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WESTERN SYDNEY BUSINESS ACCESS MARCH 2012

INNOVATION with Craig Hingston  

Laser Line attracts world-wide attention

An invention developed by a western Sydney business that improves accuracy and operator safety with high speed saws is attracting world-wide attention.

By Craig Hingston

The CPAC IP67 Laser Line Generator is the brainchild of Ray Lemon, the managing director of Bandsaw Supplies at Arndell Park.

Ray has been supplying the bandsaw industry with machines and blades for 33 years and when he saw a niche opportunity for a new type of product he decided to “have a go”.

“I see myself as an innovator”, says Ray, “I look sideways at a lot of things and think out of the box. When people say it’s impossible I say no it’s not. I have an engineering mind and I love electronics and design,” Ray said. “Customers were asking for a low-cost, compact laser guidance tool. There were a few units available in Europe but they were very big and  cost thousands of dollars. “Also, they were cumbersome with separate control modules. The secret was miniaturisation. “My first design was mounted in a protective housing 50mm x 40mm x 20mm in size but the control module was a separate housing and still large.

“Th e design has evolved from Mark 1 to the latest design Mark 4. This design has the laser head and the miniaturised controls housed in a 12mm stainless steel tube with an overall length of 100mm. This tube design allows the Laser Line Generator to be mounted in very tight locations on machines.” The 12mm stainless steel tube body has made it very versatile and can be mounted to a range of high speed saws to indicate the cutting path.The laser beam extends at least 20 metres and has a line that generates a one and half millimetre wide line.

Ray says the CPAC IP67 allows an operator to verify the cut before starting, while the blade  is raised in a safe position, and there is no need for them to have their head anywhere near the blade to confi m they are on the right path. He adds that some manual saws have safety cages and with OH&S laws getting  tougher the  operator is not near the saw when it is operating, but with the CPAC IP67 he knows the cut is right because of what the laser line showed him. “On some machines the operator lowers the blade, sets up the cut, presses start and then the machine makes the blade go up and down again before starting which means there is room for error.

“Using my invention the operator knows where the saw will be cutting, there is no need for manual alignment, it is just a case of press start and let it do the job.” Ray says the improved accuracy of cuts means operators have more confidence; they don’t waste time manually checking and rechecking, and they are able to finish a lot more projects each day. Orders have been coming in from fabricators and metal suppliers who cut steel and wood but Ray’s decision to make the CPAC IP67 waterproof has attracted  nterest from an unusual industry, “I got a call from the New Zealand meat industry asking for a laser for their butcher’s saws,” Ray said. “Operators are not allowed to use safety gloves and they have to push the meat into the saws with their bare hands. I added a sensor so that it can turn the beam on and show if a hand is in the cutting path. Being waterproof – and blood proof – it is totally hygienic for this market. The laser has become a safety tool.” Another opportunity could be the rail industry. Ray is talking to people responsible for welding sections of train track together. “As you would expect these sections must be millimetre-perfect when they are lined up. We are looking into using the CPAC IP67 as a lining up tool”, says Ray. Ray is continuing to develop the CPAC to suit other applications.

If you have a western Sydney business innovation

story to share contact Craig Hingston on 0488 60 7050.

Blade Solutions for Metal and Wood

Choosing the best bandsaw blades for your bandsaw machinery has never been easier with the launch of BandSaw Supplies online catalog.

Made to order locally using the expertise and quality that Doall Blade steel is internationally known for, BandSaw Supplies is a simple and cost-effective way of selecting and purchasing bandsaw blades.

Providing the complete solution to all your bandsaw needs, a full range of bandsaw blades are available to be purchased by our online catalog or phone through www.bandsawsupplies.com.au, including Carbon Blades, Bimetal Blades, Tungsten Carbide, Knife Blades and Tin Coated Bimetal Blades.

A correctly selected bandsaw blade for your material will out-perform the majority of bandsaw blades on the market.

A concern for most bandsaw blade customers is bandsaw blade failure. BandSaw Supplies explains “Bandsaw blade failure is usually caused by the condition of the bandsaw machine not giving the correct bandsaw blade tension, or bandsaw blade guides being badly worn or not adjusted correctly.”

Other factors that cause problems to your bandsaw blade can be damaged band wheels and worn bearings, as well as ineffective cutting lubricants.

Applying spray mist lubrication when cutting rolled section metals will provide a more effective solution to the common problem of cutting fluid flooding over the job and running onto the floor. Ray Lemon explains “Mist Spray allows the swarf from the steel section to remain dry and this helps in the cleaning down of the Machine.”

For quality BandSaw blades, advice and cost-effective solutions to improve the productivity of your bandsaw blades and bandsaw machine, please visit www.bandsawsupplies.com.au.

The Structurall Blade has proven itself as popular selection of Bi-Metal Blade for use in cutting RHS Tubes and Rolled Sections such as Angle Iron, Channels and Structural Beams.

The Structurall Bandsaw Bi-Metal Blade has a 10° Positive rake tooth profile with M42 HSS teeth.

This Blade has increased strength and chip resistance due to the additional tooth support in the profile design.

Blades are supplied to your length in Blade widths of 27mm, 34mm, 41mm, and 54mm.

Look for the Structurall Blade on our Online Store or email Ray@bandsawsupplies.com.au

Watch out for the Cut Line!

Hand Protection CPAC Laser Line Generator.

Bandsaw Supplies have released the 2^nd Generation of CPAC Laser Line Generators.

Our self contained generator detects the presence of a Hand or Meat on the Bandsaw Table and turns the CPAC Laser Line on. The CPAC Laser Line will automatically turn off when not in use.

This line will indicate if the hand is in the line of cut.

Production will increase as the operator has a Laser Line projected over the Meat and with the hands in close proximity of the blade the operator can be sure that fingers are clear of the blade.

Bandsaw Supplies can install on any Bandsaw the CPAC Laser Line Generator.

Since release in November 2011 there has been National and international interest in this system. The system has been developed over the last two years to be used on metal and wood cutting Saws and now Butcher Saws.

Contact Bandsaw Supplies for information: info@bandsawsupplies.com.au