Can I Afford a Thermwood Cut Center?

“I’ll buy a CNC router as soon as I can afford it”.  Is this something you’ve said to yourself time and time again over the years?  Surveys indicate that 50% to 70% of cabinet shops say this, depending on which survey you read. A CNC router is automation, it is productivity and it is on every cabinetmakers short list of things they would really, really like to have. So exactly when can you afford a CNC router?

The simple answer is that you can afford it when it will make you more than it costs.  Taking a look at the Thermwood Cut Center, for instance, the Cut Center may have a slightly higher than average purchase price, but the immediate benefits and ability to get into production quickly can outweigh any initial costs.

The Cut Center is Different in a Good Way

The Cut Center is not like any regular CNC router you may be familiar with.  It doesn’t require you to learn complex programming to operate, and is so user-friendly that it walks you through every step of the process when making cabinets, closets, furniture, doors, drawers and much more.  You simply tell the machine what you want to make via an easy to use touch screen interface, and it does it.  No programming is required.

"No Programming" is a Huge Factor

That little bit about “no programming” is huge factor – no matter how great of a deal you get on the purchase of a CNC router, it will still need to be programmed.  This means that you either need to learn to program yourself or you’ll need to hire a CNC programmer. 

A typical CNC programmer will cost you more each month than the payment on a Thermwood Cut Center.  And every few years, that programmer will most likely cost more money, while the payments on a Cut Center will go away once the machine is paid off.

How About Programming it Myself?

Programming it yourself is possible, but it isn’t simple.  CNC routers require a constant stream of programs to run. Solving problems (like damaged or scrapped parts or defects in material) means even more CNC programs. Programming custom cabinets on a CNC router is a full time job….good thing you have nothing else to do! 

No Software Required

And don’t forget about the software to run the CNC router. Cheap cabinet software is limited and difficult. It will most likely take more time to learn and operate, which means more money. Really good software can cost as much, or more than a cheap CNC router, and then you still need to learn to use it.

Save By Using Scrap Material

Another consideration is scrap material. You will most likely have one or more partial sheets left from each job. Regardless of what they tell you, it is so difficult, complex and expensive to add this to new jobs that virtually everyone just throws it away. With the Cut Center, you just scan the label on any extra material lying around and it is added to the job, automatically. This can mean a lot of money saved at the end of the year. 

Get Into Production Quickly

With the typical Thermwood Cut Center installation, you can be in full production is a little as about half a day.  A regular CNC router can take as much as six months to get to that point.  A half a day or half a year?  In business, time is money, and there is serious cost associated with that half a year.

Enhancing Employee Productivity

A new CNC router can sometimes be seen by employees as intimidating or threatening when it is installed into a shop.  Your workers may either be worried that their jobs could be affected by this dazzling new piece of equipment, or that they will be required to learn an entirely new programming language or operating procedure.  With the Thermwood Cut Center, there is no programming knowledge necessary.  Basically anyone can walk up to the machine, pick out part(s), select their desired quantities/sizes and make it.  The Cut Center is designed to be as simple as possible to operate, and to help shops and employees be more productive and efficient.

Another Way to Make Money with a Thermwood Cut Center

Finally, there is Production Sharing. This is a program where you sell production time on your machine by making parts for other shops that don’t have a Cut Center or CNC router. Thermwood provides an area on our web site where you can advertise your services (there is no cost for this), and you work directly with the other shops to set up your jobs.  Thermwood receives no money for these transactions.

More about the Thermwood Cut Center:

Operate as a Cut Center with No Programming

With the award-winning Thermwood Cut Center, there are no computers or design software. Everything is already in the machine. There is no programming. The cut center doesn’t need a computer to tell it how to move because it already knows how to make cabinets. Just tell it what you want to make, and it does it - it is that simple!  

Operate as a CNC Router

Also, you can operate the system as a CNC router in the traditional manner, running programs generated with virtually any CNC software. Thermwood has created a simple way to switch between operating as a CNC router and operating as a Cut Center to assure that all machine parameters are properly reset and that the standard Cut Center tooling is properly installed, checked and ready to run.

Latest Update Summary

We are constantly adding new features and abilities to the Award-Winning Cut Ready Cut Center. Our latest update adds another unique library to the Cut Center that can be selected, resized and machined with NO Programming!

Contemporary Floating Bedroom Suite

The Contemporary Floating Bedroom Suite is a collection of unique contemporary bedroom furniture that appears to float above the floor without visible legs or support. It presents a simple elegant style that compliments any contemporary setting. 

Beds (available in all standard sizes) can be used with a traditional box spring and mattress offering a more traditional appearance or they can be used with a platform and mattress for a low, modern look.

While these pieces can be made from any material, it is recommended that they be made from either pre-finished or unfinished hardwood veneer plywood. The unfinished material supports a variety of contemporary finishing techniques from a simple stain or clear coat to dramatic solid colors.

This collection is assembled using just a screwdriver and “lock dado” joints. The dresser, chest, and night stand are all resizable. Drawers use “slot slides” where the drawer bottoms extend out each side and ride in slots machined in the sides. This offers easy assembly, smooth operation and precise alignment.

This collection offers simple, elegant and highly attractive furniture with high-end, avant-garde Italian styling.

About the Cut Center

The Thermwood Cut Ready Cut Center is an exciting alternative to traditional CNC routers for making a wide variety of products including cabinets, closets, furniture, doors, drawers and much more.  Just tell the machine what you what to make and it does it...it is that simple!  NO programming is required. 

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The Thermwood Cut Center has an extensive offering of products including cabinets, closets, furniture, doors, drawers, moldings and more, and the sizes can easily be changed with no programming. 

We can also help you develop custom libraries for your specific product(s) in the size range you want, in the material you want and install them in your machine. 

2. Operate as a Cut Center or a Traditional CNC Router

The Thermwood Cut Ready Cut Center is an exciting alternative to traditional CNC routers - just tell the machine what you what to make and it does it...it is that simple!  NOprogramming is required!

Also, you can operate the system as a CNC router in the traditional manner, running programs generated with virtually any CNC software. Thermwood has created a simple way to switch between operating as a CNC router and operating as a Cut Center to assure that all machine parameters are properly reset and that the standard Cut Center tooling is properly installed, checked and ready to run.

3. Powerful Testimonials From Our Customers...

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4. With Other CNC Routers - Programming Required?

Every CNC router, regardless of price, has one thing in common..it must be programmed. You will need a CNC programmer.  You will also need an operator with knowledge of tooling, feed speeds and holddown.  

This programming and operating knowledge takes a lot of time and experience to master. That can be time away from running your machine and making money.

5. You Can Get Into Production Quickly

It is likely you will be in full production with a Thermwood Cut Center in about a half a day. A typical CNC router can take as much as six months to program and get to that point. A half a day or a half a year? There is serious cost associated with that half a year.

6. Other CNC Routers - Not So Cheap After All

A typical CNC programmer will cost you more each month than the payment on a Thermwood Cut Center, which does not need CNC programs or CNC programmers.

So, even if a machine was FREE, it would still cost you more than a Thermwood Cut Center, and in a few years the Cut Center payments go away while your programmer costs most likely will go up. 

When you consider everything, a cheap router isn’t so cheap after all. In fact, to match a Thermwood Cut Center THEY would have to pay YOU to use their router. 

7. Constant Updates and Additions

We are constantly adding new libraries, features and capabilities to the Award-Winning Cut Ready Cut Center.  For instance, our latest update ads:

• New libraries and furniture (new Floating Bedroom Set)
• The ability to create stair stringers and free-standing stairs
• The ability to merge materials for a more efficient nest
• The ability to specify whether your material is sheet stock or board stock (with a whole host of options for each type)
• The ability to add sheets as off-fall even if they weren't created from the Cut Center
• The ability to resize the height on face frame base cabinets (while maintaining proper drawer front heights)

8. Commitment to Your Success

Thermwood is committed to you and your success.  We want you to love your new Cut Center, and for it to help move your business to the next level.  

We have the best service and support in the business, and help is available with a push of a button on your Cut Center.  We also have free phone, email and forum support.   In addition, we are available to help you create custom libraries for your projects to quickly get you going.   

The Bottom Line...

Don't have extensive programming experience?  Have programming experience and want both the flexibility of a CNC router and the ease of use of a Cut Center?  Looking for a machine that will grow with your business?  Then Thermwood's Cut Ready Cut Center might just be the machine for you!  

The 2016 IWF Show (August 24th-27th) promises to be an exciting opportunity to visit Atlanta and see the very latest technology from Thermwood (booth #6513)! 

Like the award-winning Cut Center (make virtually anything a cabinet shop would want to make - with no programming), the all-new Framebuilder 48 (for nested-based upholstered frames featuring an auto load/unload system and built-in chip collection hood) and the heavy-duty Model 45 utilizing pods and aggregate tooling (machining solid wood parts).

Try out the award-winning Cut Center for yourself at IWF 2016!

The award-winning Thermwood Cut Center (which can be operated as an easy-to-use Cut Center with no programming, or as a traditional CNC router - running programs generated with virtually any CNC software) will be in action during IWF 2016. 

You'll have the opportunity to see just how easy it is to run this powerful machine.  Just tell it what you want, and it makes it...it is that easy!  We'll be demonstrating live during the show, and you can be part of it by helping to operate the cut center.  Please visit our booth (#6513) and speak to a Thermwood representative to get your hands on this exciting machine! 

FrameBuilder 48 - Auto Load/Unload System and Chip Collection Hood

Thermwood is also proud to demonstrate our all-new FrameBuilder 48 (4'x8' table) CNC router equipped with optional dual 18 HP Spindles and dual electric drills for nested based upholstered frame production.  

Featuring an auto load/unload system to automate the process of feeding the machine sheet material and automatically off-loading the parts upon completion. The system is also equipped with a built-in chip collection hood that cleans the table as it executes the automatic load/unload cycle.  The FrameBuilder 48 will be in action at IWF 2016 in booth #6513.  

Solid Wood Machining on the Thermwood Model 45

 We will also be demonstrating solid wood door machining utilizing pods and aggregate tooling on the Thermwood Model 45. 

The heavy-duty Model 45 is designed for a variety of functions including the machining of rotary operations when equipped with our optional C-Axis. This expands the capability of this already useful machine to include volutes, carvings, chair parts, stair components and much more.  

Model 45 with Pod System Machining Poplar Hardwood Door:

See at IWF 2016:

All three of these machines will be on display and cutting live at IWF 2016 (August 24th-27th) in Thermwood booth #6513 at the Georgia World Congress Center - Atlanta, GA.  Make plans now to visit us and see this exciting new technology in person!

More Info

For more info on the Thermwood Cut Center, please visit cutready.com.  For more info on the FrameBuilder 48 or Model 45 CNC routers, please visit us at thermwood.com.

Latest Update Summary

We are constantly adding new features and abilities to the Award-Winning Cut Ready Cut Center.  Our latest update now gives you:

• The ability to create stair stringers and free-standing stairs
• Merge materials for a more efficient nest
• Specify whether your material is sheet stock or board stock (with a whole host of options for each type)
• Add sheets as off-fall even if they weren't created from the Cut Center
• Resize the height on face frame base cabinets (while maintaining proper drawer front heights).

Stair Stringers

The Cut Center now has the ability to create Stair Stringers, and free-standing stairs. 

Merge Materials

This ability originated with the stair stringers development (you can nest treads, risers or stringers out of the same material, providing a more efficient nest), and this solution was so useful that it was implemented throughtout the entire system.

New Material Properties

We’ve updated the materials page to allow the user to specify whether their material is Sheet Stock or Board Stock (which affects direction of cut, feed speeds, and cut depths).  This allows you to make Solid Wood Drawer Boxes.

You can also specify if your material has identical sides (such as premium plywood), or if they are different (such as melamine that has 2 colors).  In the melamine scenario, the Cut Center will maintain all of one color to the inside of the cabinets.

For users who do not use material with grain (melamine, mdf, etc.), you can now turn grain off, resulting in a more efficient nest.

Add Off-Fall Sheets not created in Cut Ready

Prior to this update, you could only add off-fall created from previous jobs by using a barcode and scanner.  This update allows you to add rectangular off-fall that was not created from the Cut Ready system, and use it just like you would regular off-fall.

Resize the Height on Frace Frame Base Cabinets

We now allow users to change the height of Face Frame Base Cabinets while maintaining proper Drawer Front Heights.

About the Cut Center

The Thermwood Cut Ready Cut Center is an exciting alternative to traditional CNC routers for making a wide variety of products including cabinets, closets, furniture, doors, drawers and much more.  Just tell the machine what you what to make and it does it...it is that simple!  NO programming is required.

Thermwood's Award Winning Cut Ready Cut Center is an all-new alternative to traditional CNC routers for making custom cabinets and furniture with NO programming.  

Here we present a short video featuring two new Thermwood Cut Center owners and their impressions of the machine and its capabilities.  Take a listen to Michael Bednark of Bednark Inc. in Brooklyn, NY and Donovan Mumma of Byrne Custom Woodworking in Lenexa, KS as they discuss their new Cut Centers and what the machine is going to do for each business. 

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Jody Wilmes of Thermwood with Troy, Kenny and Michael Bednark of‬ Bednark Inc. in Brooklyn, NY with their new ‪‎Thermwood‬ ‎Cut Ready‬ ‎Cut Center‬. 

Jody Wilmes of Thermwood with Donovan Mumma of Byrne Custom Woodworking in Lenexa, KS and their brand new ‪‎Cut Ready‬ ‎Cut Center‬.

Thermwood Cut Center - No Programming Required

The Thermwood Cut Ready Cut Center is an exciting alternative to traditional CNC routers for making a wide variety of products including cabinets, closets, furniture, doors, drawers and much more.  Just tell the machine what you what to make and it does it...it is that simple!  NO programming is required.

Other CNC Routers - Lots of Programming Required

Every CNC router, regardless of price, has one thing in common..it must be programmed. You will need a CNC programmer. A typical CNC programmer will cost you more each month than the payment on a Thermwood Cut Center, which does not need CNC programs or CNC programmer

So, even if a machine was FREE, it would still cost you more than a Thermwood Cut Center, and in a few years the Cut Center payments go away while your programmer costs most likely will go up.

"Maybe I'll Just Program it Myself..."

Good luck! CNC routers require a constant stream of programs to run. Solving problems, like damaged or scrapped parts or defects in material means even more CNC programs. Programming custom cabinets on a CNC router is a full time job….good thing you have nothing else to do! 

And then there’s software. Cheap cabinet software is limited and difficult. It takes more time which means more money. Really good software can cost as much, or more than your cheap router.

And there’s scrap. You will have one or more partial sheets left from each job. Regardless of what they tell you, it is so difficult, complex and expensive to add this to new jobs that virtually everyone just throws it away. With the Cut Center, you just scan the label on any extra material lying around and it is added to the job, automatically. This can mean a lot of money saved at the end of the year. 

Thermwood Cut Center - Get Into Production Quickly

Also, it is likely you will be in full production with a Thermwood Cut Center in about a half a day. A CNC router can take as much as six months to program and get to that point. A half a day or a half a year? There is serious cost associated with that half a year.

Other CNC Routers - Not So Cheap After All

When you consider everything, a cheap router isn’t so cheap after all. In fact, to match a Thermwood Cut Center they would have to pay YOU to use their router. 

Instead of looking for the cheapest possible CNC router, do this thing right, get a Thermwood Cut Center….your life will be better and you will make more money.

What our Cut Center Customers Think...

More about the Thermwood Cut Center:

Operate as a Cut Center with No Programming

With the award-winning Thermwood Cut Center, there are no computers or design software. Everything is already in the machine. There is no programming. The cut center doesn’t need a computer to tell it how to move because it already knows how to make cabinets. Just tell it what you want to make, and it does it - it is that simple!  

Operate as a CNC Router

Also, you can operate the system as a CNC router in the traditional manner, running programs generated with virtually any CNC software. Thermwood has created a simple way to switch between operating as a CNC router and operating as a Cut Center to assure that all machine parameters are properly reset and that the standard Cut Center tooling is properly installed, checked and ready to run.