FEATURE ON PROFILING

New tube laser eliminates outsourcing at Lasercell

The arrival of a new Trumpf TruLaser Tube 3000 Fiber at Salisbury-based lasercell has allowed the company to eliminate the cost of previously outsourcing its tube laser cutting requirements. Alongside the associated reduction in lead time, Lasercell’s new in-house capability also means the company can now design many parts more efficiently.

It was impressive growth over the past decade prompted Lasercell to investigate the potential for an in-house tube laser facility. The company looked at a few major manufacturers of tube laser machines before drawing up a shortlist of two.

After a comprehensive assessment, the company opted for the Trumpf TruLaser Tube 3000 Fiber, a machine that can accommodate tube diameters up to 152mm and process mild steel up to 8mm thick, stainless steel and aluminium up to 6mm, and copper and brass up to 4mm. The 3kW machine acquired by Lasercell, which is the first of its type in the UK, includes a 3D cutting head and LoadMaster Tube automation with bundle space for up to 4 tonnes of unprocessed material.

“Perhaps the most influential reason behind our choice was Trumpf’s Programming Tube 3D software, which was superior to that of the other potential supplier,” says one of three company directors Kieran Bernstein.“With Programming Tube, we quickly and intuitively create NC programs. The software offers flexible data import procedures and efficient design, with step-by-step support.”

He continues: “Although we’ve been really busy, the machine is so quick that keeping it fed can sometimes be a challenge. As well as eliminating the need to outsource our tube laser work, reducing lead times and designing parts more efficiently, the new machine gives us a unique selling point when promoting our services.”
For further information www.trumpf.com

TLM expandsrangewith green laser markers

The latest addition to TLM’s range, from partner Foba Laser, is a range of green lasers, the main benefits of which include a significant increase in marking speed and marking quality on materials that previously did not present the optimum marking clarity or contrast when using UV or fibre lasers.

Materials now suitable for processing using this technology include special plastics such as UHMWPE, HDPE and PMMA, for which additives may no longer be necessary when using a green laser. Other materials where marking quality will see a significant increase include white and transparent plastics in medical technology applications, combined material parts in the automotive sector, and highly reflective metals, glass or other shiny substrates.

Foba’s V.0071-gr and FOBA V.0141-gr green laser marking systems, at 532 nm wavelength, close the gap between UV and fibre laser markers, at 355 nm and 1064 nm, respectively. The combination of relatively high laser power and a vanadate source extends the areas of application while enabling higher speeds.

Either 7 or 14 W laser power options are available for the new marking laser. With a broad range of interfaces available and five possible marking field sizes, the new lasers offer a flexible solution to a wide range of applications. A further benefit is the fact that the lifetime of Foba’s green laser vanadate laser source is twice that of a UV laser source, which significantly reduces operational and ownership costs.

The new green laser marking systems can also take advantage of Foba’s laser marking workflow with camera and mark alignment software.
For further information www.tlm-laser.com

Wippro invests in Salvagnini production line

With the investment in a new Salvagnini S4 + P4 production line, Wippro GmbH, a specialist in attic ladders and door systems, is paving the way for future success. Equipped with an upstream single-sheet store-tower and a stacking robot, the system punches, bends and optimally sorts metal sheet for subsequent processes in a fully automatic manner. This new flexible processing solution makes economic batch size 1 production a reality.

“We’ve been working with a punching-bending combination S4 + P4 from Salvagnini since 1998, providing excellent service,” explains managing partner Robert Wipplinger. “The extremely flexible and fully-automated production concept was the reason we decided again in favour of Salvagnini’s S4+P4 production line.Furthermore, the co-operation with Salvagnini has always worked smoothly.”

Based on Salvagnini‘s MD sheet metal storetower, the S4 punching machine is fed automatically with single sheets from the rows of trays. Thanks to fully automated multi-press punching up to the finished part head in combination with the angle shears, the machine punches parts individually. Subsequently, the MCU device brings parts into the correct position for the P4 panel bender.

Wipplinger is extremely excited about the high degree of flexibility provided on the Salvagnini line: “We have no longer to think about which parts will be scheduled subsequently in the line,” he says.“Depending on the order, the system retrieves the corresponding material with the respective sheet thickness out of the storage tower and manufactures the part without any manual set up in a completely automatic manner and sorts them onto pallets. I call this the perfection of batch size 1 production.”
For further information www.salvagninigroup.com

Flow releases two new waterjet cutters

Flow International, a developer and manufacturer of ultra-high-pressure waterjet cutting systems, is releasing two ground-up waterjet systems, the Mach 200c and the EchoJet, highlighting a flurry of customer-focused innovation. The latest cutting-edge waterjet solutions showcase Flow’s continued commitment to advancing waterjet technology and expanding product lines to meet the evolving needs of customers.

“Like the other advancements from Flow, the Mach 200c and EchoJet are designed based on intense research of customer needs and real-world applications,” says Tim Fabian, vice president of product management and marketing at Flow.

The Mach 200c provides unprecedented operator access to the waterjet table and delivers improved speed and accuracy at an affordable price point. Featuring Pivot+ waterjet technology, the Mach 200c enables bevel and five-axis cutting of virtually any material, hard or soft, with up to 60° of motion to achieve more complex part cutting needs.

The EchoJet’s design is a fully enclosed and highly flexible waterjet solution. Easy-to-open doors make it a good addition to any shop floor, says Flow, containing spray and reducing cutting noise. Additionally, the EchoJet’s compact design allows it to fit in smaller spaces, where a smaller footprint is required.

“We’re thrilled to be introducing not just one, but two cutting-edge waterjet systems,” says Brian Sherick, president of Flow.“It’s an incredibly exciting time for the Flow team, as we’ve been working tirelessly to bring this much innovation to our customers. This focused effort is all about delivering true value back to our customers and we can’t wait to see the impact these machines will have on their businesses.”
For further information www.flowwaterjet.com

kerf unleashes ‘the beast’ at AJS Profiles

When it comes to heavy engineering, few names hold a torch to the prestige of AJS Profiles. The West Midlands manufacturer has the world’s largest reciprocating grinder and the world’s largest Lumsden grinder. So, it comes as no surprise that when this steel profiling business needed a large heavy-duty cutting machine, it turned to long-standing supplier Kerf Developments.

Steve Harris, director at AJS Profiles,says: “It was 2011 when we bought our first Kerf machine, an RUR3500G, which was soon followed by an RUR2500P plasma machine. So, when it came to making a shift to more advanced technology, the service, support and quality provided by Kerf stood out. Over the years, we gradually moved from the old technology, employing Kerf flame and plasma cutting machines with CNC controls that drastically simplified, modernised and improved our cutting capabilities.”

In total, AJS Profiles installednine Kerf machines over 11 years. Notable among them is ‘the beast’, an RUM3000G with an oxy-arc lance capable of cutting through steel up to 1 m thick. The RUM3000G is a gas cutting machine with a reinforced gantry extending beyond 1.5 m high, making it the only machine of its type in the UK. This extended bridge height accommodates the 1m thick steel plate that AJS frequently cuts, while providing thermal protection with its through coolant design that protects the integrity, repeatability and stability of the bridge during heavy-duty cutting.

The company’s latest acquisition, arriving in September 2022, is its fourth RUR3500G cutting machine, which is the sixth gas cutting machine from Kerf at AJS Profiles.

“The latest RUR3500G can cut plate up to 250mm – and for everything beyond we have ‘the beast’,” concludes Harris.
For further information www.kerfdevelopments.com