The great 18th-century American furniture makers would never have believed that their timeless designs could be exactly recreated with the same care and craftsmanship in the 21st century. In the rolling hills of Virginia's Shenandoah Valley, The Henkel-Harris Company is doing just that, preserving the rich heritage of the past using today's best software technology.
Exceptional handcraftsmanship is the hallmark of Henkel-Harris, a premiere manufacturer of fine 18th-century reproduction furniture. But the artistry of the past is running headlong into the economics of today. To increase productivity and remain competitive in an increasingly commercialized industry, Henkel-Harris decided to invest in new software for their CNC Router.
It was a critical time of year for Henkel-Harris. It was just four months before one of the largest industry trade shows, and they decided to put in an entirely new software program. There was a lot of breath-holding, but Mastercam really came through for them.
Mastercam's easy-to-learn interface assured a seamless transition from their previous software of 12 years to Mastercam Router. "The incredibly user-friendly commands helped us start out running with Mastercam Router," says Product Engineer David Cooper. "We have already saved a lot of time, but what we see for the future is what we really like."
Mastercam Router's feed rate optimizer is absolutely essential to creative wood manufacturing. "We work on some pretty delicate shapes, like the classic Queen Anne leg, ball and claw foot, and intricate filigreed pencil bedposts," says Cooper. "Carving needs to be carefully oriented to wood grain direction. The feeds and speeds must be critically matched to the specific wood material to achieve the quality and look of a wood cut. Mastercam Router shows us how different types of cuts will work under the delicate conditions associated with intricate wood craftsmanship."
Henkel-Harris first applied Mastercam Router to 3D contours. Many of the standard chests the company makes have graceful curved drawer fronts. Mastercam Router reduced manufacturing time for a contoured drawer front with full dovetailing on the sides from three or four days to just three or four hours. "You can see why we're excited," says Cooper. "We are getting results we could only dream about before. But the greatest thing about Mastercam Router is that it is so easy to get there."
Like many companies in the woodworking industry, Henkel-Harris is finding that Mastercam's advanced technology helps the company maintain the highest levels of quality. And do it with the efficiency demanded by today's economy. |