I use twin cnc routers and almost always edgebander same day. I use multiple edgebanders for edgebanding with corner rounding on fly. I get pretty good results, typically. Question to users: Should I be looking into pre mill for edgebanding? What has been your experience? Are there some down sides with pre mill relating to software adjustments? Thanks in advance for your input. TRC
From contributor Mi
Here is the obvious question. If you get good results, edgebanding parts coming off the router, why would you want to pre mill? We stopped using our pre mill when we bought the router simply because we didn't need it. The edge quality of the parts was superior to what we achieved with the saw, making the pre mill redundant. Our software handles the cut size regardless of pre mill choice. It is just a setting to be turned on or off.
From contributor Ch
I agree with Mike if it works why change it. Typically pre-mill is used to correct or avoid potential problems from machining methods like router or saw. Sometimes on large runs it is just an insurance policy because you cannot look at every part all the time. I would say the most common situation it corrects is melamine nested based routing where it pulls the core due to cutters coupled with .5mm thin tape. You can sometimes see the core telegraph through. In regard to software you can select the edge function or just cut to actual size and set the pre-mill fence to take off what edge you will be putting back on. NET result would be -0-. Hope this helps. I would say its likely 80% with 20% without for new machines purchased today. Your call , we have them either way.
From contributor de
I run a Biesse Akron 440 with pre-mill generally run it as a very minor clean up, less than .5 mm not to fix machining issues but to better prep the edge for glue and banding. We did have an issue the other day that required us to reband an entire job. I turned it up to remove 2 mm, 1 mm for the banding and 1 mm for edge clean up. Worked great and saved me from remaking the job. Not necessary but very nice to have.
