Laser cut plates/sheet need little finishing

Generally, the metal cutting edge achieved with Alpharex laser system needs no extensive finishing after cutting and profiling large sheet metal plate extremely accurately.

ESAB Cutting Systems' Alpharex laser cutting machines have ability to cut large sheet metal plate extremely accurately.

ESAB said that this feature differentiates the Alpharex from other laser cutting machines and there are no restrictions on the size of plate to be cut.

Equipped with the most up to date laser cutting technology, the Alpharex provides high-precision cutting of mild steel, stainless steel and aluminium.

Alpharex can cut complex geometries with a consistent high quality level at low cost thanks to short set-up times and, maximum utilisation of material.

Generally, the cutting edge achieved with Alpharex is so accurate, said ESAB, that no extensive finishing is necessary.

The precise design of the laser beam guide guarantees a constantly high beam quality over the entire working range.

Consequently, the heat affected zone (HAZ) s extremely small.

ESAB told manufacturingtalk that the laser also does not have any wear parts, which influence the cut part's geometry, so that the first piece of any batch is as precise as next 1000.

* Optical sensors monitor process - the Alpharex is equipped with optical sensors for detecting the different states of the laser process.

The sensors detect the end of piercing, control the cutting speed and recognise any loss of cut.

This results in fewer rejects and a constant quality, said ESAB.

The processing time is reduced through the consequent application of the maximum cutting speed.

The modular design of Alpharex means that one machine can be used for cutting and marking.

It also means that future upgrades can be easily made.

The modular concept of the cutting head provides for the use of similar components for vertical and bevel cutting.

Laser cutting does not have a physically caused angle and therefore smooth cutting edges with minor angular deviation and small kerfs, typically from 0.25mm to 0.6mm, can be achieved.

This makes sharp-edged internal corners, square cutting edges even with small holes and the cutting of intricate geometries possible.

The optional bevel cutting head allows X-, Y-, K-cuts to be carried out without difficulty.

Low-maintenance and high reliability are the result of continuous monitoring of the focusing optics.

This includes automatic switch-off in case of a fault.

When compared to other technologies, said ESAB, the laser process requires no short-term consumable parts.

Therefore unmanned shifts are possible.

* Control system - the ESAB Vision CNC unit allows for the direct control of all the cutting parameters.

Innovative ESAB Columbus software, with integrated cutting database, ensures the highest possible quality can be reproduced consistently.

ESAB's complementary PRO-LAS 1 is an on-board laser guard system, which intelligently combines efficiency with safety.

It reliably protects from leakage radiation and with the PRO-LAS 1 the Alpharex can operate in ghost shifts, at night or on weekends without supervision.

Back to top