Edgebanding with Tempora F600 - saving time and adding quality

Some time ago we informed you about Felder Gruppe novelties presented at the Holz-Handwerk Fair in Nuremberg. One of these novelties is the new range of Tempora cant applicators from Format-4. I thought I'd tell you more about it, more than you'd find in the presentations on the website. So I went to the Felder Gruppe showroom in Bucharest where I was able to see a Tempora F600 60.06 machine at work and where I got a lot of information from one of the specialists their. I have to admit that in the 3 hours I spent there I understood much better the peculiarities of this machine by seeing it working.

Tempora range - edgebanding machines

I asked Felder Gruppe Romania where the name Tempora came from because it seemed somehow related to time and I was right. The machine has been designed in such a way as to reduce as much as possible the time it takes to apply the edge and especially the time spent on adjustments and fixing faults. So the Tempora combines the skills of fast, simple machining and efficiency.

All machines in the Tempora range save time without compromising on quality. The most important strengths of the range are:

• Comfort and complete control in operation thanks to the command and control panel
• Time saving and increased flexibility thanks to the short warm-up time glue unit, the quick-change glue tank system and the system for maintaining the glue temperature when the machine is on stand-by
• Guaranteed elimination of imperfections and guaranteed superior quality of edgebanding thanks to the presetting unit
• Save time and material thanks to the quick and easy adjustment system: "x-motion plus" or "m-motion" withautomatic adjustment or with indicator in the cant foil.

Tempora F600 demonstration at the Showroom Felder Gruppe Romania

The demonstration was done on the Tempora F600 60.06, a machine that can lay both PVC/ABS cant from 0.4 to 3.0 mm and wooden battens up to 6 mm thick on panels up to 60 mm thick.

Tempora combines key features - speed, productivity, flexibility and user-friendliness - into a complete packageis a machine that is aimed at those who work with wood-based panels (PAL, MDF) at industrial level and beyond. As we have said from the beginning, Tempora is part of theFormat-4,i.e. industrial machinery for medium and large companies that want increased productivity and quality without compromise.

Control panel

Ease of operation through the command and control panel via packages"x-motion plus" or "m-motion" which ensures absolute repeatability, and individual configurable programs allow quick adjustment of the units, manually or automatically, from the smartouch control panel(10.4'' 16'' 21'')

The machine has a touch screen control panel where you choose what you want to do from the start. You choose whether you put the edge on one side, 2 or all sides, how you make the corner joint, how you finish the edges, how much you round them (rounding radius). The whole control panel also allows you to make electrical adjustments, which minimises manual settings, not as sensitive and fine as electrical. The control panel is very intuitive and allows quick selection and control, as well as monitoring of all machine functions. All settings are made from the start, and you can easily see the options you've chosen because the coloured display marks them in green. There's the option to store this information so you can use it for other work.

The machine is considered semi-automatic because the cant feed is done manually, piece by piece, not automatically, but you should know that the machine can be equipped with a conveyor belt system. Furthermore, the edge feeding is automatic, with control over production through the counter for applied edge metre, number of pieces and operating hours. In the m-motion version, the adjustments for edge thickness and pressure for gluing are not made from the panel, but with a feeler, using an edge sample. However, everything is extremely simple and fast.

Pre-braking unit

Once the options have been set and registered, the panel can be switched on. The machine will let you know with a traffic light when you can let the panel go (on green, of course). It first arrives in the pre-milling area with diamond milling heads with 2 independent, separately controlled, spiral profile motors, which ensure a perfectly finished surface ready for the application of the edge film. This is necessary because it is possible that the cut to size of the panels may not be perfect and if a thin edge is used all defects become very visible.

Adhesive application and bonding

The adhesive tank is heated and maintained at a temperature of 190°C. Application is by roller, the quantity is metered. The adhesive (EVA or PUR) is fed from the trough onto the applicator roller using a helical system. You can use any adhesive from either category so you are not limited to one brand or supplier. Using the application roller is the most efficient because it ensures a consistent and even application across the thickness of the material.

Pressing is done with a mechanised straight main press roller and two additional tapered pressure rollers, adjustable by means of the "m-motion" system, which are marker type in the cant film to be applied, controlled from the central panel.

Cutting and finishing

The glued edge is preset to be longer than the side to ensure that the whole side is covered. At this stage the surplus is cut precisely to the length of the material and the finishing operations are carried out.

In the finishing area, mill to the desired radius (R1/R2/R3) or without radius. The radius is then finished (radius splicing), which involves removing excess adhesive that may appear at the joint between the edgeband and the panel (surface splicing). This is followed by rounding the corners up and down and across the thickness of the panel so that in the end everything is even and smooth to the touch and the panel lines are continuous. I checked this on all the panels I cantued.

I also checked at the end how strong the glue is. Using a screwdriver, I loosened the edge of the chipboard with great difficulty. On the surface of the detached edge there were a lot of chippings from the chipboard, clear proof that the breakage was not on the glue line but inside the chipboard.

What other features are or can you have on your Tempora F600 60.06 cant applicator?

The machine also has many other features or options that make your life easier and help you save time and quality. Here are some of them:

• is equipped with a brush system that makes a final polishing and cleaning of the edge to reduce the color difference between the center of the edge and the edges;
• can be equipped with 3 spray systems:

- separation solution to prevent glue sticking to melamine (surface of the piece)

- antistatic and cooling solution immediately after the pressing and gluing area. Cooling makes any excess adhesive easier to remove and prevents the processing tools from becoming loaded with adhesive, thus prolonging their life;

- cleaning solution, so that no traces of adhesive remain,

• invisible joints thanks to Felder Gruppe's patented "advantEdge" edge application unit which offers the possibility of applying "laser-like" edges
• automatic turning system of the machined parts which makes it possible to service the equipment with a single operator.

A lot can be said about this car and Gerard Tăicuțoiu, Sales Director - Industrial Equipment and Solutions at Felder Gruppe Romania, it really did. We sat together by the car for almost 3 hours telling me about it, opening and closing lids, showing me why each option is good and how much you save by choosing a quality system.

Besides the explanations, I saw how the machine works and understood how much it saves you time. In a few minutes the panel is coated on all 4 sides, the corners are rounded and cleaned, the piece is cleaned and ready for fitting. If you are short on time and manpower it doesn't hurt to consider this option.