Laser profiling machine gets more productive

Expanding the advantages of its modular concept design, two new versions of the LVD Axel 'flying optics' laser profiling machine are now available with fully integrated shuttle tables

Expanding the advantages of its modular concept design, two new versions of the LVD Axel 'flying optics' laser profiling machine are now available with fully integrated shuttle tables to accommodate almost continuous production requirements.

Marketed in the UK by LVD (UK) of Marlow, the Axel 2513 and 3015 machines incorporate the latest in beam compensation systems which allows high quality cuts and edge finishing to be maintained over the full table area at speeds up to 170 m/min.

Both machines can be specified with 1,500, 2,000 or 3,000 watt CO2 laser for processing steel up to 20 mm thick, stainless steel up to 12 mm and aluminium up to 8 mm.

With the addition of shuttle tables, both machines demonstrate major gains to the user in machine utilisation, production efficiency and operator convenience.

Loading and unloading of the 2,500 mm by 1,250 mm and 3,000 mm by 1,500 mm tables, on the respective 2513 and 3015 machines, can be overlapped while the laser is profiling parts.

In this mode of operation, lost time for table exchange is a maximum of 30 secs.

As with all LVD laser profiling machines, a single fully integrated control system package from GE-Fanuc accommodates table positioning, fast-flow laser generator settings and drives.

Positional accuracy is within + 0.05 mm per metre travel and repeatability within + 0.02 mm.

Fast changeover is aided by a quick-change lens system and, like existing LVD laser machines, the 'Laser Eye' optical referencing system allows automatic contact-less datum calculation and positioning.

This can be taken from previously punched holes, edges or contours of the material relative to the machine.

Axel machines are equipped, as standard with a high pressure 'clean-cut' profiling head with a 5 inch and 7.5 inch cutting lens position.

In addition, capacitive height sensing built into the cutting head maintains a constant distance between the head and material being processed which accommodates any undulations in the material surface.

Crash protection for the cutting head is also included and, as an option, a programmable NC focus system can be specified which eliminates operator intervention for any adjustment of the beam focal point.

Within the LVD solutions to maximise productivity of the Axel laser profiler is the CADMAN-L off-line programming software specifically tailored for laser cutting.

It provides interactive CAD techniques and is able to import DXF/IGES files.

Automatic or interactive determination of cutting sequences can be performed, nesting and full cutting path simulation, parametric unfolding routines and DNC linking.

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