Types of woodworking machines
Humans have been working with wood to produce functional and ornamental items for centuries. Although handheld tools are still essential, a raft of electrical and pneumatic machinery has made life so much easier for the modern craftsperson. Here, API UK explores some of the most widely used types of woodworking machines and explains why machine builders would be well-advised to partner with us for all their pneumatic components.
WHAT IS WOODWORKING?
Woodworking is the art of creating functional and decorative objects made from wood. With various skills and techniques – such as joinery, woodturning and carving – skilled woodworkers can turn out a vast range of finished products, from tables to bowls and much more. Humans have been woodworking for centuries. Only the technology has changed significantly over the years.
WHAT IS A WOODWORKING MACHINE?
Although woodworking craftspeople haven’t abandoned hand tools like saws, chisels and plains, electrical and pneumatic tools have made life easier. Now there are various types of woodworking machines found in woodworking workshops. These are used to process wood in various ways, enabling woodworking professionals to craft their products quicker and more efficiently.
WHAT TYPES OF WOODWORKING MACHINES ARE USED?
There are various woodworking machines used in the industry, including the following:
1. Jigsaw
Jigsaws are compact, light, handheld saws that deliver high precision and accuracy. These nimble woodworking machines are ideal for cutting straight and curved lines quickly and easily.
2. Lathe
Working wood on a lathe is known as “woodturning” because as the piece of timber rotates on the lathe, a chisel can be held against its surface to sculpt it into the desired shape at high speed.
3. Nail Gun
Nail guns have become an essential tool in many woodworking workshops. They do the work of a hammer in a fraction of the time or effort. That is because they are powered either by compressed air, gas or a spring-loaded mechanism.
4. Sander
Handheld sanders typically consist of a disc of sandpaper that rotates or oscillates at high speed to sand down a surface much more quickly and efficiently than by hand. Typical examples include orbital and belt sanders.
5. Grinder
Grinders improve the finish of wooden surfaces. Available in a wide range of sizes and configurations, grinders are utilised for many tasks, including buffing, cleaning and polishing surfaces.
6. Thickness Planer
Thickness planers enable operators to finish flat wooden surfaces into consistent thicknesses with a high degree of accuracy and regularity, helping speed up the process significantly.
7. Bandsaw
Bandsaws feature a bladed band that fits over several electrically-driven wheels. A bandsaw passes vertically through a slot in the workbench and provides fast, accurate cutting for countless woodworking applications.
8. Table Saw
Table saws utilise a circular saw that is driven by an electric motor. The blade protrudes out of an opening in the tabletop, enabling quick and easy cutting as the operator slides the wood over the blade using a guide.
COMPRESSED AIR IN WOODWORKING
Although many woodworking machines are powered by electricity, pneumatic tools offer several advantages. They are generally lighter, quieter, and longer-lasting (thanks to fewer moving parts and no motor). All three of these are major benefits for any woodworking workshop. In addition, pneumatic nail guns and ratchet wrenches provide a rapid and effective solution. The only drawback is the obvious need for an air compressor.
PNEUMATIC EQUIPMENT FOR WOODWORKING MACHINES
In many instances, pneumatic woodworking machinery offers a faster, quieter, safer alternative to electric tools. Woodworking machine manufacturers trust API UK to deliver high-quality pneumatic equipment that is durable, reliable and efficient enough to provide optimal results for woodworking machines. The following is a selection of the most popular pneumatic equipment we supply for woodworking machines.
COMPACT CYLINDERS
API UK’s low, flat profile compact cylinders offer high anti-torsion, rotation and sideload features for use in arduous woodworking machine building applications. Flexible bearing options include low-maintenance oil-less cylinders for heavy load applications and fast-cycling spherical bearing cylinders built for speed.
HEAVY-DUTY ISO CYLINDERS
API UK supplies heavy-duty ISO 15552 cylinders with a maximum stroke length of 2,500mm and bore lengths of up to 125mm. Our ISO pneumatic cylinders deliver all the reliability and performance needed to optimise operations at any woodworking machine building plant. We even offer same-day builds at no extra cost.
CONTROL PANELS
API UK also designs and builds custom control panels for the specific requirements of woodworking machine manufacturers. Our skilled engineers can manufacture simple but effective pneumatic control panels to suit a wide range of application requirements, providing a low-maintenance, fit-for-purpose pneumatic system.
CONTACT API UK TODAY
As more and more woodworkers transition to lighter, safer and easier-to-use pneumatic tools, woodworking machine builders can steal a march on their competitors by partnering with API UK. We have been supplying high-quality pneumatic equipment to the woodworking machinery industry for years. Our pneumatic products are guaranteed to elevate your equipment to new levels of performance, reliability and longevity.
To discuss your woodworking machinery requirements or arrange a free on-site visit, speak with our technical team today. As expert manufacturers of first-class pneumatic products, we can help you understand the options available and steer you towards the best system solution for your woodworking machinery application. Contact us today on 01782 206 995 or email [email protected].