Helpful Insight When Choosing an Automated Solution

Jody Wilmes (Cut Ready Product Manager), helps you understand the differences between the Cut Center and a regular CNC machine.

Jody provides an in-depth look at what it takes to successfully operate each machine, and lists some of the additional expenses and things to consider when shopping for an automated solution for your application.

Learn How Easy it is to Machine a Cabinet in Cut Ready

Cut Ready’s Bath cabinets now have the option to combine into one larger combination cabinet.  We successfully introduced this feature several months ago for kitchens and are expanding it to include bath cabinets too.  As customers have found, there are many benefits with combination cabinets over the traditional single cabinet layouts.

Some Benefits:

• Less material & expendables (labels, tooling, etc.)
• Less parts to sort, assemble, edge band or potentially damage
• Increased cabinet space
• Better grain matching
• Easier to level/straighten one cabinet vs. multiple cabinets
• Reduced labor and overhead
• Increased profits

To Access this Feature:

As you select options to make your bath cabinets, you will eventually be asked this question:

Note:  This is an unusually large update and will require time to download.  Continue using the system as you normally would while it is downloading. 

Shutting the machine down will not cause any harm.  The system will continue downloading when it is turned back on.

What Some of Our Cut Center Owners Are Saying...

New Plans to Connect With Customers

With IWF cancelled for 2020 - Thermwood has put new plans into place to connect with our customers who won't get to see us live in Atlanta.

We are currently working to produce a series of Info Spot videos featuring our Cut Ready Cut Center, 3 Axis and 5 Axis CNC routers and LSAM (Large Scale Additive Manufacturing Systems) that highlight the capabilities of each, in addition to giving tips and tricks to help with tooling and fixturing.

The Thermwood team is always available to consult in the form of web demos/videos and time studies.  We are also ready to welcome customers to our Dale, Indiana, headquarters for in-person demonstrations, or use the web to stream live demonstrations if preferred.

Thermwood is Open For Business

Thermwood is open for business, and ready to demo your projects on our machines to prove our CNC equipment can machine customer applications more efficiently and with a significant cost savings.

See Our Machines in Action Without a Trade Show

At IWF, we had planned to demonstrate three of our machines.  First, our Cut Ready Cut Center, which allows users to make virtually anything a cabinet shop would want to make, with no programming required.

We were also planning to show the heavy-duty Model 45 (composites, plastics, nested base, aluminum, non-ferrous metal and wood) and the high-performance Model 43.

The Cut Center would really have been the star of our show. Once people see it in action, and understand how easy it is to operate, they love it.   The machine control actually walks the operator through the entire process, using a touch-screen interface to easily select and configure what they want to make.   

It also keeps track of all maintenance items (lubrication, tooling, filters, etc.), and handles selecting the correct tool and nesting the sheets for maximum efficiency. It also automatically prints labels for each part, as well as a diagram to apply them.

Info Spot Videos Coming Soon - Stay Tuned!

With this in mind, our first round of videos, or Info Spots will feature the Cut Center, and walk viewers through everything from understanding the differences between the Cut Center and a regular CNC router to operating the machine and selecting and cutting out cabinets.

Stay tuned in the next couple of weeks for the first in this new series of videos from Thermwood!

This update contains the following:

• New Adjust Settings Layout
• Additional Labeling Options
• Door & Drawer Front Matching fix
• Shaker Door Fixes

New Adjust Settings Layout

In this update, we have reorganized the Adjust Settings layout.  For example, all mobile accounts have been grouped into one area and a new Hardware Options section has been added.  We have also grouped Cutting and Air Assist options under the Operations button, while also adding a new user request option for Labeling.

Labeling Options

Now (within the Operations area), you will see some new labeling options that were requested by several users.  These allow you to print labels for All Parts, Off-Fall Only or choose to not print any labels at all.

Improvements/Fixes

We have also addressed a few issues:

• An issue finding a Drawer Front match for MDF Slab Doors was discovered and fixed.
• We have modified the cutting operation for a handful of Shaker Doors where a small amount of material was left in the corners.

What Some of Our Cut Center Owners Are Saying...

In this update, we’ve created a new category of MDF Doors dedicated entirely to the Shaker style, one of the most popular type of door styles within the industry.   These are available with and without a miter cut on the inner profile.   Miter cuts can be machined as a multi-pass or single pass door.

Over 600 New Door and Drawer Front Definitions

Shaker Doors are also available with different pocket depths (0.1875” to 0.4”) and different width for the Styles and Rails (2” to 3” in increments of 0.25”) giving you a wide range of options to choose from.  The addition of Shaker Doors has added approximately 600 new door and drawer front definitions!

What Some of Our Cut Center Owners Are Saying...

Cut Centers become more valuable over time...

In addition to not requiring a programmer, Cut Centers are continuously evolving, providing you with more and more features and products to offer your customers.  When new features and products become available, your Cut Center will automatically alert you, keeping you up to date with the latest offerings (circled in red below).  Because of this, over time, Cut Centers increase in value to your operation instead of falling behind and becoming obsolete.

Artie will automatically alert you when a new update is available

The amount of products/offerings included in the Cut Center has grown significantly

• Cabinet definitions are up from 8,169 to 24,465…a 300% increase!
• Doors and Drawer Front styles increased from 492 offerings to 3,166…a 643% increase!
• Furniture offerings increased from 30 to 186 offerings.
• The Shapes Area began with 8 basic shapes and is now up to 30 unique shapes (including trapezoids, octagons, etc.).

In addition, a wide variety of new useful features and tools have been added – some of the most popular ones are:

• Addition of Stair Stringers

• Expanded Grain Matching options for Doors and Drawer Fronts

• Print Face Frame dimensions/cut lists at the machine
• Adjustable edge banding thickness (part sizes are adjusted automatically)
• Improved Run Screen Interface
• Base cabinet height adjustments (along with depth and width)
• Addition of the Publisher tool (easily send your eCabinet designs to the Cut Center)
• Ability to machine more types of materials, such as Starboard for Outdoor Cabinets

• Expanded corner cabinet dimension options
• Integration of A.I. (Artie - artificial intelligence)

• Combination Cabinets (combine multiple cabinets into one, large cabinet)

How much do updates cost and who gets them?

Updates are free for Cut Centers, ALL of them…regardless of age.  This ensures that you stay competitive as new technology is developed and new products become available. 

In fact, our latest and most significant update included the ability to make Combination Cabinets, a custom cabinet feature that allows you to create large kitchen cabinets with multiple sections. This feature reduces the machine time by 25 to 35 percent and part count by up to 50 percent, thus dramatically lowering the production time and the material cost of the job.

Combination Cabinet created on a Cut Center after the latest update

This latest update alone has increased the amount of cabinet configurations you can make from several million to several trillion…continuing to make the Cut Center much more valuable than when it was first introduced. 

The amount of product at your fingertips (without programming or expensive design software) truly is remarkable!

The Bottom Line...

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.   

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.

Powerful Testimonials From Some Of Our Customers...

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At the recent AWFS show, Thermwood announced exciting new features for its Cut Ready systems. Called “Combination Cabinets” this creates a single structure comprised of multiple cabinets, and like all Cut Ready products it all happens with no CNC programming, making the Cut Ready Cut Center even more valuable.

But, what about all the folks who already have Cut Centers who don’t have this feature? The good news is that with the next free system update, they also get all the new features (even though they didn’t exist when the machine was bought new).

Cut Centers don’t go obsolete, they become more valuable over time.

This latest update features the addition of Combination Cabinets, dovetail drawer box updates and the ability to generate a dimensional listing of all face frame parts.  No matter if your Cut Ready/Cut Center is brand new or was the first one delivered, this will update your machine to the latest features available for you to use, and it’s free.

New Combination Cabinets Feature Added

One of the most important time and material cost saving features ever released – Combination Cabinets – allows you to easily create large kitchen cabinets with multiple sections.  This feature reduces your machine time by 25 to 35 percent and your part count by 50 percent or higher, all without the need for a programmer or expensive design software.

By customizing the size and style of each opening, you can now create endless combinations for both frameless & face frame kitchen cabinets.  Choose from many different options for these sections from one or two doors, with/without drawers, false fronts, open sections, slotted areas for storage along with numerous other variations.

Check Out The Video!

Drawer Box Joint Improvements

Cut Ready’s dovetail drawer box application has been refined to provide our users with the highest precision fit and accuracy possible for dovetail construction. 

Generate a Face Frame Part Dimensional Listing

Cut Ready now has the ability to generate a dimensional listing of all face frame parts. This provides both length and width of all parts in an easy to read listing.

What Some of Our Cut Center Owners Are Saying...

The 2019 AWFS Show (July 17th-20th) promises to be an exciting opportunity to visit Las Vegas and see the very latest technology from Thermwood!  Like the award winning Thermwood CUT CENTER (make virtually anything a cabinet shop would want to make - with no programming) and the powerful and versatile MODEL 45 with a pod system (machining solid wood, plastic and aluminum).

This year, Thermwood is proud to demonstrate the award-winning CUT READY CUT CENTER (with Artie inside to help you quickly and easily create most products a cabinet shop would want to make without a CNC programmer).  

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 (#7425) and speak to a Thermwood representative to get your hands on this exciting machine!

CUT READY Series With Artie Inside

Despite the cute name, Artie is actually a cutting edge, artificial intelligence engine inside the CUT READY control.

You tell him what you want and he creates a program to make it. These are not pre-programmed libraries. No part programs exist in the control until Artie creates them. This is nothing less than a bold next step in the evolution of the CNC router.

Artie is already capable of programming tens of millions of unique products and is constantly learning how to make and do more and more new things. Artie is easy enough that virtually anyone can work with him with little or no training.

Solid Wood Machining on the Thermwood MODEL 45

We will also be demonstrating solid wood, plastics and aluminum utilizing a pod system and a horizontal aggregate 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.  The MODEL 45 is also equipped with smart-router technology that helps save labor and material, are easy to use and will make you a lot more money than ordinary routers.

See in operation at  AWFS 2019!

Both the CUT CENTER and the MODEL 45 will be on display and cutting live at AWFS 2019 (Thermwood booth #7425).  We will also have several displays featuring the powerful new Combination Cabinets (this new tool allows you to easily create a large bank of connected cabinets with multiple sections). 

Using Combination Cabinets can bring real savings to your production - Cut Ready Combination Cabinets can save you time, material and money!

Make plans to see this exciting new technology in person and attend AWFS 2019  (July 17th-20th) at the Las Vegas Convention Center - Las Vegas, NV or contact us at 800-533-6901 for more information.

The  Cut Ready Combination Cabinets feature allows you to easily create a large bank of connected cabinets with multiple sections. 

These combination cabinets can be created with or without face frames, and you can also customize each of the sections (width and style).  Choose from many different options for these sections from one or two doors, with/without drawers, false fronts, open sections, slotted areas for storage and much more. 

Check out the video below to see this new feature in action.

Visit AWFS 2019 and try out the Cut Center for yourself!

See just how easy it is to use the Cut Center

The Thermwood Cut Center will be in action during AWFS 2019.  You'll have the opportunity to see just how easy it is to run this amazing 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 (#7425) and speak to a Thermwood representative to get your hands on this exciting machine! Make plans now to visit us and see this exciting technology in person! 

Solid Wood Machining on the Thermwood Model 45

We will also be demonstrating solid wood, plastics and aluminum utilizing a pod system and a horizontal aggregate on our 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 in addition to cabinets, solid wood, millwork, phenolic, display fixtures and much more.  This high-performance three axis CNC router is available in either single or dual spindles, multiple table sizes and many other options as well.

Thermwood Model 45 Videos (including machining HDPE plastic sheets):

See at AWFS 2019:

Both of these machines will be on display and cutting live at AWFS 2019 (July 17th-20th) in Booth #7425 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.  Make plans now to visit us and see this exciting technology in person! 

What Some of Our Cut Center Customers Are Saying...

The Thermwood Cut Center is all about saving you time and money, using an easy to operate and sophisticated combination of software and machinery that you can feel confident in.  

We've taken the fear out of automation by combining our easy to use interface and years of experience in the industry to create a powerful tool that will allow you to focus more on your products, business, making money, and worry less about being intimidated by the technical details. Your time is money, and the Cut Center helps you save more of both.

Below, find out just what makes the Thermwood Cut Center so special and profitable:

1. Huge Product Line From Day One

The product offering on the Thermwood Cut Center is extensive, and constantly growing.  It includes cabinets, closets, furniture, doors, drawers, moldings and much more, and the sizes can easily be changed with no programming.

With a Cut Center, you can:

• Make your products with little effort
• Make your competitors products with little effort
• Expand your current offering to other profitable products with little effort
• Profit from an ever-expanding product line with no programming

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

2. Virtually Instant Start Up

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. 

With the Cut Center, it is all figured out for you, and from Day One you get:

• No programming
• No extensive training required
• No tooling to figure out and buy
• No cutting parameters to figure out 

3. Feel Confident That the Details are Taken Care Of

The Thermwood Cut Center is engineered and programmed by experts who have taken all of the worry and headaches out of the equation.  This gives you the confidence and peace of mind to focus on what is important - making money!   You can concentrate on your product (its configuration, material and dimensions), as well as marketing and growing your business. 

All the technical knowledge needed to make the machine work is already in place and invisible to the user - no new technical skills are necessary. You simply select what you want to make, right at the machine, and it makes it.

Running a Cut Center is much easier than a typical CNC router:

• It manages tools for you
  • Figures out which tools to use for each job
  • Figures out proper cutting speeds
  • Tracks tool life
• It recovers from problems easily and smoothly
  • Easily remake damaged parts by simply scanning a label
  • Recover from broken tool(s) without scrapping parts
  • Easily recut a defective sheet
• It manages maintenance
  • It tells you when to clean filters
  • It tells you when to lubricate
  • It easily connects you to a service tech if you ever need more help 

4. 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:

• Over 1,200 new cabinet definitions
• Varying depths for Shaker door styles
• The ability to easily share off-fall between Cut Ready and CNC Mode
• Expanded update Information easily accessible in Cut Ready
• Expanded images and descriptions

5.  Also Operate As a CNC Router 

You can also operate the Cut Center system as a CNC router in the traditional manner, running programs generated with virtually any CNC software. 

It is simple 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. 

6. No Programming Required with Artie Inside

Cut Ready doesn’t need a programmer because there is already one inside the control. We call him “Artie”.

Despite the cute name, Artie is actually a cutting edge, artificial intelligence engine inside the Cut Ready control. You tell him what you want and he creates a program to make it. These are not pre-programmed libraries. No part programs exist in the control until Artie creates them. This is nothing less than a bold next step in the evolution of the CNC router.

Artie is already capable of programming tens of millions of unique products and is constantly learning how to make and do more and more new things. Artie is easy enough that virtually anyone can work with him with little or no training.

7. 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.   

8. 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, some CNC router manufacturers will charge 3-5 times more for spare parts and service.

In these cases, the manufacturers plan is to double or triple their profit over 5 years through spare parts and service.  This is why the initial cost of the CNC router is cheaper.

10. Absolute 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.   

11. Powerful Testimonials From Our Customers...

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