FEATURE ON PROFILING

Stepping up tube-cutting capabilities

Yamazaki Mazak says it is taking laser-cutting capabilities to the maximum with the launch of its compact 3D fibre laser cutting machine, the FG-220. The FG-220 is suitable for the precision 3D cutting of long tubes (with round, square, rectangular and triangular cross-sections) and structural materials (such as I and H beams, angle iron and additional user-defined shapes).

Use of the new machine’s improves the productivity of cutting thin-to-medium thickness pipe and other structural materials, thanks largely to the fibre-laser technology having a shorter wavelength than a CO2 laser for the high-speed cutting of medium steel with nitrogen assist gas. Higher productivity translates into significant energy savings due to the 100% elimination of laser gas and a 50% reduction in electrical consumption.

Furthermore, the FG-220 is an all-in-one machine that can perform multiple processes including cutting, drilling, tapping and clamping, which leads to significantly reduced in-process times.

Mazak has engineered a proprietary 3D laser cutting head with an extended range of movement in the A and B axes, which expands on the array of possible applications. The FG-220 enables machining at any desired angle and from various directions, thus achieving even complex shapes, as well as tight joint fits. As a result, it is possible to construct rigid space frames far quicker (with reduced welding) in comparison with conventional construction processes. The machine is suitable for use on a broader spectrum of workpieces, including highly-reflective materials such as copper and brass.

Several features enable high-precision cutting of long materials, such as auto-centring and workpiece clamping, as well as various support units to prevent sagging during cut. Four chucks simultaneously travel on and rotate around the axis to avoid material swaying.
For further information www.mazakeu.co.uk

HACO and HSG confirm strategic partnership

HACO and HSG have confirmed their strategic partnership with an agreement for the exclusive distribution of HACO-HSG fibre lasers in the French and Benelux markets.

Metal profiling is developing rapidly, resulting in a global shift in the industry towards fibre laser-cutting technology.

“The use of fibre lasers for profiling metal results in a spectacular reduction in overall cycle time for industrial companies,” says Andy Raedt, product manager at HACO. “Fibre-laser technology is developing at a fast pace, with newly developed machines being introduced to the market many times a year.”

HSG, with headquarters in Foshan, China, is a pioneer in the development and production of high-quality fibre laser cutting machines. Since its foundation in 2006, the company has grown globally and now has more than 1500 employees. HSG has multiple dedicated R&D centres in China and Japan focusing on bringing the latest technology to the market and meeting demand for more flexibility, speed and power. Today, HSG offers a complete series of fibre-laser machines, from flat-bed lasers and combination machines, up to a range of tube lasers with bevel-cutting head and integrated automation.

“The synergy in this partnership lays in the combination of HSG’s high-quality fibre lasers and the extensive sales and service network of HACO in the French and Benelux markets,” says Angelo Steen, commercial director at HACO. “With over 15,000 metalworking machines installed over the years in these countries, we’ve developed a solid network of local teams.”

In the past few years, HACO has installed dozens of fibre laser cutting machines with HSG technology under the HACO brand. With this partnership, newly installed fibre-laser cutters will be delivered under the joint brand of HACO-HSG.
For further information www.haco.com

Increase flexibility, productivity and savings

Lankapaja Corporation, one of the biggest and best-known sheet metal subcontractors in Finland, has invested in Prima Power’s Night Train FMS automated storage solution for its Nummela facility. The solution includes a new Combi Genius 1530 combi laser machine, which brings together laser cutting and punching technology with an automatic LSR loading and stacking robot.

“With automation we could reduce the number of different machines, increase production efficiency and lower costs,” explains R&D manager Christian Öberg.

According to Öberg, automation is one of the elements perceived as a guarantee that a supplier will be able to offer its customers competitive prices now and in the future.

“We do a lot of small runs, making shift times important,” he says. “This is why we chose the most flexible sheet metal machine on the market: Prima Power’s combi laser. It can run even small batches efficiently.”

Lankapaja runs the machines in two shifts, totalling about 8-12 hours of effective operating time per day, per machine. With the help of the automated storage solution, the goal is to reach 15-20 operating hours per day, per machine: a huge increase in productivity that will not trigger the additional costs of manual alternatives.

Jon Törnwall, IT manager at Lankapaja, goes further into the details: “This requires a new kind of thinking for programming and job queue planning. We investigated this at length and noticed that most waste in production comes specifically from the picking, loading and unloading of sheet metal. We believe we will reach our goal by automating these steps and that in the future, with the help of the storage solution, we will manage the same amount of work with two machines as we do now with three machines.”

For further information
www.primapower.com

First long-life intensifier pump

Flow International, a developer and manufacturer of ultra-high-pressure waterjet cutting systems, is releasing its next generation of intensifier pump technology, the MotoJet X. The company says that MotoJet X features state-of-the-art technology advancements focused on maximising customer uptime, improving usability and nearly eliminating hands-on customer maintenance.

“Our engineering team has invested significant effort in designing, testing and refining intensifier pump technology to achieve a 95% uptime guarantee with a pump that outlasts and outperforms the rest,” says Tim Fabian, vice president of marketing and product management at Flow.

The pump is a full-service solution. Flow’s trained technical service personnel will conduct all maintenance at needed intervals, keeping customers up and running with minimal effort on their part, and allowing them to focus their attention and resources on other areas of their business.

“This white glove, comprehensive service is somewhat new to the waterjet industry, but it’s not new in the world of convenience we live in,” says Fabian. “Having an expert team available to service your equipment is a benefit that makes a huge difference in customer operations, and once you have access to it, you realise just what a difference it truly makes to your business.”

The MotoJet X features ultra-quiet operation with a sound-deadening design. Furthermore, the design includes easy access points with quick-remove side panels, an air-assisted lid and an automatic interior light. The MotoJet X has a status light built directly into the lid handle, providing quick visibility to the operating status of the pump, and comes IoT enabled and smart connection ready.

Flow’s MotoJet X operates at 60,000 psi (4136 bar) with both 30 and 50 hp (22.3 and 37.2 kW) options, and is compatible across the entire Flow Mach series of waterjet solutions.

For further information
www.flowwaterjet.com

Minimising material waste in laser cutting

Trumpf will be showcasing a new laser cutting technique at its InTech in-house trade show, which will take place on 17-20 May in Ditzingen, Germany. Offering improved efficiency and even more reliable processing, the ‘nano joint’ method holds parts in place using tiny supporting tabs created at points where the laser does not cut all the way through the sheet. These tiny tabs, or nano joints, prevent the metal from shifting or tipping while the laser is cutting parts.

Nano joints reduce costs and material usage by allowing users to nest parts closer together and minimise how much metal remains in the skeleton. Depending on the shape of the specific parts, users may even be able to nest parts in a way that eliminates raw material waste completely. Nano joints also make it quicker and easier for workers to break parts out of the nest.

Trumpf offers nano joint technology on its TruLaser 5000 fiber, TruLaser 3000 fiber and TruLaser 1000 fiber series machines. Furthermore, it is possible to retrofit the technology to existing machines by means of a software update.

Currently, fabricators typically hold cut parts in place during laser cutting using tabs known as ‘micro joints’. Workers then break these tabs when they remove the parts from the nest. Trumpf says that its nano joints have many advantages over conventional micro joints. For instance, they speed up the process because it is so much faster to produce tiny retaining points rather than conventional micro tabs during cutting. Nano joints also allow the operator to break parts free from the nest with much less effort, saving time and making life easier for workers.

For further information
www.trumpf.com