Hoffmann Morso NM Manual Beaded Face-Fame Notching Machine

***Manufacturer's Information:

The MORSO NM notching machine is manually operated, light-duty notching machine for the production of beaded face-frames, French-mitered cabinet doors as well as muntin and mullion joints.
While this is smallest MORSO notching machine available, the manual operation of the machine, the shape of the cutting head and the MORSO length stop fences are based on the larger NFL and NFXL models.

The main differences between the MORSO NM notching machine and the larger, heavy-duty MORSO NFL and MORSO NFXL notching machines are a smaller base frame and reduced footprint, lower table height, sheet-metal extension tables in place of cast-iron tables, overall lighter construction and smaller cutting head and knives. The center table is borrowed from a MORSO guillotine-style moulding chopper and the center stop is a flip-stop design.The vertical travel of the cutting head (and thus the resting position of the foot pedal) can be adjusted depending on workpiece thickness, assuring comfortable operation.

Optional smaller Cutting Head
To increase the range of applications, we offer smaller cutting heads for MORSO NM notching machines. These smaller heads are required to install 1/4", 5/16" or 3/8" wide nose knives which are generally used for mullion or muntin joinery. The cutting heads can be replaced in only minutes and MORSO NM side knives fit on both heads; only the nose knives differ in design.

Operation:
Beaded Face-Frame Notching Operation – full notch in stiles to accept cross rails (shown on MORSO NM)
Upon adjusting the cock-bead stops to set the notching depth, the moulding is placed on the machine table and one end is rested against a flip-stop. The hand lever in front is used to move the cutting head horizontally to and from the operator. Depending on the width of the cut, the thickness and hardness of the moulding, two to four cuts are made to complete the notch. This process takes only seconds and the resulting cuts are smooth and free of tear-out.

Beaded Face-Frame Notching Operation – half notch in stiles to accept top and bottom rails (shown on MORSO NFL)
A half-notch for top and bottom rails is cut into the left and right stiles in the same manner as a full notch. A "long arm" flip-stop is used to position the stile properly (the long arm is designed to reach past the cock-bead stops). For wider cross rails the stile is moved sideways after each cut until the desired notch width is reached.

Beaded Face-Frame Coping Operation – clipped corners on rails (shown on MORSO NM)
Upon adjusting the setscrews in the nylon center fitting, the stop is moved toward the cutting head and locked in place. The rail is placed on the table and pushed against the stop. The 45-degree corner cut on the bead is made in one cycle, multiple cuts are not necessary. The moulding is then flipped end-for-end and the process is repeated.

Window Mullion Notching Operation – step 1 (shown on MORSO NFL)
Upon adjusting the cock-bead stops to set the notching depth, the moulding is placed on the machine table and one end is rested against a flip-stop. The hand lever in front is used to move the cutting head horizontally to and from the operator. Two cuts are generally enough to produce a clean notch.
IMPORTANT:
The mullion profile must have a "flat-spot" in the center and this flat spot should match the width of the nose knife. We highly recommend you produce your mullions with a 1/4" flat spot – you can then use not only a 1/4" wide nose knife with your notching machine but also a 1/4" spiral router bit on a Hoffmann routing machine for step 3.

Window Mullion Notching Operation – step 2 (shown on MORSO NFL)
Once all notches are cut along one edge of the mullion, the process is repeated on the other side. It is important to have the notches aligned for tight joints.
A DGS 1000 fence system is a worthwhile investment for these operations.

Window Mullion Routing Operation – step 3 (shown on Hoffmann X-20)
Once all notches are cut on a MORSO notching machine, one-half of the mullion stock needs to be removed to create a half-lap joint. We offer a complete fixture set including the necessary 1/4" spiral down-cut bit under part number W30110000 Half-Lap Joint Fixture Kit.
One set of mullions (either the vertical or the horizontal pieces) are routed from the bottom up and the other set must be routed from the face side down.
We use a spiral down-cut bit to minimize "fuzzing" or tearing of the material, a slow and steady routing stroke produces very clean cuts even on profiled mullions.
Fixtures are compatible with Hoffmann X-20, MU3, MU3-D, MU3-P and MU3-PD machines.

Mullion on half-lap fixtures - cutting into top (front) of mullion

Mullion on half-lap fixtures - cutting into bottom (back) of mullion

Completed half-lap mullion joint - front

Completed half-lap mullion joint - back