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which could compromise their integrity. Greater length also enables multifunctionality: While cutting occurs on one end, manual or robotic piece pickup and kitting can occur on the other. Marshall explains that AXYZ's static tables can be confgured with twin virtual processing areas, which operate simultaneously in "pendulum processing" modes that, in efect, "lengthen" the table. Te control sofware automates the switching of vacuum zones, al- lowing the cutting of one set of part pieces on one half of the table, while the other half is unloaded, then reloaded with new material to start again. "Pendulum processing allows true continuous produc- tion," he asserts. Lectra ofers customers a modular, add-on bed extender for conveyorized systems, says Epperson, to increase the available fat space for cut-piece pickup and kitting. Ink printers integrated into the cutting heads print part identifers directly on prepreg materials that can't be marked with a pen or adhesive label. Drury says Zünd's table extensions can double the machine length to free up space for cut piece ofoading. For longer ma- chines, half extensions are also available. On prepregs, Zünd multi- tool cutting heads can be equipped with an inkjet marking system from Videojet (Wood Dale, Ill.) Gunnar's Hofmann says, "Te GUNNAR TTC119 cutting ma- chines are manufactured to lightweight standards, and as a result have one of the smallest installation footprints." Despite its smaller size, output is reportedly equal to larger tables thanks to system speed, and he adds, "Less space and equipment are needed for the same output, which lowers overall production costs. For example, one machine operator can manage both the cutting and the ofoad- ing, with the automatic material advance." AUTOMATED FEEDING VS. MANUAL LOADING To increase machine efciency, cutters can be equipped with a custom-designed system that facilitates continuous cutting by auto- matically feeding and spreading the rolled broadgoods. Pathfnder can pair its Easy Loading Feeding Table with its con- veyorized tables. As the device feeds material into the machine, material alignment with the table edge is maintained via the sys- tem's optical sensors. Eastman sells several automated feeding and spreading systems, engineered and built in-house, for typical roll widths and weights. Tese include motor-driven roll stands, and power feed systems that can handle multiple rolls. Infrared edge control maintains precise material, and tension controls preserve fber alignment. "We're help- ing customers to address time-consuming problem areas," McGruder notes, adding, "Automation relieves workers from having to manu- ally load the material onto the table, for better ergonomics and higher speed." Also available are rewinding modules on the downstream end of the table, which gather long cut strips or pieces for later laydown in the mold, typically for wind blades or other large parts. "We studied one customer's operation and found that actual cut- ting was occurring only 38 percent of the work day, says Lectra's Ep- person. Lectra's patented Eclipse feeding option now allows the head to continue cutting even as material is advanced onto the conveyorized cutting surface. Tis prevents wasted "dry haul time," he says, and the gradual and continuous fow of cut parts also eases the of-loading task. He asserts that Eclipse alone enables a 5 percent or greater productivity increase in a production setting. Using a sofware feature employed All fatbed cutter vendors offer ways to identify cut parts and accelerate kitting. Gerber Technology's (Tolland, Conn.) InfoMark cut-part identifcation system (top photo) prints and applies paper labels, or customers can specify InfoJet, which prints alphanumeric text on cut materials using a variety of inks. Melbourne, Australia-based Pathfnder Pty. Ltd.'s M5-180 cutter (bottom photo) can be ordered with an offoad display computer screen to facilitate use of the company's Color Bundling feature for faster kitting. This screen shot of Lectra's (Smyrna, Ga.) Diamino nesting software (Version 6) shows how composite material is "nested" or grouped tightly together to avoid unnecessary waste. Color-coding identifes each kit's pieces. Source | Pathfnder USA Source | Gerber Technology Source | Lectra C T J U N E 2 0 1 4 3 5 0614CT CuttKitt-OK.indd 35 5/20/2014 8:50:17 AM