Guide · saw workflow

Double-head vs single-head saws in a window shop

The same window BOM can use the same number of 6000 mm bars and still be handled differently on the saw. 1-CSP sets bar count. Machine mode sets how cuts are grouped for a single-head, double-head or CNC saw.

Same BOM, different handling

A six-casement job that needs six bars on the 1-CSP guide still needs six bars if you change machine mode. Double-head does not reduce bar count. It changes how two ends are cut in one clamp and how the printed plan is sequenced.

	Single-head	Double-head
Blades	One blade; one end at a time	Two heads; both ends in one setup when the piece fits
Typical window use	Short runs, repair, one-off members	Frame and sash 45/45 production
1-CSP bar count	Set by stock, parts, kerf, MR	Same bar count for the same BOM
What changes in FeneCAM	Machine mode: Single	Machine mode: Double
Head spacing	Not applicable	No documented minimum head spacing in FeneCAM

1-CSP bar count versus machine grouping

1-CSP answers “how many 6000 mm bars?” Machine mode answers “in what order does the operator cut them?” A single-head plan lists one cut after another. A double-head plan groups left and right angles so both heads can work a member. CNC mode is a third grouping in the UI. Named CNC files are undocumented.

What FeneCAM exports

PDF, XLS, CSV and DXF only. There is no documented PTX export, no documented Biesse file, no documented Elumatec file, and no FeneCAM REST API. If a saw needs a named CNC dialect, that file is not something this site claims to write.

Six practical recommendations

Optimize the BOM once in the 1D profile optimizer so bar count is fixed.
Set kerf to a measured blade thickness; 3 mm is a starting point, not a law.
Enter 45/45 on frame and sash members if that is how the saw is set.
Pick Single, Double or CNC to match the machine that will run the plan — do not expect bar count to drop.
Export PDF for the bench, XLS or CSV for the office, DXF if the shop plots the bar.
Keep aluminium and uPVC on separate stock lists; glass belongs on the 2-CSP tool.

FAQ

Can one plan run on both saws?

The 1-CSP nest (which parts sit on which bar) can. The printed sequence should match the machine mode you selected. Re-export after you change Single to Double or the reverse.

Does a double-head saw reduce bar count?

No. Bar count comes from stock length, part lengths, kerf and remnant. Two heads change handling, not how many 6000 mm bars the BOM consumes.

What file do I send to a CNC saw?

FeneCAM exports PDF, XLS, CSV and DXF. Named CNC files are undocumented. Machine mode “CNC” is a grouping in the UI, not a published dialect.

What is the difference between Single mode and CNC mode?

Both start from the same 1-CSP nest. Single groups the plan for one blade. CNC groups it for a CNC saw center. The file you download is still PDF, XLS, CSV or DXF.