For manufacturers seeking a cost-effective CNC plasma cutting table that is easy to install, easy to set up and even easier to operate, Kerf Developments says it has the solution with the new Linc-Cut S 1530. Designed and developed by Lincoln Electric, Kerf will be supplying and commissioning the machines in the UK, providing operator training, and offering service, support and spares.

Suitable for cutting mild steel and stainless steel plate up to 1.5 x 3 m, the Linc-Cut 1530 makes high-speed plasma cutting affordable for small fabrication companies, sheet-metal contractors, custom-vehicle fabricators and prototyping specialists.

Parts that customers may want to manufacture on the machine can be input using a variety of methods. The CAD software supplied as part of the turnkey package enables users to draw components, while the system also allows users to import parts in standard file formats such as DXF or DWG. Some 36 standard parametric shapes are pre-loaded into the software, including everything from simple adjustable rectangles through to complex circular flanges, to simplify and accelerate part programming for the end user. Once drawn, the system can nest components with the potential for manual or automated programming for maximum material utilisation and cost savings.

The Linc-Cut 1530 is fitted with the latest Lincoln Electric Flexcut 125 A plasma system, which is said to offer excellent cutting and marking performance with a low bevel angle and high cut quality. Furthermore, the machine is capable of cutting 25 mm steel plate at up to 800 mm/min, and thin sheets in the 6 mm range at speeds beyond 5300 mm/min.

For further information
www.kerfdevelopments.com

Manufacturing IT expert Lantek had another successful year at EuroBLECH – albeit virtual. The EuroBLECH 2021 Digital Innovation Summit, which took place at the end of last year, was the online version of the trade show for sheet-metal manufacturers. Lantek reports that its full range of manufacturing solutions proved popular with delegates at the digital show.

In particular, the presentation ‘Data: The other raw material of sheet metal – challenges and opportunities’, by Lantek area manager José Antonio Lorenzo, was attended by many online visitors.

“Sheet-metal processing is our business and your business – and we do everything we can to ensure that you work as efficiently as possible,” said Lorenzo during his presentation at the EuroBLECH Digital Innovation Summit.

Lorenzo’s appearance was part of Lantek’s contribution to the EuroBLECH virtual lecture series. In the 15-minute presentation, his main points were solidified with short explainer videos. In a live Q&A that followed, Christoph Lenhard, sales manager for Germany, Austria and Switzerland, posed frequently-asked customer questions to Lorenzo.

In addition to their participation in the lecture series, visitors could also register for personal meetings or connect in real-time with 17 Lantek experts. In these live chats, company specialists answered visitor questions face-to-face and made initial business contacts.

“Interested visitors and customers have embraced this new way of meeting very well,” says Lenhard. “Numerous conversations centred on specific use cases in which our portfolio can be helpful. Many potential clients have realised – through the current crisis – how quickly they must digitise their processes.

“It was a completely new format for all of us, and proved a very good alternative to in-person trade shows,” he adds.

For further information
www.lantek.com

Lincoln-based manufacturing firm Micrometric has introduced Coherent’s StarCut Tube system to its range of cutting equipment. The fully automated machine is designed to laser cut, drill and mark tubular or flat metal components, and has found favour among many subcontract manufacturers producing parts for medical instruments requiring extremely high precision.

Despite success in this proven application, Micrometric has found additional uses for its new machine, producing a range of tube components in large volumes as well as finer, more precise parts for sectors other than medical.

Neil Main, managing director at Micrometric, says: “We invested in the StarCut Tube machine as we knew it could deliver the required performance for a range of projects and had a long, low-maintenance lifetime which is necessary for cost-effective operations within our working environment. The machine´s versatility permits us to cut thinner tube than is possible on our other machines, allowing us to extend our capabilities and the range of customers we can service.”

Micrometric has already used the machine to cut, assemble and weld complex medical and aerospace components for companies which produce aerospace filters, automated injection needles, endoscopy components and MRI scanning equipment.

“Thanks to this machine, we can produce parts for many different sectors, including airflow sensors, flexible protective covers, valves for car suspension systems, industrial and medical endoscopy equipment, printing machines, and food production,” says Main. “We’ve always tried to address difficult tasks by investing heavily in our equipment and in staff training. This machine is perfect for customers looking to produce reliable components with extremely precise design criteria, as well as those using materials which are less common than sheet steel.”

For further information 
http://micrometric.co.uk  

With the ByTower Compact automated load/unload system, the productivity of a Bystronic laser cutter can increase significantly without occupying much space. Thanks to its small footprint, the ByTower Compact opens up lightly manned manufacturing for any size of company. This offer is possible because system installation takes place vertically, directly above the shuttle table.

Notably, it is possible to customise the storage tower height to meet specific user requirements and make optimum use of available space. The system supports two different configurations, allowing metal sheets to be stored directly at the machine, regardless of whether they arrive with or without a wooden pallet. As a result, raw material is available immediately.

The ByTower Compact can also serve as a buffer storage facility where materials are prepared for unmanned shifts during the night or over weekends. Manufacturers can therefore process large batches of parts outside of normal working hours, with the ByTower Compact taking care of material handling. Sheets for upcoming jobs can be conveniently prepared without interrupting the machine’s running processes.

Bystronic’s ByTower Compact offers storage space for a wide range of material types and thicknesses, as well as for the storage of cut parts after processing. Reduced set-up times and an optimal material flow ensure maximum utilisation of the laser-cutting system, because sheet metal is stored exactly where it is needed most: at the machine.

For further information
www.bystronic.com

LVD is introducing Taurus FL, a new large-format gantry-style fibre laser cutter that offers extra-large sheet metal cutting capacity. Of modular design, machine size begins at a bed length of 12 m, expanding in increments of 2 m to a maximum of 40 m. This large format allows the cutting and nesting of a diverse range of parts. It is possible to process workpieces up to 3.3 m wide and up to 30 mm thick.

The production of large parts takes place without repositioning, while users can position multiple smaller workpieces on the cutting table for processing in continuous fashion, without interruption. Operators are able to cut parts on one section of the table, while loading/offloading takes place on another, keeping downtime to an absolute minimum.

Taurus FL offers easy access. Only the gantry features an enclosure, not the complete machine. The mechanical design and drive system ensure high machine dynamics in large-format cutting.

Machine operators have the use of two touch panels for convenient access to the control at all times. A handheld control unit enables the user to safely move all axes in manual mode for machine set up, or to load the nozzle changer. A camera located inside the cutting zone and a monitor on the operator console allow continuous monitoring of the cutting process. The cutting zone has a detachable front panel, providing access for maintenance.

Taurus FL also provides the option of bevel cutting or 2.5D cutting up to 45°. The bevel head uses two direct-drive motors. With direct drives there are no transmission components, resulting in high accuracy and rapid-response motion.

For further information
www.lvdgroup.com