The Other Industrial Machines
This past week I’ve been given a new job: production manager for our woodworking company. So, I’d like to share some of the other machines in my life.
Panel saw on the left and planer on the right
CNC router, left and molder, right
Laser Cutter
While this machine is primarily busy cutting wood and plastics, it is the best thing that has ever happened to my commercial sewing. It is a laser cutter. Using lasers it actually evaporates the molecules of the material it is cutting. We use it to cut wood, metal, plastic, and fabric. It cannot cut vinyl because a poisonous gas is produced. Of course I have at least one vinyl product that would benefit from laser cutting but…can’t kill off the operator!
It cuts in accordance with the code downloaded to it from a commercial drafting program. I use it to make perfectly accurate blanks for the products I sew. I’m so glad to be replaced by a machine!
This work is licensed under a 
Wow MB, that laser cutter is totally cool. Interesting that vinyl is dangerous. What does it produce, benzene? Nasty stuff. But what a great aid in production! (the machine, not benzene)
Gorgeous Things
November 10, 2006
I didn’t name the poisonous gas because I wasn’t sure of it exactly: vinyl chloride? I don’t know for sure and have no way to find out right now.
Mary Beth
November 10, 2006
Congratulations, Mary Beth.
bw
colin
Knitman
November 11, 2006
I’ll not show this workshop to the Hubby … he would love to have that set of toys!
Lorna
November 11, 2006
This company grew out of a workshop and without outside funds nor capitalization most of the work was done by hand with few industrial machines. Our quality and product range has definitely improved with the addition of machines like these but it took a very long time as an actual business shipping internationally to be able to afford them.
Mary Beth
November 11, 2006
Wow! Thanks for sharing those with us, MB! It’s always fun to see others’ toys…I mean, work equipment.
Gigi
November 11, 2006
Usually commercial machines seem like overkill to me in my humble little world but I covet that laser cutter! No more hours at the cutting table, no more aching back, WANT THAT!
Lisette
November 11, 2006
Gee, how many hats can you wear at the same time?
Georgene
November 12, 2006
MB this is awesome. The chemical plants surrounding me produce vinyl chloride and rail it out of here. It is part of the reason DBF wouln’t move here!
Mary T
November 12, 2006
Georgene: Bingo! That’s the correct question hehehehehehe. But it’s something I’ve been doing all along, through others, so DH just made it official. Men will have to report to me and they resent it. Sigh.
Mary T: that is the compound I was suspecting it was. Another sign because it leave me cutting and making by hand all the belts for the buckling lessons.
Mary Beth
November 12, 2006
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Anonymous
November 15, 2006
My husband lusts for you.
Well, for the tools you manage, at any rate.
Neefer
November 17, 2006
So can the laser cutter also cutlarge prices fabric to any size? For example, if you had a huge home dec project that you wanted to trade for some web design…. ;>
Phyllis
November 18, 2006
Wow! Look at those machines. Thanks for sharing MB
Kelly
November 25, 2006