At Clearlight Glass and Mirror, we understand that the quality and efficiency of our glass-cutting operation are vital to your project’s success. That’s why we continuously invest in state-of-the-art equipment to deliver the best results for our clients.
Our Latest Addition: Neptun T10 Vertical CNC Machine
Recently, we enhanced our capabilities by adding the Neptun T10 vertical CNC glass-cutting machine to our lineup, working alongside our Intermac Master 33.3 horizontal tabletop CNC glass-cutting machine. This powerful combination allows us to provide a broad spectrum of glass-cutting services, ensuring increased volume and reduced lead times for even the most demanding projects.
Key Differences Between Vertical and Horizontal CNC Glass-Cutting Machines
Let’s look at the key differences between vertical and horizontal CNC glass-cutting machines, and discuss the differing capabilities of each type. We’ll provide some specific examples of how the two machines can be used together to create complex glass shapes and finishes. Finally, we’ll discuss how using these two machines will improve your customer experience working with Clearlight Glass on even the biggest and most complex projects.
The main difference between vertical and horizontal CNC glass-cutting machines is the orientation of the glass during the cutting process. In a vertical machine, the glass is mounted vertically (requiring at least one flat edge), utilizing gravity plus fixed suction to hold the glass in place, and the cutting head moves horizontally, making the set-up faster for mass production. In a horizontal machine, the glass is laid horizontally, utilizing specifically placed suction cups on the table to hold the glass in place, requiring more programming and set-up time. This configuration allows for pieces that are diameters or have four radius edges since the surface secures the glass–not the edge–with the cutting head moving vertically and quickly for precision cuts.
Despite the slower setup required of the horizontal machine, it has an extra capability over the vertical CNC: the ability to make surface grooves and designs on the C axis. The horizontal machine operates not only on the X, Y, and Z axes it also operates on the C axis. This allows for plate grooves or custom designs to be carved into the face of the glass.
This translates into vertical machines producing more pieces faster as setup time for each piece is drastically reduced by not having to program and place suction cups to hold the glass in place. The horizontal machine allows for work on diameter and radius shapes as opposed to the vertical machine which cannot stabilize such curved pieces for drilling and milling. Additionally, the horizontal machine can carve grooves and designs into the face of the glass on the C axis.
Vertical CNC Machine:
- Orientation: Glass is mounted vertically, using gravity and fixed suction for stability.
- Efficiency: Faster setup time, ideal for mass production.
- Precision: Excellent for straight cuts and repetitive tasks.
Horizontal CNC Machine:
- Orientation: Glass is laid horizontally, and held by suction cups on the table.
- Versatility: Capable of handling complex shapes like diameters and radius edges.
- Extra Capability: Operates on X, Y, Z, and C axes, allowing for surface grooves and custom designs.
How This Benefits You
- Increased Production Speed: The vertical CNC machine reduces setup time, allowing for quicker turnaround.
- Enhanced Design Flexibility: The horizontal CNC machine’s additional axis supports more intricate designs and finishes.
- Comprehensive Solutions: Together, these machines enable us to tackle any project, regardless of size or complexity, with unmatched precision and efficiency.
Improving Your Experience
Our investment in these advanced CNC machines is part of our commitment to providing superior quality and service. By combining the capabilities of vertical and horizontal CNC machines, we can deliver outstanding results for any project, ensuring your experience with Clearlight Glass is exceptional.
Horizontal Tabletop CNC Glass-Cutting Machine:
Intermac Biesse Master Multiglass Processing:
Intermac Biesse Master Mirror Grooving:
Vertical CNC Glass-Cutting Machine:
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