Bag Machine
One of the first one-off machines we built was the Bag Machine. This machine is a 24" wide version of our TRC-1000 Cold Cutter, with a 21" blade and a heat sealing bar. It was designed to feed a tubular material that is used for oil-dry socks. It made bags that were hot sealed at one end. The bags were filled later with floor-dry and then the open end was sealed. This part wasn't done with our machine, but that was the procedure.
Flag Machine
This machine was based on our TRC-1000 7" Cold Cutter. The customer had United States Flags printed back-to-back and end-to-end on a roll. Since the size of the flag changed in length slightly as the roll got smaller. We used a sensing eye to detect the change from "star field" to "stripes" and advanced to make the cut.
Multi-Cut Firmware (for cell production)
This firmware had the ability to accept up to 4 different lengths. The operator would depress a foot-switch, at which point the cutting machine fed and cut each of the lengths. After the operator had sewn the pieces, they would then hit the foot-switch again for the next batch.
Second Cut Time
One of our customers wanted to slightly sear their webbing in the middle of the length for a sewing mark. We added a second cut time in their program, so they could control how deep the sear mark was.
Special Input/Output
Several times we have added special inputs to trigger our machine to start a feeding/cutting cycle or outputs to signal other machines that the feeding/cutting cycle is done.
Program Storage
There have been several instances when we've added non-volatile memory to our machines for many different applications.
One example, because changing the feed rate to a higher value will often change the length of a part for a given programmed length, one of our customers wanted to add a password to the feed rate so that only the supervisor could change the feed rate. This could also prevent the operation of the machine completely without the correct password.
Another example is our Alternating Angle machine that has several parameters that have to be entered to run. One customer wanted to store 15 different programs for their different parts and be able to call them up with just a number.
Specific Applications
Another instance of custom machines. One customer of ours was cutting a very thick, stiff velcro type material. Their length tolerance was fairly close. Because velcro typically slips while feeding, our regular machine didn't quite meet the tolerances. In this case, we fed the material down an aluminum track, which we placed an adjustable micro switch to set the length. The material traveled down the track at a fairly fast feed rate. After tripping a first switch a few inches before the end, it slowed the feed rate and continued feeding until the second switch was contacted to signal the machine to cut.
Feed Synchronizing
A feed synchronizing example would be; you have a sewing machine sewing a continuous length of belt loop at 1 inch/second and from the sewing machine it goes to our cutting machine to be cut in 4" lengths. Since the sewing machine and the our cutting machine are operating at different feed rates, we use a dancer bar to signal our machine to stop feeding until there is enough slack to cut again.
Need something special?
These are just a few examples of customized products that we've done over the years. I've only scratched the surface of the things that are possible with our company and our machines. We are only limited by yours and our imaginations. If you have a need for something special, please feel free to call or email us with your ideas.