Sneak Peek

6-in.-thick block of aluminum that was precision-cut with a specialized machine that uses a fine strand of electrified copper wire to cut effortlessly through thick metals, including steel, with better precision and surface quality than any other available method. Robland uses this machine to mock up sliding-table track sections for analysis before committing to expensive extrusion dies.

The E300 incorporates Robland's latest product innovations, including an ingenious arbor-tilting mechanism that keeps the blade exactly centered in the table slot regardless of the tilt angle of the blade. (Sorry folks; they wouldn't allow any photos of the mechanism.) The E300's standard sliding table will have 5 ft. of travel, with an 8-ft. model optional. That's a lot of capacity for a saw that is expected to retail for around $3,500, depending on the currency exchange rates.

Later in the year, E300-series combination models will be available as Robland adds a shaper, 16-in. jointer/planer and slot mortiser to the basic panel saw chassis.

Robland is betting that their new E300 series will gain quick acceptance among small-shop professionals, since its price point fits so neatly in the gap between standard cabinet saws with sliding-table attachments--which can cost $3,000 or more--and entry-level industrial panel saws (including Robland's own top-of-the-line models) that begin at around $10,000.

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