Amada’s latest series of LCG-AJ flat-bed laser cutters is equipped with the company’s own 2, 3, 4, 6 and 9 kW oscillators. Amada says it was the first manufacturer of laser machines to develop its own fibre-laser source, with production and testing taking place at the company’s Fujinomiya factory in Japan.
Most models in the LCG-AJ range incorporate an automatic nozzle changer for uninterrupted processing, and all are compatible with Amada’s Digital Support System (ADSS), which not only facilitates the delivery of service support but allows customers to analyse and compare machine performance.
The working range across the LCG-AJ series extends from 3070 x 1550 mm (LCG-3015AJ) to 4070 x 2050 mm (LCG-3015AJ), which is served by positioning speeds of up to 170 m/min – said to be the fastest in its class. According to Amada, using individual high-power diode modules allows for high beam quality, giving the end user higher cutting speeds compared with systems offering a lower beam quality. Furthermore, each machine has a lightweight Y-axis carriage with a low centre of gravity that provides a 30% weight reduction.
Amada’s latest AMNC 3i control ensures simple operation with its smartphone-type 21.5” screen, including on-screen nesting, program scheduling and one-touch set-up features.
LCG-3015AJ machines are fully compatible with Amada’s latest part-picking system, the TK L, which is said to offer high-speed removal and stacking of finished components. All LCG-AJ machines can be equipped with load\unload systems.
For further information
www.amada.co.uk

Ballymena-based Arcon Engineering has recently invested in a RUR3500P machine from Kerf Developments that features a Lincoln Electric Spirit 400 Amp plasma unit with Ultrasharp technology. Arcon says that the machine is powerful enough to cut through material far beyond the scope of a laser. In addition, the system incorporates a water reservoir that keeps the cutting torches cool and extends the life of consumables.
“We wanted the quality of laser without the cost; Kerf gave us the alternative with their new RUR3500P with Ultrasharp technology,” says managing director Paschal McLoughlin. “The cut quality and precision was outstanding, while the cost wasn’t anywhere near the price of a laser machine. Furthermore, the Kerf RUR3500P is more flexible as the high-definition unit is powerful enough to cut through material far beyond the scope of a laser.”
The design and technology built into the Lincoln Electric Spirit system incorporates a water reservoir that keeps the cutting torches cool. Among the benefits of this technology is that torch and consumable life are said to be extended considerably. Furthermore, the high-powered system has a lower gas consumption. The result for Arcon is a more powerful machine with significantly reduced operating and consumable costs. For a business that is sometimes running its machines 24 hours a day, the savings over the life of the machine are expected to be sizeable. In fact, trials by Kerf have shown that this technology uses up to 78% less plasma gas than competitor machines.
From a capability perspective, the 400 Amp system can cut plate up to
75 mm thick, which gives Arcon the potential to extend its workload beyond existing plate thicknesses.
For further information
www.kerfdevelopments.com

The liquid-cooled cutting head on Haco Kingsland’s latest-generation FL series fibre-laser cutter features the ability to apply ‘Parallel Kinematics Technology’ for dynamic 5G cutting processes. The technology is said to save users time, space and money.
Offering 3 or 4 m capacity, the machines can be supplied with either 3 or 4 kW laser resonators together with an integrated loading and unloading system. The result is a compact laser-cutting cell with a footprint of less than 11 x 6 m that is suitable for unmanned operation.
Thanks to the ability of modern fibre-laser cutting processes to reduce cycle times, especially for thin materials, automation of loading and unloading processes has become a must. The automatic loading station for the FL series contains a novel gripper concept. Exiting out of a vertically-moving frame, the gripper is equipped with intelligent suction cups, a separator unit, double-sheet detector and separation air-blow. In combination with the automatic scratch-free unloading system, this allows efficient unmanned production for improved cost per part ratios, as well as enhanced profitability and return on investment, says the company. Sheet stability is assured via the deployment of three CNC retractable clamps.
According to Haco Kingsland, FL series laser cutters are highly suitable for continuous nesting operations on different sheet sizes and thicknesses.
For further information
www.kingsland.com

Thanks to its investment in the latest TruPunch 1000 CNC punching machine from Trumpf, Birmingham-based lighting manufacturer Candela Light is enjoying a 50% increase in production speed (and hence throughput) over its two previous turret punch presses. The machine was purchased alongside a TruBend 3066
CNC press brake and the
latest TruTops Boost software that allows the company to generate programs at the
touch of a button.
Having experienced strong growth in the past 12 months (Candela now employs 28 people), the company decided to reinvest some of its profits back into the business. Of particular focus was Candela’s turret punch presses, which were ageing and had become a little unreliable.
“We knew that technology had moved on, so we decided to assess the main players in the market to see about buying a replacement,” explains the company’s managing director Nigel Astley. “At first, we thought about replacing the turret punches with a fibre laser profiling centre, but the Trumpf representative explained that we would be much better off with a TruPunch machine based on the type of parts we process. As a result, we invested in the TruPunch 1000.
“Unlike our previous turret punches, which only had a couple of auto-index stations, all tools on the TruPunch 1000 – including Trumpf’sMultiTools – can be rotated through 360°,” continues Astley. “Furthermore, the machine is 50% faster than our previous capability and we no longer have to remove parts from a skeleton frame and perform deburring.”
Although the TruPunch 1000 can process sheets up to 6.4 mm thick, Candela typically processes aluminium up to 4 mm, and copper and brass up to 1.2 mm.
For further information
www.uk.trumpf.com

Hypertherm has announced its most significant advance in mechanised plasma cutting ever with the introduction of an entirely new class of plasma called X-Definition, which is designed for use on mild steel, stainless steel and aluminium. The plasma is available for the first time in a 300 Amp plasma system called the XPR300.
Laboratory testing shows ISO-9013 Range 2 cut quality on thin mild steel and extended ISO Range 3 cuts on thicker metals. To reach this point Hypertherm engineers had to develop a number of new patent-pending processes like Vented Water Injection (VWI) and plasma dampening, and new vent-to-shield technologies. The end result is squarer cut edges, markedly less angularity, and high surface finish on non-ferrous metals, says the company.
The XPR300 cuts faster and uses power more efficiently than earlier Hypertherm systems such as the HyPerformance HPR260XD. Piercing capability is also improved thanks to increased power and an exclusive argon-assist process which enables 30% thicker piercing on mild steel and a 20% increase on stainless steel. Additionally, consumable life and cut quality over the life of the consumables get a boost from advances such as ‘Cool Nozzle’ and ‘Arc Response’ technology. The latter protects consumables from the negative impact of ramp-down errors, a regular occurrence in real-life cutting. By reducing the impact of ramp-down errors, XPR consumables can last up to last three times longer than on competitive, older-generation systems.
Also worthy of note, sensors in the power supply deliver refined diagnostic codes and enhanced system-monitoring information. This is said to reduce troubleshooting time and provide proactive data to improve overall system optimisation and uptime.
For further information
www.hypertherm.com