This month we look at the own-brand bridge saws that have been introduced by Accurite. With the metalwork from China and the electronics added in the UK, Accurite MD Mark Brownlee believes he has combined the best of both worlds to supply an economical yet practical range of bridge saws for the UK stone industry
Main features of the Accurite bridge saws
General: Accurite MD Mark Brownlee felt a lot of bridge saws being sold to the UK stonemasonry industry were over-specified and over-priced. He also saw that every other manufacturing industry in the UK was going to the Far East for manufacturing. So, armed with the specifications of machines he wanted made, he went to China to find a manufacturer. The three saws in his own-brand range – the Jumbo, the Premier and the Swift – are the result.
Capabilities: These saws are aimed at natural stone workshops in general, with specific emphasis on limestone and sandstone with the larger diameter models.
Physical configuration: All the saws are cast iron. The largest saw in the range is the Jumbo, measuring 7400mm long x 3500wide and 3600mm high. The dimensions of the premier are 6600 x 3800 x 2800mm and the Swift is 6000 x 4800 x 2600. The Jumbo weighs 8.5tonnes, the Premier 7.5tonnes and the Swift 6tonnes. The Premier and the Swift have rotating tables, the Premier’s 3800 x 2000mm, the Swift’s 3200 x 2000. The longitudinal carriage travel (X axis) on the Jumbo is 4950mm, the traverse bridge travel (Y axis) is 3100mm and the vertical head travel (Z axis) is 1100mm. The corresponding figures for the Premier are 4450, 3550, 780mm, and for the Swift 3890, 4000 and 350mm. The Jumbo carries a blade from 2m to 3m, the Premier from 900mm to 1600mm and the Swift from 300mm to 900mm.
Work surface: Cast iron. Options of a steel work surface on the Premier’s rotating table to protect out-riggers and a wooden surface on the Swift’s rotating table are available.
Motor: The standard spindle motor on the Jumbo is 37kW, on the premier 18.5kW and on the Swift 15kW, although up-grades are available to 48.5 and 63kW on the Jumbo, 37 and 48.5kW on the Premier and 26kW on the Swift. The total standard machine power is 45kW for the Jumbo, 25kW for the Premier and 22kW for the Swift.
Other options: All three saws have the option of upgrading to fully automatic sawing, with linear profiling from full size drawings available with the automatic sawing option on the Premier and the Swift. Laser alignment and a central manual lubrication system are also options for all three. In addition, the Jumbo can include a bogey system for loading block and the Premier and the Swift can include a pallet loading system with two pallets. The Swift also has the option of an hydraulic tilt mechanism for loading.
Control: The computer control and other electrics on the saws are bought in the UK from RS, so if there is a problem it can be rectified quickly. Accurite employ a sub-contractor in their home base of Ulverston, Cumbria, to build the control panels. If there are any problems with the processors it is simply a matter of changing the plc, as with any computer controlled machine, but in this case it does not have to go abroad to be carried out, which can save a lot of time. All specific machine data are stored by Accurite for downloading on to a new controller in case of a problem. This would allow the customer to be back up and running in a day. Accurite pride themselves on their aftersales service, and sourcing the electrical components in the UK enables them to give a fast response if there are ever any faults.
Price: The aim was to produce a solid saw for the traditional stonemasonry industry in the UK at a competitive price, which Accurite believe they have achieved. Prices start at less than £30,000.
More information from: Mark Brownlee at Accurite in Ulverston, Cumbria LA12 9EE. Tel: 01229 480800.