FEATURE ON PROFILING

Amada helps Q-Laser meet growing demand

Q-Laser, a Tyne & Wear based precision subcontractor offering laser cutting, bending, waterjet cutting and fabrication services, is investing in the latest manufacturing technologies from Amada, including a laser cutter, press brake and production monitoring software. The investments are helping to meet growing demand at the company, which has seen a 22% increase in turnover over the past year alone.

With so much growth and success, Q-Laser deemed it necessary to invest in additional manufacturing technology, identifying another laser cutter as its top priority.

“We needed more cutting hours with the benefit of production flexibility,” reports company owner, Colin Hewitt.“Importantly, we recognised the need to keep expanding the business, where a second machine would support the laser cutter already on site. Our customers expect to have their orders processed and delivered within a few days, so it was our duty to try and accommodate that demand.”

Hewitt and his team considered two potential laser cutting machines, ultimately opting for a new Amada Ensis 3015AJ 6kW fibre laser.

“Not only was the price within our budget, but the technology and features offered, along with the machine’s ease-of-use, made our decision easy,” explains Hewitt.“It was actually our laser operators that made the final call after visiting and operating the machine at Amada’s UK headquarters in Kidderminster.”

The company’s laser-cutting operation is currently running across a single shift, with the aim of achieving two shifts in the near future.

“The Amada Ensis-AJ has given us a distinct boost over our existing laser cutter, providing higher speed, better cut quality, greater consistency and more ease-of-use,” says Hewitt. “We particularly like the ability to see the recording/live feed on the laser, which is very beneficial.”

For further information www.amada.eu

TLM grows portfolio with ultra-short pulsed lasers




The latest addition to TLM Laser’s range, from partner FOBA Laser, is a new ultra-short pulse range of laser systems, the pulse width of which is in the femtosecond to picosecond range. These laser types are able to offer a number of distinct advantages in many marking applications.

Ultra-short pulse lasers produce an intensive beam of light that allows high-precision processing, while minimising the amount of heat absorbed by the surrounding area. Due to the adjustable pulse duration, from the femtosecond to picosecond range, the heat input remains low, despite the high pulse energy. As a result, it is possible to create precise marks even on temperature-sensitive materials, reliably and economically.

The fine structures created by the laser process prevent the reflection of light, so the laser marks appear deep black and offer good readability from different viewing angles. Almost any material can be marked with the F.0100-ir laser system. From metals to heat-sensitive components and even transparent materials, the new laser marker opens up many possibilities.

TLM Laser says the system is suitable for medical sector applications, where its performance characteristics allow it to produce high contrast marks on medical instruments made of stainless steel, titanium or even plastics. These same attributes also make it suited to various applications in the production of automotive and electronic components.

Depending on the workpiece material, marking speeds of up to five times faster than nanosecond laser systems are possible, reports TLM Laser. Furthermore, TLM says FOBA’s F.0100-ir offers one of the most compact designs in the field of ultra-short pulse lasers, suiting easy integration into production lines and laser marking machines such as the FOBA M series.
For further information www.tlm-laser.com

Mazak unveils OPTIPLEX 3015 NEO 20 kW at EMO




At the recent EMO exhibition in Hanover, Yamazaki Mazak showcased its newest high-power 2D laser machine for sheet metal cutting operations: the OPTIPLEX 3015 NEO 20 kW. The machine’s working area allows the processing of workpieces up to 1525 x 3050 mm through a new 20 kW fibre laser resonator. Thanks to this high power, the machine is able to cut 30% faster and reduce gas consumption by 30% when cutting with nitrogen.

Mazak says that the OPTIPLEX 3015 NEO 20 kW is equipped with proprietary beam-shaping technology to adjust the power density of the laser beam in a controllable and automatic manner, ensuring the best possible result on various materials and thicknesses.

The new MCT3 cutting head and MAZATROL SmoothLx CNC system are just two stand-out technical features of the machine. Mazak’s MCT3 boasts multiple intelligent functions to streamline the operator’s role. For instance, beam diameter control automatically adjusts the laser beam diameter while automaticfocus enables distance adjustment for different materials to deliver faster cutting speeds. Furthermore,automaticprofilercalibration is a function that maintains the nozzle to workpiece distance to boost edgequality and productivity.

Automating the overall set-up time can lead to 95% quicker preparation compared with standard laser machines, reports Mazak. Moreover, intelligent cutting functions such as flash cutting and fine power ramping are able to enhance the overall process even more. Instead of stopping at each axis, the laser turns on and off through ‘flash cutting’;synchronising the axis and laser movements leads to reduce cutting times. Another function, fine power ramping, adjusts the laser power and feed rate, minimising dross at cutting corners without compromising straight-line cutting speed.
For further information www.mazakeu.co.uk

Tow-Trust raises the bar with Bystronic




Warwickshire-based tow-bar manufacturer Tow-Trust has invested heavily in the latest technology and automation, including a multitude of machines from Bystronic.

CEO of Tow-Trust Towbars Tom Miller says: “We manufacture over 3000 part numbers and ship hundreds of thousands of units every year. The manufacturing process starts at two different times: we have the hollow stock section and the sheet steel divisions. The sheet steel division runs the very latest in technology with laser cutting and automation. From here, we pass the products through press braking and welding sections to the work-in-progress holding area.”

The sheet steel division is home to a wealth of technology from Bystronic, with the area accommodating three Bystronic press brakes lined up next to a Bystronic ByStar Fiber laser cutting machine. Adjacent to the four machine line-up is another ByStar Fiber laser cutter.This machine is continually processing sheet steel credit to the Bystronic ByTrans 3015 Extended automated sheet metal loading facility.

The company also has a hollow section division. Discussing this area, Miller says: “Here, we have the automated Bystronic ByTube 130 for cutting round and square tube material stock.Alongside this is a custom-built AMOB CH120 semi-automated machine for tube bending. This gives us complete control over our products, which is essential as we work to very tight tolerances and require the ultimate in quality.

“When the hollow section and sheet steel divisions complete their parts, components are moved to the work-in-progress area,” he continues.“Here, we construct sub-assemblies and undertake our quality control process. This feeds into our welding shop where we have 10 manual welding bays for small intricate parts and low-volume production parts. We also have four robotic bays for high-volume production.”
For further information www.bystronic.co.uk

Alternative for carbon-based fuel gas




Maximum productivity and precision with safe working and climate protection in oxy-fuel technology optimally meshed – Messer Cutting Systems demonstrated at September’s SCHWEISSEN & SCHNEIDEN exhibition in Essen, how this balancing act is achievable with innovative developments. The focus was on, among other things, the safety system SAT (Safety Advanced Technology) and the new, environmentally friendly fuel gas alternative, HyCut.

The patented SAT system is essentially a ‘leakage finder’ that increases the safety of workplaces where hand cuttingtakes place. SAT extinguishes the torch flame and stops the gas supply in the event of damage to the hose from flying sparks, sharp objects or other workplace dangers. Additionally, setting the flame becomes completely unnecessary for users of the SAT system.

“In this way, SAT not only ensures a significant improvement in workplace safety, but also saves time and ensures more operating comfort as the flame no longer requires adjustment,” says Joachim Pauly, global oxy-fuel product manager.

Fuel gasses such as acetylene and propane have a carbon base, so there is an acute need, for alternatives that reduce CO2 footprint. HyCut(from gas to application technology) uses hydrogen as the fuel gas.

Jörg Mosser, CEO of Messer Cutting Systems in Europe, says: “Hydrogen as a fuel gas for oxy-fuel equipment can play an important roleon the path to decarbonising the economy. A joint development between Messer and Messer Cutting Systems, HyCut is the new high-performance and sustainable alternative to conventional oxy-fuel equipment. Our tests have shown that the use of HyCut gasses significantly reduces emissions of CO2, nitrogen oxides and dust.This not only contributes to environmental protection but also improves health protection in the workplace.”
For further information https://uk.messer-cutting.com