Product category:
CNC water jet cutting and profiling machines
News Release from: Blum Novotest | Subject: LaserControl tool management system
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 20 November 2002
Tool management system applied to water
jetting
In a direct response to customers' demand for a reliable and cost effective means of measuring the water jet prior to cutting a tool management system has been adapted to do the job effectively.
Blum Novotest is pleased to announce that it has introduced its proven LaserControl tool management system for waterjet cutting machines The development is a direct response to customers' demand for a reliable and cost effective means of measuring the water jet prior to cutting
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 15 May 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
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Water jet machines have been proven for many years, but as with more traditional systems ensuring that the cutting edge is precisely the diameter and in exactly the position is required is essential to eliminate scrap.
It is also essential that diffusion of the water jet between the nozzle and the workpiece does not take the cut outside of tolerance parameters.
The LaserControl provides a simple, effective, non-intrusive means of measuring the water jet prior to cutting with only a negligible increase in cycle time.
Further reading
Thyssen orders 500 laser tool checkers
Krupp-Thyssen Hulle has awarded Blum Novotest an order for 500 mini LaserControl systems for checking tooling in production machining systems to be supplied to the Ford Motor Company.
Combining NDT and probing assures integrity
By combining crack detection and physical measurement within one operation, Blum - Novotest can offer its customers considerable reductions in the overhead cost of quality assurance.
Probing work quickly under hostile conditions
Blum Novotest launched the Probe Z Nano at the Tooling 2001 show and gave a powered demonstration of the LaserControl system, for monitoring tool performance.
The LaserControl is sited within the machine's operating area, without intruding in to it.
Diameter, diffusion and position of the water jet is measured by laser and the data transferred automatically to the machine's controller.
Using the system, the accuracy and therefore profitability of unmanned and lights outs out operation is improved substantially.
The easy-to-install system employs sophisticated technology to protect the lenses of the laser during the machining cycle, making it virtually invulnerable to high pressure coolant and swarf.
A pneumatically operated shutter system with an air curtain - which functions only when operational - protects the lenses of the laser during the machining cycle.
This makes the unit virtually invulnerable to high pressure water and swarf.
Thermal growth of the machine is compensated for automatically.
The Blum LaserControl can be retrofitted to existing machines - commenting, Robert Culling of Blum Novotest UK said: "Our measuring range has been created to enable production quality to be improved by cost-effective in-process measurement and testing, and has been developed in response to customer requirement.
Waterjet cutting has become a popular method of producing awkward shapes where accuracy is essential.
We have developed the new waterjet version of the LaserControl from our proven system in order to assist those companies seeking higher accuracies, higher productivity, and higher profitability from their machines".
Pioneering the development of laser controlled measurement systems for more than thirty years, the Blum range is proven in over 20,000 applications world wide.
Many of the systems sold are the LaserControl tool management system, designed to be sited alongside the working envelope of the machine to verify that the correct tool is in use, certify its length, diameter, roundness and run-out.
This gives a significant increase in accuracy by eliminating errors of tool, spindle, and tool seating.
The LaserControl system, which can either be retrofitted or installed on new machines, operates as part of the machining cycle so does not incur set up time or cause down time.
(This was Manufacturingtalk's Top Story on 19 November 2002).
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