Time estimate on batch processing a bunch of squares from plywood

[ear3]

I couldn't really think where else to put this, but moderators please feel free to move the topic if deemed appropriate.

So I'm going on vacation in a day or so, but when I get back there's a chance I might do an additional task for the art installation I've been working on for over a month now.  The job would be cutting a series of 2x2 tiles for a drop ceiling in a rather large room -- maybe 300 tiles in total.  Material would be some kind of 1/4 plywood, either hardwood veneer or perhaps even luan/underlay -- room is all oak, so we don't necessarily want to use the standard white foam ceiling tiles.

But I'm going to balancing a lot of things when I get back from vacation, my full time job being the most obvious one, and so I want to figure out whether I would even have time to do it.

The fastest way I can think of is to use my Seneca parallel guides, do all the rip cuts first, and then do the cross cut with the short rail, either with the MFT or direct on the cutting table. 

Here's my rough estimate: let's say 5 minutes for both the rip cuts on a single sheet, that includes getting the sheet on and off the table.  So if I have to make 300 tiles, that's 38 sheets of plywood, which equals 3 hrs 10 minutes for all the rip cuts.  Then for the cross cuts, let's say 6 minutes for the 8 total cross cuts on a single sheet, which at that point would be in two long 2x8 strips, which equals 3 hrs 44 minutes.  So that's slightly under 7 hours for the entire process.  That does not account for breaks or other interruptions, of course, but still it seems possible that it could be done in a single, long day.

Do you think I'm under (or perhaps even over-) estimating the time it would take?
 

 

[flair woodworks]

I don't feel like doing that much math right now, but would like to point out that you could stack the 1/4" sheets to reduce the number of required cuts.

 

[Wooden Skye]

I would think you are slightly over estimating, you could put several sheets together and cut at once.  If the TS 55 has a cutting depth of close to 2 inches, realistically you could gang cut 7-8 sheets at once.  Or if you wanted to be more conservative 4 at a time. Then again I may be completely wrong with my line of thinking, or maybe by the time you clamp together, you may not save as much time after all.

 

[Bohdan]

My supplier has a large CNC saw and will cut to size for $1 per cut. Check with yours.

 

[tjbnwi]

Stack the sheets (6), cut away.

8 panels times 6 sheets equal 48 pieces, you should be done in 2 hours. There will be additional time for the border and odd cuts.

An FYI, the finished size should be 23.5 x 23.5 if they are going in a standard grid.

Tom

 

[ear3]

Gang cutting...of course.  Duh.  Thanks.

Got it on the undersizing.  The grid is already in and seems pretty straight.  The guy who installed it also managed to size the rows on either side of the room at almost the exact same width, so that will cut down further on the odd cuts.  Other than fitting the two pillars in the center of the room, the cutting should be straightforward.

 

[Sparktrician]

And if you're gang cutting the sheets, squeeze clamps are your best friend. 

 

[Shavings]

Full time job????
Say it isn't so!
I was just getting use to regular posts about these projects.
Dang! :'(