A firsthand account of how the Triplex Systems Gator Model G20 changed the cutoff process.

In the investment casting industry, the cutoff room has traditionally been a bottleneck of risk and physical exertion. Balancing heavy trees, managing extreme heat, and manually operating abrasive chop saws isn't just hard work—it’s a safety challenge that demands intense focus and strength.

At Triplex Systems, our goal has always been to engineer solutions that don't just cut metal, but cut out the danger and inefficiency inherent in these processes. Recently, Brad DeSplinter, VP at Texas Precision Metalcraft (TPM), shared his experience upgrading to our semi-automatic cutoff technology. His story illustrates exactly why we do what we do.

Here is Brad’s experience, in his own words:

"Foundry work can be a challenge, there is of course molten metal at roughly 3000 degrees F and fired ceramic shells at about 1800 degrees F that make it hot. However, one of the toughest jobs comes after the shell and metal have cooled - cutting the castings from the runner or tree.

In most foundries this is done using a chop saw. This requires the operator to balance the 50+ pound tree full of parts with one hand and then pull an abrasive cutting wheel down to the parts to cut them from the tree/runner. The tree is heavy and often hard to balance (especially after a few parts are removed), pulling the cutting wheel to and through the gates requires some muscle and all this with sparks flying from the actual cutting process. Its hard work but can be done relatively safely with practice.

A few years ago TPM invested in a semi-automatic cutoff machine. The "Gator Grip" clamping system effectively holds the tree in place while the tree is advanced into the cutting wheel hydraulically. The operator stands behind a plexi-glass shield about 3-4 feet from the cutting zone, operating the cutoff saw using a joy stick.

To this day I think this is the best equipment investment we have made in my 20 years at TPM. We made an inherently dangerous and difficult job that requires hours (if not weeks) of training into a safer, easier job that takes about 20 minutes of training and then a couple hours practice to be proficient. The bonus is that we cut trees at least 2x faster and used about 1/4 the expensive cutting wheels per day."

When a foundry leader calls a machine "the best equipment investment we have made in 20 years," it speaks volumes.

The transition from manual chop saws to the Triplex Systems Gator series isn't just about the machinery; it's about the metrics that matter. For TPM, this move resulted in:

• Unrivaled Safety: Operators are removed from the "line of fire," protected by shielding and distance.
• Rapid Training: Reducing the learning curve from weeks to mere minutes.
• Double Throughput: Cutting trees 2x faster than manual methods.
• Cost Savings: Reducing abrasive wheel consumption by 75%.

We are proud to support TPM and the investment casting industry with solutions that make the tough jobs safer and smarter. If you are ready to transform your cutoff room, contact Triplex Systems today to discuss the Gator Model G20. See Brad's post on LinkedIn here.