Zimmermann

[Chris Hall]

Zimmermann is a German company I have been getting to know over the past couple of years. They make some awesome woodworking equipment, in terms of design, quality and execution.

I first heard about them when researching pattern-maker's lathes. They seemed to be the top of the pile. Then I saw one for sale out in Eastern MA and went and took a look - very nice build quality. didn't have the money at the time, nor did I have the required electrical supply of 460 volts. It didn't stay on the market long.

Here's perhaps the ultimate pattern-maker's lathe, the DZGV model, with outboard x-y-z turning stand:

DZGV.jpg (71.45 KiB) Viewed 3203 times

I would love to have this machine, but at 8900 euros, plus shipping, it won't likely be happening anytime soon.

A look from the other side:

DZGV b.jpg (64.99 KiB) Viewed 3203 times

Their bandsaw is apparently very nice, and had a tilting table adjusted with a rack and pinion mechanism:

BZU 400.jpg (83.75 KiB) Viewed 3203 times

Zimmermann makes an interesting series of milling machines, the smaller of while, like this FZ-1, is intended for model-makers:

FZ1.jpg (63.33 KiB) Viewed 3203 times

At the other end of the scale, there is the FZ4, which is intended for pattern-making:

FZ4.jpg (52.69 KiB) Viewed 3203 times

A closer look:

FZ4 b.jpg (58.18 KiB) Viewed 3203 times

Even closer:

FZ4 c.jpg (48.31 KiB) Viewed 3203 times

The company also makes a range of sanding machines, which are not normally something of interest to me, though i occasionally have made use of a bobbin sander when working curved parts. Here's one of Zimmermann's oscillating spindle sanders, the FZ-OZ, which has a tilting head and fixed table:

FZ OZ.jpg (72.82 KiB) Viewed 3203 times

They make a large disc sander as well, in several versions. This is the basic model:

Zimm disc sander.jpg (70.53 KiB) Viewed 3203 times

This one is a two-sided model with powered tables:

998845.jpg (102.49 KiB) Viewed 3204 times

Here's a link to a video of the same sander:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... cmtW-m5tOg

If I won the lottery, I think I'd set sail to Germany and bring back a container filled with such fine machines. Well, I'd probably make it a 'world tour' with a stop in Japan, and load a second container. Sometimes it's fun to imagine the dream shop.

[Mathieu]

Very nice machinery! I was amazed that I have never heard of this brand before or came across any of there machines. Are they still in production?

Talking about a "dream shop" I know this guy, who by the way has a very interesting blog, who has a dream shop. Oh man he has all the nice toys, a fine router table, Hitachi bandsaw even a brand new Martin jointer AND he just got a scm planer.

[Chris Hall]

Very nice machinery! I was amazed that I have never heard of this brand before or came across any of there machines. Are they still in production?

Talking about a "dream shop" I know this guy, who by the way has a very interesting blog, who has a dream shop. Oh man he has all the nice toys, a fine router table, Hitachi bandsaw even a brand new Martin jointer AND he just got a scm planer.

Yes, and no table saw. Very funny!

Zimmermann is still in business, I think they concentrate on the CNC side of things now.

[Chris Hall]

I just came across a Zimmerman bandsaw, model BZU 630:

$(KGrHqRHJEcFE1llrkiqBRNv-hjpkw~~60_58.JPG (39.63 KiB) Viewed 3176 times

1986 vintage, 3kW motor.

What's unusual about this machine is that it has motorized table tilt:

$T2eC16JHJHQE9nzEyOonBRNv-uTPF!~~60_58.JPG (46.15 KiB) Viewed 3176 times

Not sure what the third upper motor is for.

Here's the underside of the table:

$T2eC16JHJHgE9n0yEYHNBRNv-zjkB!~~60_58.JPG (46.33 KiB) Viewed 3176 times

It looks like the table swivels as well, doesn't it?

The control panel:

$T2eC16RHJF0E9nmFSH7UBRNv-wb(dQ~~60_58.JPG (35.84 KiB) Viewed 3176 times

Interesting piece of equipment.

[Jack_Ervin.]

I would suggest that the third (upper) motor is controlled with the middle column of buttons and it raises and lowers the upper blade guide arm. The markings on the control panel show an L shaped label. Nice looking saw. Looking at the control panel, where would the speed change be? There doesn't appear to be a variable speed pulley system. Would it be single speed?

Just checked out this site (http://www.f-zimmermann.com/index.php?id=1040&print=1) and confirmed my suspicions.

Jack

[Chris Hall]

Ah, that makes good sense - thanks for figuring that out Jack. It's funny what the German's consider a 'model making' machine, which has a different connotation in English. I think that the term 'pattern making' would be a better one obviously.