of the band saw.
The Automated Accu-Slice System is available from Accu-Slice by custom order only. The customer should have experience in the operation of the standard Accu-Slice System. Any system will need to be custom ordered. Each system is custom assembled and delivery time is normally 8 to 12 weeks. Call John Manura at Accu-Slice for additional details.
The total Automated Accu-Slice system includes the following:
- A Modified Accu-Slice Model AS266 Index Table
- A three inch wide Front Index Bar on which the ball screw indexing system is mounted
- 14" long guide bars permit the slicing of boards up to 3" thick
- A Linear Ball Screw Indexing system with 3" of travel
- NEMA 23 Stepper motor operation - Accuracy +/- 0.002" for board thickness
- Two electro magnets are used to clamp the index table to the band saw table.
- Linear Ball Screw for the linear travel of the board through the band saw blade
- Linear Ball Screw Lengths
- 600 mm Linear Ball Screw for slicing boards up to 20" long
- 1000 mm Linear Ball Screw for slicing boards up to 34" long
- 1200 mm Linear Ball Screw for slicing boards up to 40" long
- Left and right Hall sensor linear travel stops
- Carriage mount adaptor to interface linear ball screw to the carriage
- NEMA 23 Stepper motor operation
- Linear Ball Screw Lengths
- The Electronics Console
- Software controlled operation of the system
- Software written with Arduino software
- Includes stepper motor drivers, power supply, emergency stop
- Fully automated or semi-automated operation
- Push button operation controls with LED indicator lights
- Accu-Sled II Carriage - 30" long carriage
- Six foot (72") long Accu-Slice Rail - permits slicing boards up to 36" long
Short Videos Demonstrating the Slicing of Boards using the Automated Accu-Slice System
Each of the below videos is 2 to 3 minutes long and demonstrates the actual slicing of boards for various projects
Automated Accu-Slice System Slicing a 19" long x 4.5" Wide Walnut Board
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Automated Accu-Slice System Slicing Segmented Discs
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Automated Accu-Slice System Slicing a 36" Long x 6" Wide Poplar Board
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Videos Demonstrating the Assembly and Operation of the Automated Accu-Slice System
Each of the below videos more fully describes the latest version os the Automaed Accu-Slice System including detail on the assembly of the system, options available and detailed instructions on the operation of the Automated Accu-Slice System.
In this video I will describe this third and latest version of the Automated Accu-Slice System. This video describes all the changes made to the system and then demonstrates this new system cutting a wide variety of boards and segmented discs.
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This video will describe the assembly, setup and operation of a custom Automated Accu-Slice System that we custom produced for a customer. The customer for this custom automated Accu-slice system wanted to slice boards up to 36” long by 6” wide for the backs and sides for guitars.
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Elecronic Control Module
The Electronic Control Module contains all the components to operate the stepper motors and fully operate the Automated Accu-Slice System. The hear of the system is an Arduino Mega electronics module. This module also contains the stepper motor drivers, a 4 line digital display and a series of push buttons with LED indicator lights to enable the fully automated or semiautomated operation of the system. A series of 6 cables are used to connect the control module to the stepper motors, limit switches, and magnetic clamps.
A rotary dial switch is used to input the data for the board thickness, band saw blade kerf, the speed of operation and the number of boards to be cut.
A rotary dial switch is used to input the data for the board thickness, band saw blade kerf, the speed of operation and the number of boards to be cut.
Arduino Software
The Arduino software is used to control the Automated Accu-Slice System. The software has been downloaded to the Arduino Mega board inside the controller. A PC computer is not required to operate the Automated Accu-Slice system, but is required if the software is modified or needs to be reloaded to the Arduino board inside the controller. The software to control the board thickness is written for standard inch dimensions but could easily be converted to metric (mm) dimensions.
Board Thickness. The software prompts the operator to dial in the thickness of the boards that need to be cut from 0.005" thick to 0.500" thick to slice boards with a thickness accuracy to at least +/- 0.002". The software then prompts the operator to dial in the thickness of the band saw blade kerf.
Quantity of boards to be cut. The software prompts the operator to determine the quantity of boards to be automatically sliced from the stock board and then indicates exactly the thickness of the board that is required to achieve this number of board slices.
Speed of Cutting. The software prompts the operator to input the speed at which the boards will be cut. Speeds from 1 in per minute to 100 inches per minute can be selected. In our testing we determined the the optimum cutting speed is 10 inched per minute. This speed give a very smooth cut. Faster speeds can be selected but by cutting faster the cut surface is not as smooth. After the board has been cut the board is returned to its starting position at a faster speed than the normal selected cutting speed in order to speed up the time between slicing the boards.
Length of Boards to be Cut. The length of the boards to be cut is set via two Hall sensors - one on the left end of the rail and one on the right end of the rail. With the 6' rail and the 1000 mm linear ball screw boards up to 36" long can be sliced. By moving the Hall sensors in closer to the center of the rail, smaller boards can be cut. We have also used other lengths of linear ball screws to enable the slicing of shorter as well as longer boards.
Board Thickness. The software prompts the operator to dial in the thickness of the boards that need to be cut from 0.005" thick to 0.500" thick to slice boards with a thickness accuracy to at least +/- 0.002". The software then prompts the operator to dial in the thickness of the band saw blade kerf.
Quantity of boards to be cut. The software prompts the operator to determine the quantity of boards to be automatically sliced from the stock board and then indicates exactly the thickness of the board that is required to achieve this number of board slices.
Speed of Cutting. The software prompts the operator to input the speed at which the boards will be cut. Speeds from 1 in per minute to 100 inches per minute can be selected. In our testing we determined the the optimum cutting speed is 10 inched per minute. This speed give a very smooth cut. Faster speeds can be selected but by cutting faster the cut surface is not as smooth. After the board has been cut the board is returned to its starting position at a faster speed than the normal selected cutting speed in order to speed up the time between slicing the boards.
Length of Boards to be Cut. The length of the boards to be cut is set via two Hall sensors - one on the left end of the rail and one on the right end of the rail. With the 6' rail and the 1000 mm linear ball screw boards up to 36" long can be sliced. By moving the Hall sensors in closer to the center of the rail, smaller boards can be cut. We have also used other lengths of linear ball screws to enable the slicing of shorter as well as longer boards.
Indexing System
This linear actuator replaces the standard indexer used on our standard Accu-Slice Systems. It uses a linear ball screw attached to a stepper motor to enable the automatic indexing of boards to be cut to a specific thickness. The unit has three inches of travel and is calibrated in inch dimensions. However this could easily be changed to metric (millimeter) dimensions. The stepper motor is controlled by a stepper motor driver in the electronics console . Boards can be sliced from 0.005" thick to 0.500" thick to an accuracy of +/- 0.002".
Linear Ball Screw
The Automated Accu-Slice System uses a long linear ball screw which is attached to a carriage to enable the slicing of boards through the band saw blade. We have used several lengths of linear ball screws for the slicing of various lengths of boards.
- 600 mm Linear Ball Screw - for slicing boards up to 20" long
- 1000 mm Linear Ball Screw - for slicing boards up to 34" long
- 1200 mm Linear Ball Screw - for slicing boards up to 40" long
Accu-Sled II Carriage
The Accu-Sled II 30" long carriage is normally used with the 1000 mm and 1200 mm linear ball screw units with the 60" and 72" rails. With the 600 mm ball screw we use the 18" version of this Accu-Sled II carriage. The Accu-Sled II carriages ride on the Accu-Slice rail and attach to the linear ball screw with an adaptor plate. A variety of clamps and mounting systems are available for the attachment of various board sizes to be sliced.
Electro Magnets
Two Electro-Magnets replace the MagJig clamps used on our standard /Accu-Slice system. These Electro-Magnets are controlled by the software in the electronics console to lock the Accu-Slice Index table to the band saw table to reduce vibration and provide for smoother cuts. The magnets are software activated when slicing boards and then deactivated automatically when indexing for the next cut.
Left and Right Hall End Travel Sensors
The two Hall sensors are used to limit the travel of the linear ball screw. They are manually set depending on the length of the boards to be cut. By minimizing the travel distance to the exact lengths of the boards to be cut, the time for slicing is kept to a minimum. The two Hall sensors are mounted in two L-Brackets that slide in a channel in the linear ball screw and are clamped in position with two thumb screws.
You-Tube Videos on the Design and Development of the Automated Accu-Slice System
Below are the 8 YouTube Videos Describing the design and development of the Automated Accu-Slice System:
Below are the 8 YouTube Videos Describing the design and development of the Automated Accu-Slice System:
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Applications and Use of the Automated Accu-Slice System
In addition we are currently developing some additional videos demonstrating this system on some of our recent projects. Below is the list of the current videos demonstrating the Acutomated Accu-Slice system. Additional videos will be added shortly.
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