Precision sheet metal firm KMF has invested in two new laser profiling machines that will increase cutting speeds, reduce operating costs and allow a greater range of materials to be processed. KMF, based in Newcastle-under-Lyme, has ordered two Trumpf TruLaser 3030 (L95) new-generation machines. The fibre lasers join a full array of high-end Trumpf sheet metal processing equipment on site. Potentially, the new lasers, which are due for installation in the New Year, could improve average run times by up to 50% and result in reductions of over 60% in average running costs.

The £1.2m assets are replacing two existing older machines that comprised of an early-technology fibre model and a traditional CO2 laser, both of which have been operational in a 24/7 capacity since early 2012.

KMF’s commercial director Keith Nicholl says: “Faster machines means that we can continue offering a competitive solution to our customers at a time when resource costs are rising. As well as being faster, the machines are more comprehensive and more accurate, which allows us to build on our reputation for producing consistent quality products in high volumes. We’ve had a very positive first half of the year and we’re continuing to grow, so we need to invest in newer, better machinery to accommodate our customers and their ambitions.”

The new lasers also have more capacity to cut through heavier gauge and a larger range of sheet-based materials.

One of the existing lasers is a TruLaser 3030 (L41), which has a maximum cutting thickness of 20 mm in mild steel, 15 mm in stainless steel and 10 mm in aluminium. Both new lasers add 5 mm more scope on the steels and an additional 10 mm in aluminium. The new machines will also cut through 8 mm copper and brass.

For further information
www.kmf.co.uk

A UK supplier of specialist metal components has taken delivery of a new laser cutting machine that could deliver up to £1m of new sales. HV Wooding, which employs 90 staff at its manufacturing facility in Hythe, Kent, has invested more than £500,000 in a Trumpf TruLaser 3030 as it looks to take advantage of significant ‘electrification’ opportunities.

The company has doubled its laser capacity with this addition and the machine will immediately begin producing thin-gauge laminations and busbars for use in electric cars, lorries, buses and commercial vehicles, not to mention offering customers the ability to cut below 0.5 mm thick and to <50 µm tolerance. Installed last month, the machine provides 3 kW laser power, 170 m/min simultaneous axis speeds, axis acceleration of 14 m/s2 and a pallet change time of just 18.5 seconds. “Our existing laser was working 24 hours per day, so we needed an additional option to help us satisfy current demand and provide capacity to target new opportunities,” explains Paul Allen, sales director at HV Wooding. “Customers are changing their designs of rotors and stators to increase performance, and this investment gives us the ideal solution to offer quick turnaround prototypes without the cost of wire cutting. “The maximum sheet thicknesses we can cut on the new machine is 20 mm for mild steel, 15 mm for stainless steel/aluminium and 6 mm for copper and brass,” he continues. “Over £200,000 of orders have already been placed, with the potential to add another £800,000 between now and the end of 2022.” HV Wooding has enjoyed a strong 10 months, with turnover up £600,000 since the UK emerged from lockdown. The company has created 16 new jobs to help cope with demand. For further information www.hvwooding.co.uk

LVD is introducing the TL 8525 to its line of tube laser cutting machines. The new generation tube laser, designed from the ground up, comes equipped with a number of high-performance features to optimise tube cutting for even the most complex of applications. With a large 8500 mm infeed length, the TL 8525 can process tubes up to 250 mm round or square. Standard machine features include a 45° 3D tilt-axis cutting head for bevelling, six-position front loader, and a wide X-axis cutting head range of 1190 mm to maximise material usage.

The TL 8525 is built for high productivity. Notably, a substantial 400 mm Z axis permits the cutting of larger profiles, while a completely new welded steel structure provides high rigidity and dynamics. A pre-mounted chuck and steady rest facilitate quick and easy machine installation and start-up.

LVD’s TL 8525 maintains the compact footprint of other TL models and offers the advantage of accessibility on all sides of the machine. As loading and unloading is handled on one side, the machine can fit in a small space or against a wall.

To provide versatility for the widest range of use to cut round, square, rectangle or other profiles, no matter the complexity, LVD says that the TL 8525 is equipped with key features typically offered as options on comparable tube laser cutting machines.

For instance, a 45° 3D tilt cutting head is standard. This multi-axis cutting head delivers: high-precision bevel cutting in round, square, rectangular and irregular-shaped tubes; cuts complex profiles and channels; and can be used for weld preparation cuts in thick-walled tubes.

For further information
www.lvdgroup.com

Bodor has launched its BodorGenius 12 kW laser head, as well as the world’s only tailor-made 22 kW laser. The former optimises Bodor’s stable and efficient laser cutting solutions, while the latter accelerates its progress on advanced 10 kW+ laser cutting technologies.

According to Bodor, the company has now sold in excess of 500 laser cutting machines with a power output of 10 kW or above. Bodor says it understands that efficiency and stability are important to clients who purchase high-power laser cutting machines. Therefore, the company has launched the new BodorGenius 12 kW laser head and the world’s only tailor-made 22 kW laser.

The self-developed BodorGenius 12 kW laser head achieves IP65 protection level thanks to dual protection of the optical path: one on-chip protective lens and two under-chip protective lenses to protect the internal cavity from external pollution. The optical path and air path are optimised to reduce the interference of stray light and airflow fluctuation, which avoids unnecessary interference and ensures stable cutting quality.

The world’s only tailor-made 22 kW laser, researched and developed under strategic co-operation between Bodor and Maxphotonics, offers continuous and stable output of 22 kW power, flat-top beam distribution, and anti-high-reflection protection technology. As a result, Bodor says it can increase overall laser cutting efficiency by 20% and produce first-class cutting results, even on highly reflective materials.

For further information
www.bodor.com

For increased productivity when performing automated plasma cutting, ESAB has launched enhanced versions of its 200, 300 and 400 A iSeries high-precision plasma power sources to double cutting output to 400, 600 or 800 A, respectively. This new capability, standard on iSeries systems manufactured after 1 March, requires using matching consumables, a connection kit with cabling and associated software for the controller.

“The concept is similar to paralleling two welding power sources to use larger diameter electrodes for increased productivity,” explains Dirk Ott, VP – global plasma automation. “This new capability features some modest software and hardware enhancements, but the challenge was developing the new 600 and 800 A consumables for stainless steel and aluminium.

Ott notes that consumables are the most highly engineered components in an automated plasma cutting system, and that achieving optimal cut quality and speed requires changing consumables to match the application. ESAB now offers consumables for automated plasma cutting outputs from 15 to 800 A.

Target applications include fabricators and steel service centres that use two torches on the same gantry, and those cutting sections of stainless steel and aluminium material up to 160 mm, which are primarily in the power generation, pressure vessel, chemical and petrochemical processing industries.

Users of 600 and 800 A systems mostly want faster cutting speeds on non-ferrous material that ranges from 50 to 100 mm. As an example, the 600 A system cuts 75 mm stainless steel at 330 mm/min using H35 (the H35 process uses 35% hydrogen/65% nitrogen for the plasma gas and nitrogen for the shielding gas).

For further information
www.esab.co.uk