A panel saw is any type of sawing machine that cuts sheets into sized parts. Panel saws are used by cabinet shops to easily cut plywood

Plywood

Plywood is a type of manufactured timber made from thin sheets of wood veneer. It is one of the most widely used wood products. It is flexible, inexpensive, workable, re-usable, and can usually be locally manufactured...

 and melamine

Melamine resin

Melamine resin or melamine formaldehyde is a hard, thermosetting plastic material made from melamine and formaldehyde by polymerization. In its butylated form, it is dissolved in n-butanol and xylene. It is then used to cross-link with alkyd, epoxy, acrylic and polyester resins, used in surface...

sheets into cabinet components. They are also used by sign shops to cut sheets of aluminum, plastic and wood for their sign blanks. Panel saws typically fall into one of two categories: horizontal and vertical. Some higher end panel saws feature computer controls that move the blade and fence systems to preset values. Other lower end machines offer simplicity and ease of use.

Vertical panel saws have the advantage of using less floor space. Horizontal panel saws have some capabilities that the verticals don't. The decision of which type to use typically depends on space availability, intended usage, and budget considerations.

Terminology

• Pressure beam: to clamp the stacked panel sheets.
• Saw carriage: install with circular saw blades for cutting panels.
• Saw blade projection (SBP): the circular saw blade explosured height.
• NC gripper: to hold & move the stacked panel sheets to cutting line.