The most efficient processing? Integrated in throughput!
With the constantly growing portfolio of universal processing units, IMA Schelling enables various processing operations on furniture parts, such as drilling or routing, very efficiently directly in the throughfeed of the edge processing cycle.
It all started with the customer's request. The customer wanted furniture parts to be manufactured with handleless fronts. So far, so obvious. The details were challenging: the milling of the recessed grip was to be carried out in such good surface quality that the fronts could be painted immediately afterwards without any post-processing. And that with panels made of MDF, a material that is known to quickly change the grain direction and produce unevenness during machining!
For Dennis Reddig, Product Manager Edge Processing at IMA Schelling, one thing was immediately clear: “The most efficient way to carry out this type of processing is to do it in one pass.” In order to achieve the required surface quality, the specialists at IMA Schelling had to think hard, try, correct and try again - with success.
Feed synchronized with edge processing
The result of extensive development and test work: a linear-driven milling unit with a 3-axis CNC unit. It works with a particularly precisely controlled tool, which enables milling of the highest surface quality. The requirement to be able to paint immediately after milling is therefore fulfilled.
Another advantage of the newly developed trimming unit is that it runs synchronously with the edge processing. As a result, it integrates harmoniously into the processing cycle. No retooling is necessary, which eliminates set-up times and set-up gaps as well as a source of error for inaccuracies.
Integrated into the growing product range
During development, the IMA Schelling specialists drew on a proven product series in which drilling and doweling units had already been integrated into the throughfeed. And the unit for high-precision milling was immediately followed by others. With a modified structure and an additional tool, a unit was developed that carries out milling operations for Clamex connecting fittings, which are becoming increasingly popular in furniture construction.
And IMA Schelling developed further processing units on this basis. A linear-driven routing unit cuts out insert grooves for inserting shelves or back panels, for example, either from above or below in the workpiece. When producing door blanks or honeycomb panels, an additional trimming unit carries out preparatory work for the second pass. This saves time and increases precision.
The newly designed drilling units also run linearly driven in the feed and drill construction or blind holes horizontally into the narrow surface or vertically into the workpiece from above or below. The system can demonstrate its advantages in terms of accuracy, particularly when drilling holes for assembly purposes or dowel applications, which have to be carried out very precisely.
Quality, efficiency, repeatability
In addition to the advantage of high machining quality, other aspects that speak for themselves are high efficiency thanks to throughfeed machining and extremely high repeat accuracy. This pays off particularly in the series production of furniture. However, the universal processing units can also be used in smaller series. "With pure batch size 1 production, the preparatory work is somewhat more complex. But that is also feasible," explains Dennis Reddig. The control systems of the units are integrated into the PLC of the machines to ensure production reliability.
The units can be used at feed speeds of up to 40 meters per minute. In terms of workpiece sizes and numbers, the universal machining units can be adapted to practically any required values. “In any case, we develop the units individually as custom-made products for each specific application,” emphasizes Reddig.
Also suitable for post-processing
IMA Schelling has also integrated the tried-and-tested I-KFA contour trimming unit into the universal processing unit series. Should this ever be necessary, it enables automated post-processing of profiles with internal contours in the corner area, even for profiles at right angles to the processing direction on the front or rear edge. This means that J-profiles can also be reworked to a high standard.
In any case, the IMA Schelling team achieved the required post-processing-free milling of the handleless MDF fronts for the customer to their complete satisfaction. “We test-machined hundreds of parts on our prototype until we achieved the desired quality,” says Reddig. “But now everything fits.” And in the meantime, the unit has also proven itself in practice and produces MDF furniture fronts with handle grooves, milled in throughfeed and in paintable quality, as required!
IMA Schelling - the perfect solution for every idea
The IMA Schelling Group develops, designs and produces machines and systems for wood, plastic and metal processing companies. Its customers include international furniture manufacturers as well as aircraft manufacturers and demanding family joinery businesses. Based on over 100 years of experience, the company develops innovative processing solutions for state-of-the-art networked production, tailored to individual customer requirements - right up to fully automated batch size 1 systems.
The system manufacturer develops intelligent high-end solutions in four business units: Board, Woodworking, Precision and Consulting. Customers can count on comprehensive expertise - for cutting, drilling, edge processing or material logistics solutions in the wood sector or for dividing and handling solutions in the metals, plastics and building materials sector. Individual strategies for value-added-oriented corporate development as well as consulting, software and digitalization products round off the portfolio.
IMA Schelling has a global network of 18 subsidiaries and 70 sales partners and operates four production sites in Germany, Austria, Poland and Slovakia. In 2023, the plant manufacturer generated a total turnover of 385.5 million euros with 2,100 employees worldwide.
