How Jerry Turned His Frontier Manual Mill into a Smart Machine
- info2102760
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
Let’s be honest: we all love our sawmills. There’s something satisfying about turning a log into lumber. But you know what’s not satisfying? Doing math in your head while covered in wood chips, or trying to squint at a magnetic scale for the hundredth time that day.
If you’ve ever stared at your Frontier sawmill (or your Hud-Son, Wood-Mizer, TimberKing, Baker, Frontier, Norwood, DIY, etc.) and wished it operated like a high-end industrial machine, I’ve got some very good news.
Our friend Jerry over at Bigelow Woodcraft just did the unthinkable. He took his trusty Frontier sawmill and gave it a major technological overhaul.
The Secret Ingredient: Mikron Setworks
Jerry recently got his hands on a "mystery box" that he was incredibly excited about. Sadly, there were no gold bars inside. But for a sawyer, it was even better: the SW-350-PRO universal computer setworks.
This isn't a proprietary piece of gear locked to one brand. It’s a universal upgrade designed to bring digital precision to homeowner models, DIY rigs, and professional sawmills alike. Jerry has already upgraded his mill with power feed and a power up/down head, so this computer was the final piece of the puzzle to make the machine truly professional.
Why You Need Digital Precision
The Mikron setworks is basically a digital readout on steroids. It doesn't just tell you where the blade is; it calculates your cuts for you and automatically positions the sawing head for the next cut.
Imagine this scenario:
You want 13/16", 1-1/2", or standard 3/4" boards.
Instead of doing mental gymnastics, you just tell the computer what you want.
It acts like a calculator that automatically takes your blade kerf into account and drives the saw head to the exact right height.
It makes the whole process incredibly easy. You hit a button, the head moves to the exact spot, and you cut. Rinse and repeat.
Installation: Easier Than You Think
Jerry admits he’s not an electrician, but he found the installation surprisingly straightforward. The kit comes with the module, relays, and a string encoder.
Once it’s wired up, there’s a one-time setup where you teach the computer the top and bottom limits of your mill. Jerry punched in a few codes, moved the head up and down, and voila—the mill finally knew exactly where it was at all times.
The "I Can't Believe It Works" Moment
Watching Jerry test it out was a thing of beauty. He punched in a dimension, hit "GoTo," and the saw head zoomed right to the mark and stopped dead.
He then set up a program to cut boards. He hit a button, the head dropped for the first cut. He finished the cut, bumped the head up to return, and hit the button again. The head automatically dropped down for the exact next cut.
No squinting at a ruler. No guessing. Just perfect, repeatable accuracy.
Want to Upgrade Your Mill?
Jerry originally bought this unit because he wanted those precise stops, but he was so impressed with the performance that he secured a discount code for his viewers.
You don't need a $50,000 hydraulic mill to get professional results—you just need to give your current mill a little bit of a tech boost!
