FEATURE ON PROFILING

Enabling robot compatibility with Foba

Flexxbotics, which delivers work-cell digitalisation for robot-driven manufacturing, can now
offer robot connectivity compatibility for machine tending with all of the Foba laser marking
and engraving products. Flexxbotics includes communication with Foba’s integrated camera
system for vision-based inspection, providing closed-loop feedback to the robot for
autonomous process control. With Flexxbotics robot-driven operation of Foba equipment
customers achieve greater throughput and higher yields.
 
Foba provides precision laser marking systems and laser engraving machines that include
fibre laser markers and UV laser markers, as well as ultra-short pulse laser markers, CO2
laser markers and green laser markers for a diverse range of applications and industries. The
patent-pending FlexxCORE technology in the Flexxbotics solution enables robots to connect
and communicate with the Foba laser marking and engraving equipment including the
integrated camera systems for robotic orchestration of part processing with in-line
inspection. Flexxbotics compatibility includes the Foba MarkUS control, as well as Foba’s
digital I/Os, PROFINET, Profibus/TCP/IP and EtherCAT.

 
The solution co-ordinates robot actions with Foba’s three-stage marking process, which
includes part inspection prior to marking, automatic mark alignment and subsequent
validation of the marking. Flexxbotics utilises either the intelligent mark positioning (IMP) or
point and shoot (P&S) capabilities in the Foba equipment for precise alignment of the laser
marker on the customer’s product, along with vision-assisted workflows for accuracy if
touch-up is needed.
 
Combining Foba with Flexxbotics is particularly valuable in industries with strict regulatory
compliance requirements that dictate the highest levels of repeatable precision, such as
medical devices and surgical products along with aerospace, defence and space,” explains
Tyler Bouchard, co-founder and CEO of Flexxbotics. “With Flexxbotics and Foba together,
customers can optimise cycle time, expand capacity and increase profit per part.”
For further information www.flexxbotics.com

Bystronic unveils ByCut Star 3015 laser cutter

Bystronic is expanding its established ByCut Star range of laser cutters, launched at EuroBLECH 2022. This premium laser cutter series is now available in the 3015 format.

According to the company, the ByCut Star 4020 was already an eye-catcher.However, the smaller and completely new ByCut Star 3015 is its equal in every way. With the same features, Bystronic says the machine cuts sheets of 3 x 1.5 m with precision, speed and intelligence. 

The ByCut Star 3015 is, of course, also available with power up to 30 kW, which means higher cutting quality, greater production flexibility and productivity due to the combination of more laser power and smart features such as ‘Intelligent Cutting Process’ (ICP), ‘Nozzle Control Tool’ (NCT) with KerfScan and ‘Parameter Wizard’.

The technological leap from the previously available 3-20 kW levels to the new 30 kW level is considerable, opening new possibilities for users to optimise production and, as a result, remain ahead of ever-tougher competition. Furthermore, cutting thicknesses up 50 mm become a reality.

The cutting speeds of the ByCut Star increase significantly compared with 15 kW and MixGas for sheet thicknesses between 6 and 15 mm. Piercing times are also shorter for sheet thicknesses from 15 mm.

“With the new ByCut Star 3015, our customers receive a compact premium laser cutter with high power and smart features for consistently excellent quality and high productivity,” statesDaniel Brenner, product management systems, Bystronic.

Like the 4020 model, the new 3105 is built on one platform, thus offering the same modern, sharp contours that create a striking appearance. 

For further information www.bystronic.co.uk

Biogas Products invest in 4 kW Penta Laser

Renewable energy technology specialist, Biogas Products of Dudley, has recently taken delivery of a new 4kW fibre laser cutting system from Penta Laser UK, together with an MSS Nitrocube on-site nitrogen generation system.The laser system supplied by Penta UK comprises a Swing 4 kW 3015 fibre laser featuring IPG laser source and Precitec cutting head. The Nitrocube system produces 25ppm purity (99.9975%) nitrogen for the new 4kW laser.

Tony Smith, managing director at Biogas Products, says: “This new Penta laser offers us major efficiency benefits via reduced running costs, increased production speeds and better cut quality compared with the plasma cutting system it replaces. Notably, our cutting quality with the new Nitrocube system is significantly better than using gas cylinder packs.”

He continues:“I’m really pleased with the decision to purchase both the Penta system and the MSS Nitrocube.We received fantastic support so far and we’re fully confident it will continue, allowing us to enjoy the benefits of this important equipment for many years to come.”

Chris Smith at Penta Laser UK adds:“This impressive laser system offers all the functionality, performance and quality that much more expensive fibre laser systems provide. The installation work went very well; with the co-operation of Biogas all work from unloading to training was complete within just a few days.”

The Penta range offers laser power from 2 to 60kW and cutting bed sizes from 3×1.5m to 12×2.5m.Penta Laser UK offer full UK sales and aftersales support, including a huge UK stock of Penta spare parts.

For further information www.pentalaser.co.uk

BLM Lasertube LT12: Cut for the future

BLM Group’s new Lasertube LT12 is a fibre laser cutting system for tubes and metal profiles that is capable of cutting tubes from 25 to 305 mm in diameter, representing an offer which was previously missing from the company’s machine portfolio.

It is possible to equip the LT12 with laser resonators of different power, with the machine capable of processing tubes up to 62 kg/m. The structure comprises of a mandrel at the tail and a steady rest that supports the tube in cut. Among the innovations here is‘interpenetration’, where the mandrel enters the steady rest to cut the end of the bar and thereby achieve minimal waste.

As with all BLM’s Lasertube machines, the tube is supported throughout the processing line, providing precise and fast laser cutting on both small diameter tubes and long, heavy tubes, maintaining this speed and precision over the entire range of diameters.The flexible system caters to multiple sectors, but is of particular interest to industries where it is common to find open and closed profiles up to 305 mm in diameter.

The new Lasertube system is modular in both loading and unloading lengths. In fact, two sizes for loading (8.5 and 12.5 m) and several sizes for unloading are available. The possibility of loading bar lengths up to 12.5 m was made to elevate processing through nesting, which optimally arranges each cut on the bar, so as to make the most of the material while minimising unused bar sections.

For further information www.blmgroup.com

New waterjet to Sweden’s largest growth region

In 2022, the Swedish government estimated there was a total of 40,000 new jobs in the Norrbotten and Västerbotten region, a northern territory of Sweden. Norrsken Metall has been a well-known contract manufacturer in the region for many years. The company has experience of waterjet cutting since 2000 butits existing machine was worn out with recurring operational problems, so it was time to switch to a new and more reliable solution. Patrik Flodin and Niklas Fällman, owners of Norrsken Metall, got in touch with Christian Svensson, regional sales manager at Water Jet Sweden, a man with more than 25 years of experience in waterjet cutting machines.

“Together with the customer, we developed a machine solution that provides both increased capacity and better reliability,” says Svensson.

The Water Jet Sweden Grand model is a robust and powerful system for machining all types of materials, as well as for handling large or odd dimensions. Thanks to Water Jet Sweden’s patent, the machine offers the same high precision regardless of its size. The 3.2 x 7.7 m working area is divided into two working zones, allowing loading and unloading while the machine is running.

“There are many improvements,”reveals Svensson. “For instance, the systems for abrasive supply and sludge handling are extra powerful to handle cutting without interruption, and the machine is equipped with a more powerful pump for faster cutting.”

Thanks to its new investment, Norrsken Metall has both capacity and reliability to meet growing demand for waterjet cutting in the region. In fact, the company is already seeing growth, receiving several assignments from the new battery factory undergoing construction in the neighbourhood.

For further information www.waterjetsweden.com