Laser marking and engraving is critical for unique part identification (UID), compliance and branding. However, capacity constraints and labour shortage issues can create serious throughput challenges. To increase output and improve profit per part, forward-thinking manufacturers are transforming their laser marking operations with advanced robotic machine tending. Foba Laser Marking + Engraving now works with Flexxbotics and Universal Robots to help companies achieve high throughput and marking quality.

Laser marking is a critical stage of the product value stream in many manufacturing processes. Bottlenecks can cause serious delivery problems and mistakes can render the product unsellable. By introducing collaborative robot (cobot) automation with lean manufacturing principles, manufacturers can improve laser marking processes to maximise throughput, assure quality and reduce waste. 

“Connecting robotic machine tending with our Foba laser marking solution using Flexxbotics provides even greater ROI,” states Jeffrey Kniptash of Foba. “It enables autonomous process control to remove bottlenecks and deliver continuous operation.”

The solution can increase the machine-to-man ratio to 10:1 or more and run ‘lights out’ safely. Thus, manufacturers will benefit from additional capacity, high precision, optimal marking quality and improved profit margins, reports Foba Laser.

Flexxbotics includes communication with Foba’s integrated camera system for vision-based inspection, providing closed-loop feedback to the robot for autonomous process control. Foba’s three-stage laser marking process HELP (Holistic Enhanced Laser Process) – which includes part inspection prior to marking, automatic mark alignment and subsequent marking validation – co-ordinates with the robot’s actions. Flexxbotics utilises either the Intelligent Mark Positioning (IMP) or Point & 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.

More information www.fobalaser.com

Siemens and Prima Power, an Italy-headquartered manufacturer of sheet metal working machinery and 3D laser cutting technology, have announced the result of an intensified collaboration that the companies say will redefine standards in the automotive manufacturing industry. The collaboration has led to the integration of Siemens’ leading numerical control system, Sinumerik One, into the latest model of Prima Power’s flagship 3D laser cutter, Laser Next.

The Laser Next 1530/2130 is the first Prima Power 3D laser cutter to feature Sinumerik One. This collaboration leverages Siemens’ control and digitalisation systems and over 40 years of Prima Power expertise in laser technology for automotive applications. The new version of the Laser Next five-axis laser cutter incorporates technologies that improve dynamic performance and productivity thanks to the flexible and high-performance multi-core architecture of Sinumerik One in combination with Prima Power’s proprietary algorithms.

The digital twin of Sinumerik One – Create My Virtual Machine – was a key element in Prima Power’s digital transformation, helping the company’s R&D department to simulate and test workflows in a completely virtual environment. This technology made it possible to engineer and optimise the machine even before the real-life prototype was made available, with significant shortening of machine’s time to market.

The digital twin of the Laser Next enables the creation of an accurate digital replica: the entire process eliminates the need for physical machining on the shop floor for certain activities. Furthermore, in Sinumerik One, it is possible to enable collision avoidance functionalities even in complex scenarios, involving cutting machines integrated with robotic solution.

The machine’s compatibility and integration capability have also seen significant enhancement.

More information www.primapower.com

EuroBlech 2024 in Hanover last month saw Italy-headquartered BLM Group present its LS7 sheet metal laser cutting system with a 20 kW power source and automatic warehouse for 24/7 continuous production. The new 20 kW LS7 retains all the features of the company’s lower power versions.

According to BLM, the LS7 is a compact, high-performance laser machine with a fast pallet-change time of just 9 seconds. Laser cutting head sensors and specific active tools serve to optimise the automatic cutting process and maximise energy efficiency. Thanks to its fibre source, the machine can process a wide variety of metals, including aluminium, brass, stainless steel, copper and mild steel.

The LS7’s gantry structure combines aluminium and polymer concrete elements to give strength and lightness to the machine, aiding acceleration beyond 2 g. BLM paid special

attention to ergonomics and ease-of-use, with the HMI and windowed door located next to the operator console, which allows access to the work area (with the machine off) for cleaning or maintenance operations.

At EuroBlech, the machine featured a gas mixer system that blends gases automatically to improve cutting quality and speed further. The system requires no special maintenance procedures or extra space for installation as it is fully integrated into the machine.

BLM’s LS7 not only occupies minimal floor space but can also feature various systems for sheet metal automation, such as loading/unloading or compact tower storage.

Other solutions on display at the show include the Lasertube LT7 for tube cutting and a five-axis 3D laser cutting cell for processing 3D metal profiles.

More information www.blmgroup.com

At EuroBlech 2024 in Hanover last month, Trumpf presented a completely new solution for the automated sorting of 2D laser-cut parts. With the SortMaster Station and SortMaster Vision, customers can sort parts reliably without any programming effort.

The key to this capability is that the SortMaster Station removes parts from the sheet metal in the first step, regardless of their geometry. The machine operator then sorts the separated parts manually or has them removed and palletised fully automatically by the SortMaster Vision. Meanwhile, the laser cutting machine is already processing the next sheet.

“The automated sorting of parts is one of the biggest challenges in the sheet metal world,” states Trumpf’s CTO for machine tools Thomas Schneider. “Conventional methods are suitable for simple components with medium sheet thickness up to 12 mm. For many companies, their common automation solutions are too inflexible and time-consuming to program, so they sort parts by hand. With the SortMaster Station and SortMaster Vision, Trumpf enables automated sorting of any sheet metal components.”

Trumpf offers its customers the new solution in a 3 m format for laser cutting machines within its 3000 and 5000 series.

The solution uses the Trumpf LiftMaster Compact loading and unloading automation system. It removes the cut sheet from the pallet changer of the machine and transfers it to the SortMaster station. This separates the components from the scrap skeleton in just a few seconds. The separated parts are then conveyed to the sorting area.

“With our solution, we have decoupled the cutting, separating and sorting processes from each other for the first time,” concludes Schneider. More information www.trumpf.com