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http://www.lmii.com/CartTwo/thirdproducts.asp?NameProdHeader=+LMI+Bending+Machine
They say that the temperature is "automatically controlled". Suppose they're using heat blankets with built in thermocouples?
Anyone had a chance to try the machine?
Nelson

Nelson,

I don't have one, but looking at the parts list, it looks like the temperature controller comes with two thermocouples. The blanket listed, SPBL8, doesn't appear to have any thermocouples built in. I think you just insert the end of the thermocouple into the "sandwich"

Look on this page to see their blankets and thermocouples.

http://www.lmii.com/CartTwo/thirdproducts.asp?CategoryName=Bending%2FHeating&NameProdHeader=Heating+Blankets+and+Accessories

Of course, I'm kinda guessing and could be all wrong, but you did make me curious. I have always been interested in this type of system, but haven't pulled the trigger, yet.

Mark

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A world without music would Bb.

I watched the video they had. Nice Job Robbie demonstrating.

Maybe it's just me, but this system seems way over-complicating a simple procedure. It looks slower and more complicated than a simple plug in and bend, as well as the special slots you'd have to make in the forms. Bending sides is a very, very simple procedure. I couldn't see spending that kind of money on it for something that seems more complicated, and slower. I do like the cantilever waist part though. That is really nifty. I'm, for sure, not saying it's a bad tool. Far from it. It just seems to be overkill for the job.

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John Mayes
http://www.mayesluthier.com

John, how are things going for you these days down in Norman OK USA?
Bending sides, in my opinion, is simple if there's no cutaway and you're not bending highly figured maple quartersawn.
Adding the cutaway and difficult wood exponentially increases the complexity.
Again, that's just my opinion. What are your thoughts?
All the best.
Nelson

John, I'm with you. I learned to bend from your video several years back and I still do it the same way with the same Wal-Mart thermometer! You don't have to build a swiss watch to tell what time it is.

Chuck

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"To live a creative life, we must lose our fear of being wrong"
- Joseph Chilton Pearce

I recieved the new LMII color catalog two days ago, and compared to the last one there are a lot of new jigs and fixtures and "stuff".

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To me, even bending a cutaway, is very easy. We only built cutaways at McPherson and no one hardly ever broke sides using the old method with fox style benders and a couple blankets.

LMI's machine looks like it does a good job no doubt. It just looks slower and over-complex for a simple procedure, but hey to each his own. I hope they sell a ton of them and people who buy them are pleased.

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John Mayes
http://www.mayesluthier.com

Speaking only from my own experience, I can unequivocally say that the Better Way Bender is the only method out there that can consistently bend sharp (less than 1" radius) cutaways in highly figured maple. I've bent many sets on the Fox Style bender but the sharp cutaways are far from foolproof. One set will bend great and the next set, even out of the same flitch, will seperate the outside fibers or worse.
Brads tensioned band design also does a great job of keeping the side flat across it's width. This translates into greatly reduced sanding requirement later in the build.
David mentioned above receiving LMI's new catalog. I would recommend the catalog highly as it has a wealth of info including new tools and fixtures.
John, I'm all about keeping things simple. In my ten+ years of building there have been a lot of neat fixtures and tools that I would love to make but have just never been caught up enough to do that. Have to make do with what works and certainly nothing wrong with that.
Best regards to all.
Nelson

We did some tensioned slat bending at McPherson too. It worked fine, but ultimately kept the old Fox Benders. That was partly because they couldn't get the machines to work just right in the end though. And yeah I'm not advocating, per se, making do with something and foregoing a better option because it's more complex. I just don't see this certain bender as a better option. I've spent too much money on tools and fixtures because they are a speed, or ease increase.

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John Mayes
http://www.mayesluthier.com

What is the Better Way Bender? I have not heard of that one.

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John Thiessen
http://www.iszacguitars.com

http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=26950&p=362169&hilit=+tensioned+band#p362169
Here you go, John.

I looked at the first generation of this machine at Healdsburg two summers ago. At that time
it looked much different but still very promising. They said it as 6 months from production at that point. Obviously they took a lot more time getting it to where they felt comfortable.
It may be a bit over-engineered but it has it's place. Not cheap but I like the cantilever
clamping device, that makes sense to me. Anxious to see what someone says when they use it.

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Bruce Herrmann
"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."