Frequently Asked Questions
How long has Northwood Machine been in the CNC Router business?
We are asked that question quite often. The very first Northwood CNC Router was
produced in 1990 in Louisville, Kentucky. Since that first machine, we have manufactured
CNC routers for the wood, plastic, aerospace, composite and stone industries.
How does Northwood Stoneworks fit into the picture?
Northwood Stoneworks is the identity in the marketplace that we assigned to Northwood's
CNC Stone Machine Division.
Where are Northwood CNC Stone Machines manufactured?
All Northwood CNC routers (stone and others) are manufactured in our state-of-the-art
facilities in Louisville, Kentucky. We occupy a total of approximately 80,000 square
feet in three locations. Does Northwood manufacture any other stone machines?
At Northwood we have historically only made CNC Routers. When asked for our opinions
on saws, straight line polishers, water systems, etc., we generally refer the customers
to our machine users who have firsthand experience with various brands and models.
We have recently introduced the NEW Northwood StoneJET™ and SawJET™ abrasive waterjet
machines. These machines are seamlessly integrated into our StoneVision® software
and, therefore, are a tremendous addition to the Northwood Stoneworks CNC Stone
Machining Centers. Of course, the machines are totally integrated with our StoneScan
and StoneLaser technologies.
I've noticed that the Northwood CNC Stone Machines have GE Fanuc machine controls;
why is that important?
The machine control is the heart of any machine (and the most expensive component).
GE Fanuc is the most highly respected machine control company in the world with
more CNC machine installations than any other. GE Fanuc has earned this reputation
because of control reliability. At Northwood, we purchase the GE Fanuc machine controls
in quantity directly from GE Fanuc (Japan) with deluxe option packages. In fact
all of our GE Fanuc machine controls now feature the Panel i technology with touch
screen monitors for ease-of-use. We even use GE Fanuc axis drives and cables that
are matched to the machine controls!
At one point, we manufactured a "price-point" woodworking machine ($100K range)
designed for small cabinet shops in which we used the Siemens 810D control. This
control was selected because it is significantly less expensive.
Northwood's competitors in the stone industry have been around for longer. How do
you counter that?
That is a question we are asked quite often. When we initially researched the CNC
stone machine market we were amazed to find that it was dominated, for the most
part, by European companies who had become very complacent. By that I mean, they
were selling the same old technology that had been sold for ten years with little
innovation. As we interviewed their machine owners, we found a tremendous dissatisfaction
with the service and support they had received, almost across the board. We knew
that having our manufacturing facility in the Louisville, Kentucky would make it
much easier for us to deliver service and support that was lacking from the importers.
And, Northwood's ability to quickly bring new technologies into the industry has
proven to be a tremendous strength. The StoneVision™, StoneLaser™ and StoneScan™
technologies are revolutionizing the industry!
What does EXTREME DUTY SPINDLE mean?
Like everyone else in the stone machine business, we originally designed the machines
to use electrospindles. The problem with the electrospindle approach is that electrospindles
are a compromise. Trying to get enough power along with adequate bearings within
a relatively small enclosure is not the best design. In fact, mixing water and electricity
has never been a good idea! As we were trying to develop the ultimate spindle system
for the Northwood CNC Stone Machining Centers, we looked to the machine tool industry
for guidance. We developed the new Extreme Duty Spindle based on machine tool designs!
The result is a spindle with unbelievable power especially at the spindle speeds
used for machining stone. We backed this new design with a three (3) year spindle
warranty (which is unheard of in the stone industry) and the cost for a replacement
spindle can be as little as $6,000! Now that is a BREAKTHROUGH!
Why are the large guide rails on the machine's Y axis exposed?
That is a question we are often asked, mainly because our competitor's like to hide
their small rail and drive systems from plain view. First of all, we use very large
45 mm THK precision ground rails that are specially treated to prevent corrosion
(AP-C), even if moisture is directly applied to them. Secondly, the machines include
splash shields that prevent water and other residues from being splashed into the
rail areas as a result of machining operations. It should be noted that even bellow
covers do not prevent water from coming in contact with the guide rails since the
bellows themselves do not form a tight seal. We do use bellows on the X axis strictly
for cosmetic purposes, since the guide rails on the X axis are also specially treated
to prevent corrosion!
Are Northwood CNC Stone Machines available in twin table models?
The answer is yes and no. We initially designed a twin table version of the NW-158S
(twin table machines are very common in our other machine divisions). About the
same time we were designing this version, the StoneLaser system was developed. The
StoneLaser system improved set-up times so dramatically, that the twin table advantage
was quickly neutralized. Load/Unload ratios on Northwood CNC Stone Machining Centers
using our latest systems range from 10-15%. Those ratios would have to approach
75-80% for the additional cost and complexity of anyone's twin table configuration
to make sense! We do offer a twin table version of the NEW SawJET abrasive waterjet
machine that combines a 360 degree programmable saw. This was developed because
the cycle times are such that the twin table version of this machine does make a
lot of sense!
Can Northwood CNC Stone Machines be shipped overseas?
Generally, the answer to this question is no, since the machines cannot be packed
into a shipping container. We designed the Northwood CNC Stone Machining Centers
to be very rigid using state-of-the-art Finite Element Analysis (F.E.A) Engineering
software. This resulted in single piece bases fabricated from very heavy structural
steel. The machine structures are so stiff that the entire machine can be lifted
with a single (LARGE) forklift! The machines can be shipped overseas with special
shipping crates, however, trying to service and support the products would present
the same problems our competitors have experienced in trying to service and support
their machines here!
What is the table height on the Northwood CNC Stone Machines?
The table surface on the machines is approximately 18". We selected this height
to make it easy for the machine operator to load and unload the machine. The water
collection tank that sits in front of the machine also doubles as a step, making
machine set-up much easier. The machine's gantry retracts to the rear of the machine
providing maximum access to the machine's work envelope.