24 PFM April 2015

Even though the miter sawhas long been a mainstay inthe backrooms of most cus-

tom frame shops, the models thatare on the market keep changing,making advances in design and giv-ing the framing businesses morevariety. Even since last year, the mar-ket has changed. Some new sawshave been introduced, while some ofthe older models are no longer avail-able.

The following survey of today’smiter saws is listed alphabetically bymanufacturer and brand name, withsaws ranging from basic models toautomated production machines.There are a surprising number andvariety of miter saws from which tochoose, no matter what level fitsyour cutting needs.

Because many of the doublemiter saws today are made offshore,they are listed with metric-sizedblades. Generally a model 250 or300 designation means that the sawhas 250mm or 300mm blades. Totranslate these sizes into English sys-tem diameters, remember that 1” isapproximately 25mm. So, a 250mmblade is almost 10”, a 300mm bladeis almost 12”, a 350mm blade isalmost 14”, and a 400mm size isalmost 16” in diameter. Every50mm is equivalent to a 2” largerdiameter.

Miter Saws A to ZBy Jim Burke

be paired with either a verticalor a horizontal hopper systemfor the automatic infeed ofmoulding to the saw. Cutpieces are fed by the saw to atakeaway system, such as a con-

veyor belt system or a hopper.The T300 Auto will cut 2-1/8”tall by 2” wide while the T350Auto cuts 2-1/8” tall by 3”wide. Both are capable of cut-ting up to 500 frames per hourfor 4”x6” size and slightly lessfor larger sizes.

CasseseCassese saws and choppers havebeen sold in the U.S. for manyyears, and there are several modelsto choose from.• Model CS55M is a manualfoot-operated chopper that cutsboth angles with a double set ofblades. With reversible blades,

Alfa AutomationThis European company has a longhistory of manufacturing produc-tion saws, robotic joiners, and tabmachines for large factories. Itsproducts are just now becomingavailable in the US. It offers bothmanual pneumatic saws as well asfully automatic, self-feeding pro-duction saws under the name AlfaAutomation USA.• Model T2350 uses 350mmblades with vertical drop technol-ogy to reduce the knockout to aslittle as 1/16”. It comes with astandard measuring gauge withmanual stops and will cutmouldings up to 3-1/8” tall by 3-1/8” wide.

• Model T2400 uses 400mmblades and is similar to theT2350 except that it will cut upto 4” wide.

• Model T2400+Auto Gauge is acombination of the T2400 sawand computerized measuring sys-tem, capable of integrating withbar code readers and a customer’scomputer software. Available in70” or 94” lengths, it automati-cally measures the mouldingwidth and adjusts accordingly forlength.

• Model T300 Automatica orT350 Automatica are fully auto-matic production saws that can

Alfa Automation T-300 Automatica

Been thinking about a new miter saw? Here’s a look of the latest models that will help improve your production and efficiency.

26 PFM April 2015

it will cut up to 2-3/4” wide orwith standard blades, up to 4”wide. A 72” color scale is avail-able, with 40” being standard.

• Model CS969 automatic doublemiter saw brings the blades abovethe moulding, similar to a radialarm saw, using independent

pneumatic operation. This allowsfor almost zero waste. It cutsmouldings up to 4-3/8” tall by 6-3/8” wide. It also has a fullyenclosed cabinet with dust extrac-tion at the blades and is availablein 220V single phase or 220V 3-phase 2 hp motors. Pneumatichorizontal and vertical clamps arestandard.

• Model CS999 is a vertical dropdouble miter saw with 14” blades

The rabbet of the moulding facesoutward on all of the Clearmountsystems to allow cutting widermouldings.

• Model SW7-1 is also 88” long butmounts offset to allow measuringup to 64” on one side.

• Model SW11 is a complete sawsystem with an overall length of134”. The scales allow measuringup to 64” on each side of the saw.The complete saw comes withmeasurement stop, clamps, and sawwith a 10” blade.

• Model SW11-2 is a double sawsystem that has the scale set formeasuring 64” to the right of thesecond saw. The left side is a plaininfeed table, enabling the first 45-degree cut on the left saw and thesecond cut with the right saw, aftersliding the moulding to the stop.This system includes two saws with10” blades.

CTDCTD offers many models of saws fora wide range of picture framing appli-cations. • Model D20R is a manually operat-ed single-double miter saw. Rightand left saw heads individuallyoperate on a common base thatuses 12” blades to cut up to 3” highby 5-3/4” wide mouldings. It isavailable with 115V 1-hp motors,with 220V single-phase optional as

for cutting mouldings up to 4” tallby 3-1/4” wide at a rate up to 1000cuts per hour (250 frames/hour). Itis available with either 220V or380V 3-phase electrical and featuresstable speed controls for the downstroke as well as adjustable bladeheight to increase productivity. Thestandard 58” measurement gaugehas options to extend up to 136”.

• Smartstop is an automatic digitalmeasuring system for any Cassesesaw. The system automaticallymeasures moulding width andadjusts for length. The system storesup to 800 moulding programs and80 frame sizes and is available in72” or 96” ranges.

ClearmountClearmount is now a division of CraftInc., but it still sells the same threemodels of miter chop saw measuringsystems and complete chop saws asbefore.• Model SW6 is 66” long and meas-ures up to 41” on one side. Thefence is a single extrusion thatmounts on top of the saw.

• Model SW7 is 88” overall, measur-ing 41” on either side of the saw.

Clearmount SW11-2

Cassese CS969

28 PFM April 2015

well as a dust and scrap drawer. • Model D45AX is a pneumatic dou-ble miter saw of the swing arm vari-ety with 12” blades. Pneumatic

clamps are optional as is the measur-ing system. The 12” model will cutmouldings 4” tall by 2-1/2” wide or3-1/4” wide if the overall height isless.

Fletcher-Terry AMPFletcher-Terry AMP has consolidatedits saw line to a single model, a pneu-matic double miter saw. • Model T400 is a vertical drop dou-ble miter saw with 15.7” blades

(400mm). It is available with230/400V 3-phase motors that cancut up to 800 cuts per hour. Theblade descent is adjustable in speed

• Model D45AX14 is a larger versionof the D45AX, using 14” blades fora wider cut up to 6” wide by 2” tall,or 4” tall when moulding is less than3” wide. CTD cutting charts showcomplete coverage.

• Model DMC70 “Miter Max” is a13” 45-degree double miter crosscutsaw. Available as a Model H (handoperated) or Model A (pneumaticallyactuated), this saw can cut mouldingup to 4” high by 8” wide. This sawhas two 1-1/2 hp motors, single-phase 220V power, with a dustdrawer and 4” outlets to connect adust collector.

• Model PF45 is an automatic pushfeed saw system designed with in-feed hopper and automatic saw acti-vation for high production using theD45AX saw. The linear positionerpush feeds the moulding to predeter-mined lengths for automatic cutting.

Fletcher-Terry AMP T400

CTD D45AX2

PFM April 2015 29

and position for quicker cutting. Dual stops are standardfor cutting both rail dimensions. Four vertical pneumaticclamps hold the moulding firmly while cutting. Anoptional Auto Gauge digital stop allows precise measur-ing and automatic positioning with programmed raillengths.

InmesInmes saws are available in various configurations, fromsingle miter pivot saws to double miter saws and wide-cut-ting slide saws. They are now being sold by OmegaMoulding.• Model IM-30MP is a single pivoting chop saw on acabinet base and with an independent dust collector sys-tem. The model also includes infeed and outfeed arms tosupport the moulding. The calibrated scale measures to47” and includes the production stop and two pneumat-ic clamps to secure the moulding while cutting. Using a300mm blade, it will cut up to 2-7/8” high by 4” wideprofiles.

• Model IM-300P is a pneumatic double miter saw withswing arms enclosed in a full cabinet with a dust collec-tor included. Both blades actuate with a single pneumat-

30 PFM April 2015

can be actuated at the same timefor smaller profiles and quickercuts. Outfeed measuring on bothmodels is 58” on the right-handcalibrated scale.

• Model IM-350P is a bottom cut,sliding-style saw that can cut up to8” wide by 4” tall mouldings. It isavailable as a manually actuatedsaw (IM-350M) as well as thepneumatic actuation of each bladeindividually on the IM-350P. Thissaw uses two 2 hp 220V single-phase motors and 14” blades. Aninside dust and scrap drawer isstandard, but an external chute thatexits to the rear of the saw is avail-able. It is also equipped with infeedand outfeed arms with calibratedscales up to 50” on each side.

Miter-MasterMiter-Master saw offers single and

ic foot pedal. It has two 1-1/2 hp220V single-phase motors with12” blades to cut up to 3-3/16”high by 3-3/16” wide mouldings.

• Model IM-300PL is similar to theIM-300P but includes independ-ent action of each blade with dualfoot pedals. This brings scrap lossdown to almost zero for cuttingwider mouldings up to 3-3/16”high by 5-5/8” wide. Both blades

double-miter chop saw systems as wellas a universal measuring fence tomount on your saw.• Model M60 is a single 10” miterchop saw with calibrated 45-degreestops added for accuracy. Multi-matic clamps hold down themoulding for hands-free cutting.The blade cut path has been movedforward for safer cutting and therabbett faces towards the saw. Thesaw comes with a 10” carbide bladedesigned to cut wood or aluminumprofiles. The infeed support is 48”,with a 60” measuring scale to theright. The adjustable stop can becalibrated to include a fittingallowance if desired.

• Model M50 is a double 10” miterchop saw system with two chopsaws on a common measuring tablefor faster cutting. The two sawsremain fixed at 45-degree angles on

Inmes IM-30MP

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each side, resulting in better accu-racy than a single saw. Infeed andoutfeed supports are 60” long.Multi-matic clamps are mountedfor both saws, and it uses the samesliding stop with calibration.

• Model M100 Universal is a stand-alone measuring bench designed toconnect to a saw with either a 10”or 12” blade. It has built-in clampsand measuring scales. Saw andblade are sold separately. Its assem-bled length is 11’.

MorsoMorso choppers have an extensive his-tory and are available from severalsources. There are two main modelsto choose from.• Model F is the standard foot-oper-ated chopper with double 45-degreeblades and adjustable front fence. It

comes equipped with safety guard,waste chute, sliding longitudinalstop, and a 59” measuring scale. As

with all choppers, it hasadjustable rabbet supports. It iscapable of maximum cuts of 5-3/4” high by 4” wide profiles.

• Model H is a semi-automaticpneumatic mitering machinewith a two-hand release built in,which makes it impossible tooperate the machine and touchthe blades at the same time. Allspecs are the same as the ModelF, with a safety guard, wastechute, etc.

NicolettiNicoletti has two double miter sawmodels available in two differentstyles.• Model T350 is a vertical dropsaw available with 12” or 14”blades, 2-1/2 hp motors,220/480V 3-phase electrical anddual dust ports in the enclosed

Morso

Miter-Master M50

34 PFM April 2015

cabinet. Standard 60” infeed andoutfeed tables with extension areavailable. Production rates are 40to 50 cycles per minute, whichtranslates into 2,400 to 3,000cycles per hour. Actual cut timeswill be lower due to mouldingfeed rates, etc. Maximum mould-ing width for the 12” blades is3.2” and for the 14” blades it is4”.

• Model T2000 is an adjustable-angle double miter saw that cutsfrom the bottom and traversesacross the miter cut. Cuttingcapacity is 4” high by 6” widewith built-in clamps. A doublethumb switch controls saw acti-vation. The totally enclosed cabi-net has dual 4” dust ports and awaste chute in the back. This sawhas two 3 hp motors with220/440V 3-phase operation.

ferent saws. It can also connect tobar code readers and includessoftware for Pusher, Stop, or Pic-ture Frame applications.

• Model V235 NC is a productionversion of the V235 saw with a

Nicoletti T350

For More Information Alfa Automation USA www.alfaautomationusa.com

Cassese www.activesalesco.com

Clearmount Saws www.clearmountcorp.com or www.craft-incmyshopify.com

CTD Saws www.ctdsaw.com

Fletcher-Terry AMP www.fletcherviscom.com

Inmes saws www.omegamoulding.com

Miter Master Saws www.qualitysaw.com

Morso Choppers www.tech-mark.com or www.omegamoulding.com

Nicoletti Saws www.tech-mark.com

Omga www.omgainc.com or www.tem-tech.net

Tem-Tech www.tem-tech.net

Universal www.universalarquati.com/equipment

Pistorius parts www.jijcompany.com or www.tem-tech.net

OmgaOmga Saws are based in Indianaand service the industrial and pro-duction framing markets directly.• Model V235 is the latest genera-tion double miter saw fromOmga with 350mm blades(13.75”) and 2 hp motors thatcan be ordered as 208, 230 or460V 3-phase. The measuringsystem can have manual flipoverstops or pneumatic flip stops,with various outfeed tablelengths. Maximum cutting is 3”high by 3-9/16” wide. This sawcan also be mated to the OmgaStop system.

• Omga Stop is a numericallycontrolled stop system availablein lengths from 6.5 to 30’ foreither right or lefthand measur-ing and can be fit to many dif-

Omga V235

36 PFM April 2015

hopper-fed pusher to feed moulding to the saw. Thesystem is fitted with a guidance computer for opti-mized cutting with various moulding lengths to max-imize yield for each stick. Infeed hoppers can be hor-izontal or vertical. The computer has zero setup timefor changes in the cutting list. Depending on severalvariables, the output of the system ranges from 1,000to 1,500 pieces per hour. Maximum cutting is 2-3/4”high by 3-9/16” wide.

• Model V2013 NC and V2015 NC production sawsystems raise the production rates to a higher level.Totally automatic hopper feed systems and fast-act-ing saws integrated with computers are able to reachproduction speeds of up to 1,000 frames per hour onthe V2015 NC system. Maximum cutting on theV2013 is 2-3/8” high by 2-3/8” wide while theV2015 NC handles profiles up to 1-31/32” high by1-3/8” wide.

Tem-Tech MachineryTem-Tech has a new double miter saw, Model MN14,that featurespneumatic hori-zontal and verticalclamping, a totalenclosure withfour dust ports, 2hp motors(230/460V 3-phase operation),and manual stopor CNC position-ing. It can cut upto 6” wide and 4”high using 14”(355mm) blades,and has externalspeed control. There’s also an optional digital position-ing system, which also works with some other brandsof saws.

Universal ProductsUniversal Products has two models, including a newone being introduced this year.• Model DY103 is a double miter saw with individualaction on each arm for near zero waste. Using 14”blades powered by 1-1/2 hp motors, this saw can cut

Tem-Tech MN14

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up to 6” to 7” wide, dependingon the overall profile shape. Theoutfeed measuring fence is 103”long and has pneumatic verticalclamps. Dust collection is includ-ed in the enclosed cabinet.

• Model DY105 is a traditionalvertical-drop double miter sawwith 14” blades powered by 1-1/2 hp motors. This saw can cutup to 4” wide moulding. Theblades are mounted on pivotingarms for quick actuation. It alsoincludes vertical pneumaticclamps and internal dust collec-tion within the enclosed cabinet.

Pistorius PartsNo article on saws today would becomplete without a mention aboutspare parts for Pistorius and servicefor that brand. Two companiesoffer these parts and service:• JIJ Company, 1488 Deer ParkAve., North Babylon, NY 11703.Tel: 631-772-9901

• Tem-Tech Machinery, 7801Industrial Dr., Spring Grove, IL.Tel: 219-242-9312. n

Universal DY105