The machine had to be built to take many different types of tape of width and thickness. So for small tape it looks a little silly for the large stuff it really helps to run it though multiple rolls like this for tracking. I've done several other machines similar to this and the more rolls you run though it keeps the material tracking in the center. It's especially important as you can see in the video I have a capacitive proximity sensor that triggers an interrupt that stops the machine saving the position and allowing the operator to splice in a new roll. This company is big on not wasting material. Their custom software breaks down an entire house plan and organizes all the cutting on automated chop saws. They can run all day cutting lumber and making an entire house and maybe loose 1.5 linear foot of wood total. It blew me away to see it. I was contacted over the net by the owner to build a machine that would automate tap cutting and integrate it with their software engineer's software. The owner has all kinds of ideas he wants to automate and has no problem spending money because he makes it up quickly in cost savings. This maybe just the first step to this project as well, next I need to add a line printer to it and possibly design a re-roll machine on the out feed of this one to roll the cut parts back onto a roll. This way his crews can just go window to window and unroll the tape, every thing is labeled and it goes together like Lego's. I love designing these machines from the ground up and building them, and it pays for my shop as I do it on the side.![]()
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