Machine types in general
Two distinguishing aspects
Section titled “Two distinguishing aspects”Single-profile and multi-profile
Section titled “Single-profile and multi-profile”A single-profile machine is built for one fixed section size and thickness range. Simpler, faster, cheaper — good where repeating, identical structures are produced.
A multi-profile machine is adjustable within its own range. It serves more kinds of structure, at the cost of being more complex and generally more expensive.
Thickness and load level
Section titled “Thickness and load level”The thickness a machine handles determines what load level of structure can be produced. The thinner range belongs to low-rise residential; machines handling thicker steel are needed for taller, more heavily loaded buildings.
What the designer sees of this
Section titled “What the designer sees of this”The profile range is the design framework
Section titled “The profile range is the design framework”If the machine cannot produce a 150 mm section, a structure built on 150 mm sections cannot be made on it — however good it would be structurally.
The thickness range limits the number of storeys
Section titled “The thickness range limits the number of storeys”In a taller building the ground floor walls carry more, which needs thicker sections. Where the machine cannot do this, either another technology is needed for the lower storeys, or another machine.
Series production and bespoke projects want different machines
Section titled “Series production and bespoke projects want different machines”For repeating, identical buildings the simpler, faster machine is enough. On bespoke projects flexibility is worth more.
Additional equipment
Section titled “Additional equipment”Besides the line producing frame profiles there are:
- machines optimised for truss production,
- assembly tables and jigs for panelised production,
- mobile, container-mounted solutions, where production can be taken close to the site.
Who makes these machines
Section titled “Who makes these machines”The market splits in two, and the difference is not in what the machine can do but in what comes with it.
Western makers — FRAMECAD, Howick, Scottsdale, Knudson. They generally supply a complete package: machine, design software, training and support from one source.
Asian makers — FrameTec, FrameMac, Hiteknova, Dahezb, Xinhonghua, Sunway and others. The machine produces; the software, the training and the support are often not part of the package and have to be solved separately.
For design that means one thing: if no design software comes with the machine, somebody is needed who can supply a buildable design and a machine program for it. The controller still expects the same file. The logic of machine program formats.
What this article does not give
Section titled “What this article does not give”A performance or price ranking between machines. Not because it cannot be said, but because those two figures vary so much by machine, configuration and options that a general ranking would mislead.
What to ask the manufacturer: profile range, thickness range, output format, maximum length, and whether design software comes with it. What to know about a machine.
If you work with a specific system, that system’s documentation governs.
The point
Section titled “The point”Choosing a machine is not a production decision but a business one: it determines which projects you can take on. Think it through with the designer before the purchase, not after.