The development of metal cutting technology over the past 30 years has been remarkable and the latest developments in fibre laser technology are taking sheet-steel component production to even higher output and quality levels.
Bystronic, a leading provider of cutting and bending solutions, offers the steel industry the ultimate in productivity solutions. By linking its flagship ByStar 10 kW fibre laser to a ByTrans loader, it is now possible to automate production to a far greater level than was possible previously. In South Africa, First Cut, a South African distributor of a range of cutting consumables and capital equipment, represents Bystronic exclusively and has done for many years.
The 10 kW ByStar is to date Bystronic’s most powerful fibre laser, which allows the new cutting head to deliver the highest part output over the full spectrum of sheet thicknesses, from thin gauge up to 30 mm, with impressive part accuracy. It will also cut other exotic materials such as aluminium, brass and copper without the need for deburring. In terms of productivity, it is up to five times faster than a 4 kW carbon dioxide laser. Even compared to a 6 kW fibre laser, the time to complete a job on 6 mm steel could be cut in half and the cost per part reduced by as much as 35%.
Ground-breaking features
As the ByStar was designed from the ground up to be the most productive of fibre lasers, it incorporates a number of other ground-breaking design features. A newly developed ultra-fast bridge frame, gives greater accuracy and better edge quality and detection eye technology identifies the edge of the sheet in six seconds, allowing cutting right up to the edge with great accuracy. This significantly reduces a fabricator’s scrap rate.
However, the laser’s remarkable new levels of productivity would be diluted if the loading and unloading of the machine were not able to match its superior production rate. To maximise the ByStar’s productivity potential, Bystronic therefore developed a range of loading and unloading automation solutions. Notable among these, the Extended Loaders will automatically load sheets onto the laser’s shuttle table. After the cutting cycle is completed, they are able to unload finished parts as well as residual sheets.
The machine requires only 60 seconds in which to carry out the complete loading and unloading cycle, which allows the automation system to be faster than the cutting plan that is being processed. For fabricators or manufacturers, this means that the laser can cut uninterrupted for an extensive period of time. While one shuttle table is loaded, the laser can cut components from the raw material on an alternate one.
The ByTrans and the ByTrans Extended are operated using the ByVision touch screen. Bystronic has seamlessly integrated the control of the two automation systems into the laser’s operating software, which enables users to perform all the operating steps from a single HMI. The development of these automation technologies is part of the company’s overarching aim to provide its customers with unsurpassed productivity solutions, ultimately leading to greater profitability.
For more information contact First Cut, +27 (0)11 614 1112, info@firstcut.co.za, www.firstcut.co.za
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