Laser tube cutting done in a single cycle

Edited by the Manufacturingtalk editorial team May 1, 2008

An Adige automated laser tube cutting system can machine in one cycle virtually any shape, however complex, on the end of a tube or at any point along its length.

The Adige LT712D LaserTube 'seventh-generation' automated laser tube cutting system shown by the BLM Group at last week's UK MACH 2008 machine tool show, machines virtually any shape, however complex, on the end of a tube or at any point along its length, and it can all be done in a single cycle.

BLM told manufacturingtalk that the Adige LT712D LaserTube eliminated traditionally separate tube-working processes such as sawing, punching, drilling, notching and deburring.

In this way, the system offers the following benefits.

* Simplifies production planning and job routing.

* Reduces stock and work-in-progress levels.

* Removes from the component the cumulative error associated with multiple machining processes.

* Eliminates all the tooling costs, tool wear and tool changing times associated with traditional processes.

The BLM ADIGE LaserTube is equipped with a Siemens Sinumerik 840D CNC and can process round, square, rectangular and flat-sided oval section tube up to 152mm diameter and 8.5m maximum length.

ARTUBE, ASSEMBLER and CIM off-line programming software developed for the machining of tubes generates new programs quickly and easily.

BLM said that propgramming time is typically less than 10 min from drawing to finished part.

The Siemens 840D allows the operator to manage all the main functions, including program downloads.

Fast set-up and change-over times of some 3 min allows short batches to be managed as cost-effectively as longer production runs, claimed BLM.

The Adige LT712D LaserTube system has a 2.5kW laser source as standard (1.5kW, 2kW and 3kW are optionally available) and can be supplied with a 'clean tube' device to protect the tube internal surface.

BLM told manufacturingtalk that this option is particularly relevant to the machining of stainless steel tubes used in food processing equipment and in the manufacture of furniture and car and motorcycle exhausts.