Thermwood remains open as an essential business, and is here to support you.

Posted by Duane Marrett on Mon, Mar 30, 2020

Tags: Thermwood, Announcements, Support, Service, virtual service, Covid-19


Thermwood Corporation Headquarters
During these unprecedented times, we wanted to reach out and thank all of our customers, and to let you know that Thermwood has been classified as an essential business for our involvement in critical manufacturing, logistics and the defense industrial base.  

As such, we are operating as normally as possible to support our customers.  We are available to support and assist via phone, email and virtual service.

 


Free Live Demonstrations Available

For new machine purchases, our CNC Router and Additive Manufacturing experts can still evaluate your production needs and determine how you can best reduce costs and increase efficiency.  We offer free live demonstrations of our equipment and software to qualified companies.  These demonstrations can be done via Webex, Skype, as a time study, via dedicated hosted video and/or by completing your project and shipping it back to you for verification.

Watch a Thermwood 3 Axis High-Performance Heavy-Duty Model 45 Machine an Aluminum Pyramid

Thermwood Model 90
If you have any questions on how Thermwood can help improve your business, or if you need support, please give us a call at 1-800-533-6901 for sales (1-800-221-3865 for service) or click on the Request More Information link below. 

We are all in this together and Thermwood is committed to doing our best to rise to this new challenge and support all of our customers both existing and new.

 


About Thermwood Corporation

Thermwood Multipurpose Model 45

Thermwood is a US based, multinational, diversified CNC machinery manufacturer that markets its products and services through offices in 11 countries. Thermwood is the oldest manufacturer of highly flexible 3 & 5 axis high-speed machining centers known as CNC routers.

Thermwood has also become the technology and market leader in large scale additive manufacturing systems for thermoplastic composite molds, tooling, patterns and parts with its line of LSAM (Large Scale Additive Manufacturing) machines that both 3D print and trim on the same machine. These are some of the largest and most capable additive manufacturing systems ever produced and are marketed to major companies in the aerospace, marine, automotive and foundry industries as well as military, government and defense contractors.

Thermwood LSAM Series Machines

Request More Information from Thermwood

 

See How A Thermwood Smart Router Can Save You Money

Posted by Duane Marrett on Wed, Mar 15, 2017

Tags: Thermwood, CNC Routers, smart-router, Support, save money on cnc router, Cut Ready, Cut Center, QCore, Service, virtual service

Thermwood Smart Routers Save You Money!Most people looking at a router for the first time do not realize that the vast majority of their cost will not be in running the router, but actually in EVERYTHING ELSE required to run the router (preparation, programming, hold down, operating procedures and error handling are the main cost areas).

Ordinary routers do not focus on these areas. They simply rely on the user to take care of them and usually it is not that easy.  Thermwood smart routers address these areas in a big way. They focus on the areas where you spend the most money because that’s where you can make the most money.

Just like a smart phone does more than simply make phone calls, a Thermwood smart router does much more than just route parts. The “more” in a smart router saves material and labor and makes it very easy to use. A smart router may cost a bit more, but is substantially more profitable, making it a much better overall investment. 


Thermwood Smart Router Advantages:

Smart Routers Save Material

  • Thermwood Smart Routers - Your Best InvestmentEasily use material left from the last job
  • Recover from broken tools without scrapping material
  • Smart nesting keeps smaller parts from moving and being scrapped
  • Nest around defects to use damaged or flawed material
  • Save the sheet if parts start moving
  • Warns you if spoilboard needs resurfacing
  • Fly cut spoilboard in the middle of a job
  • Machine back operations on the full sheet
  • Alerts you when running critical parts

Smart Routers Save Labor

  • Smart routers are easier to program
  • Recut parts without programming
  • Easily recover from problems without programming
  • Run at the machine without programming each job
  • During file selection, images help avoid errors
  • Machine operator can safely do other jobs
  • Avoid processing parts one at a time

Smart Routers are Easy to Use

  • Run from virtually any software or any program
  • The same file works on any smart router regardless of size or configuration
  • Smart routers easily process material whose thickness varies from sheet to sheet
  • Smart routers guide you step by step
  • Uses smart labels to make parts easy to sort
  • Assembly marks make parts easy to assemble
  • Smart tooling avoids tooling errors
  • Smart routers manage tooling for you
  • Smart routers machine a profile edge without a profile tool

Smart Routers are Easy to Maintain and Service

  • Automatically manages routine maintenance
  • Helps you recover from errors quickly and easily
  • Maintenance and operating manuals are right on the screen
  • Watch how-to videos for service
  • 3D CAD drawings identify every part quickly and easily
  • Smart routers can be serviced over the internet
  • Smart routers are updated online

Other Differences

  • Smart routers are not limited by memory
  • Smart routers can be monitored and managed with your smartphone or tablet
  • Smart routers use a large touch screen like other modern devices


Request More Information from Thermwood 

Thermwood Total Solution - Reliable Performance and Superior Support You Can Trust

Posted by Duane Marrett on Tue, Feb 21, 2017

Tags: Thermwood, CNC Routers, Support, Service, virtual service, Total Solution

What Do You Get With Thermwood?

Thermwood Customer Family - Total Support and SolutionsWhen you join the Thermwood Family, we don't just consider you a customer, but as a partner, friend and family member.  We believe in helping each other through a genuine relationship of mutual trust so that we are both successful.

What Do You Get With a Thermwood CNC?

When you purchase a CNC router from Thermwood, you get a dependable machine, a superior control, reliable performance and the best service and support in the business

Thermwood has been great quote

Our CNC Experts work with you during every step of the process to insure that you receive the optimum machine configuration for your specific application, and that you gain the knowledge and assistance you need to get into production as quickly as possible.  

You Are Never On Your Own

You are never on your own with a Thermwood machine.  Knowing that you have made the smart choice in partnering with a company that you can trust to stand behind you and do everything we can to make your business successful. 

Ken Susnjara Quote - Thermwood Family

Our Machines Just Work!

From Day One, Thermwood machines just work!  Day after day and year after year, our CNC machines will get the job done.  Made in the USA by hard-working Americans building custom machines just for you and not for stock.  And, because we build both the machines and controller, we support everything that comes from Thermwood...one company and one phone number to contact.

Thermwood 5 Axis Model 90 5'x12' CNC Router

Thermwood Model 90 5 Axis 5'x12' Dual Table CNC router


Customize Your Solution

Thermwood works with you on custom programming for your total solutionThermwood's Total Solution means that we can customize your machine operation to suit your specific needs.  Our experienced program techs can create new programs or modify your existing programs, work with you on fixturing and tooling, and much more.  

Our ultimate goal is to provide the best solution possible with the lowest learning curve for you. We'll stay by your side during each step of the way. We also provide phone, email and forum support, always free of charge.

Thermwood Customers IDL Worldwide with their new Model 45 CNC router

Thermwood Customers IDL Worldwide with their new Model 45 CNC router


Superior Support When You Need It

Our Total Solution also means that support doesn't stop with the sale.  We are by your side during your five-day training course at Thermwood's state-of-the-art factory as well as during installation at your facility.  And, if you ever need service or support, we have Virtual Service, free phone and email support, extensive parts inventory and the best support in the business!

Thermwood Training Class in Dale, IN

Thermwood Customers learning programming skills during our five-day training class


The Thermwood Total Solution:

Training and Production Support

  • In-Depth Machine Training at our state-of-the-art facilty
  • Production Start-Up Assistance at your facility with a dedicated CNC Expert
  • Help from our CNC Experts when you need it via phone/email/forum 

Customizing Your Solution

  • Customizable Machine Operation (modify/create new programs and/or machine hardware)

Better Machines

  • High-Performance, Highly-Reliable, American-Built Machines
  • Full Function, High Performance CNC Control (future-proofed with an upgrade path)

Superior Service and Support

  • Free Phone/Forum/Email Support
  • Virtual Service (instantly address virtually anything a service visit can - fast)
  • Free Ongoing Control Updates (not available from others - you're stuck with what you have)
  • Quick Support Visits Directly from the Factory When Needed (single source responsibility)
  • Extensive Spare Parts Inventory with Overnight Shipping

Original Woodworking and their new Thermwood Cut Center

Thermwood Customer Original Woodworking - Bluffdale, UT with their new Cut Center


The Bottom Line:

Thermwood Total Solutions - The Bottom Line

Thermwood Headquarters in Dale, IN
Our systems install fast, start up quick, are easier to use and maintain, produce more and last longer, and just plain work!

The Thermwood Total Solution means that we work with you before you buy, after you buy and into the future to make sure you get the best performance and financial benefit from your Thermwood machine.   

 


Request More Information from Thermwood

 

Thermwood Virtual Service - Help in an Instant

Posted by Duane Marrett on Tue, Nov 18, 2014

Tags: Thermwood, QCore, SuperControl, Service, virtual service


What is Virtual Service?

Virtual Service is a useful system provided for members of Thermwood's Advanced Support Program and owners of the Cut Ready Cut Center.  Virtual Service is a powerful audio and video link, using an internet connection, between the customer's SuperControl (QCore or Gen2) and the Thermwood service department that is used for helping prevent costly service trips and minimizing possible down time.

How Does it Work?

Thermwood Virtual ServiceVirtual Service is a "one way service" which can only be initiated from the customer's control.  The customer simply selects the "Connect to Virtual Service" button on their control, and within a short period of time, they are connected to a Thermwood service technician and can interact via voice, chat and webcam.

After the Virtual Service link is established, the customer can see and talk to the Thermwood service technician and the service technician can see, not just the cutomer, but also all of the critical parameters of the customer's control.  This connection essentially gives the service technician as much information as he would have if he were standing in front of the customer's control itself.  

Through this link, the control can be diagnosed in real-time and corrections made while programs are being executed. Programming errors can also be identified and corrected online.

Customers can typically handle many mechanical problems themselves if they are shown what to do, so related videos can also be launched by the Thermwood technician to be viewed by the customer on their end.

 

 

The Benefits

Virtual Service can effectively handle most difficulties and problems that occur and provide service in minutes instead of days or weeks - reducing downtime and frustration.


Virtual Service Capabilities

Monitor in real-time:

  • Machine motion
  • Axis positions
  • Inputs and outputs
  • Servo Information
  • Part program execution
  • PLC info
  • AFL messages
  • Axis Normalizaiton Info
  • Axis home switches
  • Machine trajectory information
  • Part program error messages
  • Feed rate override

View:

  • Tool setup data
  • Actuator setup data
  • Tool changer setup data
  • Fixture offset data
  • Maintenance clock information
  • Machine in/out limits

View or modify if necessary:

  • Macro files
  • PLC files
  • Machine setup files
  • Machine format files
  • All Thermwood system files

More Information

For more information on Thermwood's Virtual Service program, or to see a live demonstration of our 3 Axis or 5 Axis CNC Routers in action, please visit the link below:

Request More Information from Thermwood

Virtual Tour of Thermwood Corporation

Posted by Duane Marrett on Thu, Aug 16, 2012

Tags: Thermwood, CNC Routers, Training, Support, US made, Service, introduction, History, virtual tour, factory

An introduction to Thermwood Corporation and our products and services.  A virtual tour covering history, innovations, fabrication, machines, demonstrations, service, support, training, engineering, quality control and much more.

Using FARO Laser Tracker to Perform Alignments and Volumetric Compensation

Posted by Duane Marrett on Fri, Mar 06, 2009

Tags: CNC, 3 Axis, 5 Axis, Technology, Service, FARO

We have two FARO Laser Tracker units that are in use every day at Thermwood, performing both alignment and volumetric compensation on our new CNC Router builds.  We also offer this as a service to existing customers. 

FARO Laser in use at Thermwood

Since we've implemented this technology, the amount of time required for machine alignments has been cut to less than half. What once took up to eight hours to complete can now be accomplished in approximately three.

FARO has a nice write up about the entire process here, and you can download a printable version here

If you would like more information on how this technology benefits both existing machines and new builds, please contact us.

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Straight Talk about Nested Based Systems by Ken Susnjara

Posted by Duane Marrett on Wed, Mar 04, 2009

Tags: Thermwood, CNC, Nested Base, 3 Axis, 5 Axis, Model 90, Model 67, Model 45, Cost, Service, Model 41, Ken Susnjara, Straight Talk

I am the founder and CEO of Thermwood. If you check our web site you will find a new area where we offer a comparison chart of the nested based systems available today and some "straight talk" about the systems and industry.

I'm the one that put this together because of several things that have been happening and I thought I might use our new blog area to tell you about it.

We are trying to sell nested based systems to cabinet shops and in today's world, these sales are really important. In analyzing what's going on, two things stood out. First, customers that bought our product continually tell us they are pleasantly surprised at all the things it does for them. This is good because happy customers are always good. It's bad however, because the fact that they were surprised means we did a lousy job of telling them the advantages of our offering or what they should expect before they bought.

The second thing had to do with our Model 41 and Model 67 machines. In the wood industry our dealers have been telling us we needed a lower cost machine so we developed the Model 41. In order to build a machine at a lower cost you have to take something away so we used a single side drive for the gantry and purchased, rather than built, the Z axis assembly. This meant two things as far as the customer is concerned.

First, table size was restricted to 4'x8'. This meant that when combined with our three-dimensional compensation we could get good performance and good accuracy which is difficult to do with a single gantry drive. A larger table with this arrangement wouldn't work very well. Also, the shorter stroke of the purchased Z axis meant that the rotary playback for making carved posts and legs couldn't be used with this machine. We didn't consider this a major drawback since not too many shops ordered the optional playback system anyway.

The Model 90 was a little different. We had a solid and good selling product in our five axis Model 67. It did a great job in trimming and model and mold making and was probably the market leader in those applications. Our engineers designed up a higher performance version of the Model 67 and we called it the Model 90. It was quite a bit more expensive but the extra money made it perform substantially faster and better. Our sales folks told us they didn't think it would sell because you could do the same jobs with the lower cost Model 67.

In actuality however, the Model 41 attracted a lot of customers but virtually all of them moved up to the Model 45 because of better performance and more capability. The same thing happened to the Model 90. Over half of the customers switched to the higher cost-higher performance Model 90.

These things were bothering me because of a lot of talk in the forums and blogs about the price of nested based systems. The talk and blogs and forums all acted like all these systems are the same. Just like our customers didn't know what we were offering, the industry doesn't seem to know or appreciate the difference between low cost systems and higher cost systems, both ours and some of our competitors. They don't seem to have a clue about what you get for what you pay.

This caused me to try to lay out the whole thing in a clear, accurate and honest way. Based on the two observations, perhaps if potential customers really understand everything our systems offer, they would be willing to step up to the higher price just like they did with the Model 41 and Model 90. If not, at least they would both understand and accept what they are buying for what they are spending.

I tried to be as accurate as possible with this comparison. If you find any area where the comparison is wrong, please let me know and I will change it. Also, if there is an area where you think we should add additional items for comparison also let me know. My email is ken.susnjara@thermwood.com

For comparison purposes, I do not want to include items open for interpretation. For example, I believe our service is second to none, but the quality of service is value judgment rather than a provable fact so I have left those things out. You should check out service pretty carefully before buying, however. It is very important.

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