Week 27: All the final details…

The organization of the shop is continuing. Even though it would be nice to just get production started, it is important to get everything in place so that when we start making furniture again it can happen efficiently and effectively. Here are some images of the fine details that have been keeping us occupied.

Creating shelving and cupboards for all our supplies and small power tools.  This wall of storage is awaiting doors to close it all in and keep it dust free.

Organizing our assembly area so all our hardware (door hinges, drawer runners, etc) are easily accessible.

Finalizing airlines (blue), dust collection piping (silver) and creating hanging racks for long sand paper belts.

John making shop carts.

Salvaged clamps that have been scrubbed off and are all set, ready to go.

Week 26: Taking the plunge with new machinery

Well, this week saw us take a very exciting step to push our business to the next level. After much planning and deliberation (that began long before the tornado took place) we have invested in a 5-axis CNC (computer numerically controlled) router! Our machine of choice is the Homag BMG 500, an amazing German-built machine that is considered one of the best in the industry. 

While the business person in me is continually scrutinizing the cost vs return on investment, the designer in me is giddy with excitement about the possibilities this machine has to offer. Not only will it improve the accuracy and speed of our production, it will allow us to open up our design scope to incorporate curves and angles in a way that we never could produce efficiently before.

The order is in and the machine is expected in the summer. We cannot wait to get it into the workshop and put it to work for us!

Week 25: Adding return air to the dust collector

Just when you thought we could not add any more piping to the workshop, we have gone ahead and installed a return air system on our new dust collector. This allows the air that gets sucked out of the shop with the dust system to be returned back into the workshop dust free, saving on heating costs and improving general ventilation. It is a small opening (as you can see below in the foreground), but makes a huge difference. 

One of the hazards of fine wood dust is that it is extremely explosive in the right (or perhaps I should say wrong!) circumstances. All dust collection units are equipped with blast gates that allow the force of an explosion to release outside of the building and not blow back into the workshop through the collection piping.

In light of this, a dust collector with a return air system requires an essential feature called a spark detection system. It operates to detect any possible flammable material (a minor spark) and sprays it with water before it reaches the main dust container, avoiding an explosion. You can see the attachments for the spark detection  (waiting to get wired in by the electrician) on the main out-feed pipe below.

The other element necessary is an abort gate on the return air unit, which will automatically shut if a spark is detected. In the case that an explosion does occur, this would prevent any of the fire being forced back into the shop through the return air piping.

Here are some images of the guys installing the outside section of the return air to the main dust collection system on a grey snowy day.