CONTOURFIVE machining centre producing a stone gargoyle

Breton CONTOURFIVE NC700 machining centre produces a marble gargoyle for the famous Kronborg castle (Denmark), currently being restored, where “The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark” was set by Shakespeare.

Kronborg castle

Good morning,

Today I will tell you something about gargoyles, something I didn’t know; fortunately, Wikipedia is always available to offer a helping hand.

In architecture, a gargoyle is a carved or formed grotesque with a spout designed to convey water from a roof and away from the side of a building, thereby preventing rainwater from running down masonry walls and eroding the mortar between.

Milan Chatedral gargoyle 

Gargoyles can be seen on many Christian churches and cathedrals and also on civil buildings (such as town halls) dating back to the Middle Ages.
Well, but what do we have to do with this? 
Let me explain you. 
About one month ago we were asked to produce a copy of a gargoyle belonging to the Kronborg Castle in Denmark (40 minutes from Copenhagen), presently under restoration.

Here is the machining sequence:

1 - rough-hewing with disk

2 - grinding with tool

3- finishing with tool

4 - the gargoyle is finished

A great job, isn’t it? 
You can see a short video showing the machining sequence here under.

Are you interested in our Contourfive NC 700?
Write to mail@breton.it asking for INFO and prices: we’ll get back to you promptly.
That’s all for now.
Have a nice weekend.

Bye-bye 

Sergio Prior

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5 axis machining centre, 5 axis stone working centre, architectural components, bas-relief, breton contourfive

Breton FABMASTER PRO - The software suite

FABMASTERPRO

Breton FabMaster PRO is the complete and automatic solution for workshops producing kitchen tops, vanity tops, etc. The whole production process can be planned and organized efficiently from the design phase to the complete control of all the production stages. 

Materials, job orders, machining programs... all these activities are managed  from a single spot and are then allotted to the individual production units.

MANAGEMENTOF RAW MATERIALS
FEATURES FOR MATERIAL MANAGEMENT

Fabmaster consists of a specific hardware and software (to be installed on a suitable PC or Notebook of the customer)  for taking, processing  and filing digital photos  of natural and compound stone slabs, and printing labels with the bar code. The supply includes the high- resolution camera and label printer.

This module allows:

• Knowing exact position of each single slab and trace its different handlings.
• Knowing  all significant information  of each single slab, such as material, thickness, square foot for the US market.
• Controlling and managing  the entire raw material warehouse, knowing at any time the exact inventory, which is classified according to material and thickness.
• Creates and manages material classes: MARBLE, GRANITE, BRETONSTONE...
  Allows the user to automatically apply the optimal feed rate and RPM.
• Creates and manages slabs libraries.
• Creates and manages suppliers profile.
• Creates and manages slab’s specifications.
• Gives the change to manages warehousing zones.
• Gives the change to manage min/max stocklevel thresholds.

1. Positioning labels are placed on the slab.
2. Picture is shot and transferred to PC.
3. Defects are evidenced and saved.
4. Perimeter is marked and saved.
5. Required/optional attributes are applied to slab record.
6. Customizable barcode label is printed and applied to slab.

HOW DOES MANAGEMENT OF RAW MATERIALS WORK

PROJECT 

PROJECT FEATURES

Project consists of a specific software (to be installed on a suitable PC or Notebook of the customer), which allows to completely draw the piece to be in its completion,  starting directly from the template or using the integrated CAD module. In this phase, libraries of objects (freely managed by the user) are available to simplify the project and make it faster.

It is possible to link different materials and thickness (which can be selected from a library that can also be enriched with pictures) to each single piece. In the same environment, it is possible to set the various operations to be executed on the edge as well as possible laminations in order to get the desired aesthetic effect.

• A Simple and intuitive design tool.
• One single platform to draw shapes and define setup manufacturing actions.
• Parametric shapes are also avaible.
• Import DXF Files.
• Material and thickness selection is possible.
• Dimensions and work-types symbols are shown Contouring profile, tilted cuts, top/under mount, grooves, reinforcements.
• Vacuum devices can be positioned.

1. A new project is created for a specific customer.
2. A library of shapes is avaible to choose from.
3. Shapes are parametric able to be built from like templates.
4. DXF files can also be imported.
5. Material and thickness are selected from lists.
6. Vacuum devices are also positioned.
7. All machining operations are evidenced with proper symbols.

HOW DOES PROJECT WORK

MANAGEMENT PRODUCTION

PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT FEATURES

Fabmaster includes specific software (to be installed on a suitable PC or Notebook of the customer) enabling:

• The selection of stored slabs with a similar fit to the piece to be machined.
• The arrangement  of single pieces to be produced on the slabs in the warehouse, checking thoroughly for any possible collision with the cutting tools. While pieces move on the slab, it is possible to display the real “rendering” of the final project, giving special attention to both the material veins and single particulars, such as the edge machining, rabbeted  slots, backsplash, etc.

• Show up to 4 slabs at the same time in order to choose one or to split the job properly.
• Assigns a design to a specific slab and shows a rendered view.
• Updates the status and availability of a slab.
  Instock ➜ Selected ➜ Programmed ➜ Confirmed ➜ Cut
• Applies of all workings specified in DESIGNMASTER.
• Launches work program to machines involved.

1. Compare 4 slabs at a time for color and vein match.
2. Placing the project drawing onto the subject slab.
3. A rendered image is made avaible by the system. The user can easily match veins of different slabs on adjacent pieces.
4. Manage production queue list and monitor the status of each project.
5. Image Master is immediately synched and will also report the slabs status.

HOW DOES MANAGEMENT OF PRODUCTION WORK

WHAT FABMASTER PRO DOES
Module for the management of production 

This module includes a specific software (to be installed on a suitable PC or Notebook of the customer) enabling:

• To decide the real production course (working phases) on the respective linked machine, for each single piece to be produced; the optimal sequence is automatically proposed by the system according to the single machining operations which must be carried out on each individual piece.
• The managing  of different job orders which can also be batched, thus creating production lots (batches divided by type of material, thickness, customer, delivery date, etc.), which helps to optimize the material consumption.
• The stored slabs which fit better the realization of the piece to be machined.
• The arranging of single pieces to be produced on the slabs in the warehouse, checking thoroughly for any possible collision with the cutting tools. While pieces move on the slab, it is possible to display the real “rendering” of the final project, giving special attention to both the material veins and single particulars, such as the edge machining, rabbeted  slots, backsplash,  etc.
• The automatic  generating  of the CNC machine working programs starting from the unfinished cut piece, through an interface with the CAD/CAM  of the machine (not included in the supply).
• The sending of the working programs to the single machines which will perform them automatically by reading the bar code of the piece.
• Ensuring the production traceability of the single pieces so as to know the real progress of the order. Along with the manual working phases, as well as phases that are shown on operating units but cannot be interfaced with the system. These can be monitored through the installation of “ControlPoints” (PC stations with bar code reader). On each individual production unit, it is possible to decide if the machining has been carried out properly, or if the piece must be machined again, while sending the information to the production manager.

BRIDGE SAW

• The operator places the subject slab by use of pointer laser or camera.
• He then launches the program previously delivered to the machine by FABMASTER.
• He can also change the program from the on board panel.
• OPTIMA can take care of cut pieces handling.
• New barcode labels can be applied on cut pieces, which can then be read at their destination machine to initiate the program.

CAM MASTER 

OPTIONAL MODULE FOR NC CONTOURING

• It translates design into tool-paths.
• Development times are dramatically reduced by making tools selection and paths definition automatic.
• It mirrors the drawing when slab must be up side down.
• It generates DXF files for projection of raw material, finished profile and vacuum devices positioning.

NC CONTOURBRETON

• Workpiece and vacuum caps are properly placed in several ways. Laser tool, cross laser, laser projection, or ROBOCUP.
• Part program generated and strategies designed with CAM MASTER are implemented for a perfect result.

FABMASTER PRO

• Increase productivity.
• Automatically generate in the office work programs for the various machines based on the stonework to produce.
• Constantly monitor work orders in progress.
• Optimize slabs to be cut.
• Warehouse management of raw materials.
• Warehouse management of raw materials and semi-finished products.
• Identify each single workpiece.
  Write to mail@breton.it and ask for info e price.
  That’s all for now.
  Bye-bye
  Sergio Prior

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Breton FABMASTER PRO, bretonstone, granite, marble, producing kitchen tops software