Product category:
CNC laser cutting and profiling machines
News Release from: LVD (UK) | Subject: Axel 3015S flying optics laser profiling machine
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 16 January 2003
Major investments keep fabrication on
top
A major investment of some GBP 350,000 in the latest flying optics laser profiling machine and a 1350kN multi-axis press brake represents continuous improvement for this fabricator.
A major investment of some GBP 350,000 in the latest LVD Axel 3015S flying optics laser profiling machine and a 1350kN PPEB multi-axis press brake from LVD UK of Marlow, is set to enable The Dutton Group to continue with its programme of fulfilling and pre-empting customer and market requirements Says Georgina Baglin, Marketing Manager: "One of our strategies is continuous improvement so we can educate and partner with customers seeking advancement and these machine acquisitions form part of that strategy." With centres in Sandy, Beds, and Wimborne, Dorset, Dutton is a precision fabricator and laser cutting facility that provides a complete customer solution
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 25 Jun 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
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For over eight years it has incorporated 'team culture' methodology on its shopfloor allowing it to offer customers a complete manufacturing solution through dedicated multi-functional cells.
This is outlined by Ronald Larter, Manufacturing Manager: "A Customer can come to us with either a drawing, a part or sometimes just a concept, and we will work with them to develop a manufacturing solution for a one-off prototype, a small batch run or volume production.
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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
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Through its highly sophisticated system of shopfloor scheduling and annualised hours, the teams are able to adjust working patterns such as shift rotation to give the flexibility or extra capacity, if required.
The 4kW Axel 3015S laser profiler, which has twin automatic shuttle tables in order to maximise processing up time, is installed at the Sandy premises and was purchased following a survey of Dutton's sheet metal competitors.
Says Georgina Baglin: "We opted for the high power 4kW laser because it offers us the capability to cut mild steel up to 25mm thick, stainless steel up to 15mm and aluminium up to 10mm.
Although it is a major investment for us, the extra capacity of the 4kW laser will increase our flexibility, capacity, turnaround times and subsequently, competitiveness in the market." The flying optics machine has a totally integrated beam compensation system which enables high quality cuts to be maintained anywhere over the full 3000mm by 1500mm table area.
It has a positioning speed capability of 170m/min to a positional accuracy of +0.05mm per metre of travel.
The machine also includes LVD's NC focus head, capacitive height sensing and 'Laser Eye' optical referencing system giving automatic non-contact sheet referencing.
The capacitive height sensing maintains a constant cutting head height above the surface of the material being processed and the NC focus head eliminates any need for the operator to interrupt the process to adjust the focal position.
The LVD PPEB 1350kN press brake with the latest CADMAN control and laser safe guarding is installed at the group's second site in Wimborne, Dorset.
As with the laser installation at Sandy, by opting for a four metre bending length Dutton will be able to offer higher capacity than most of its competitors.
The PPEB multi-axis press brake has full 3D graphical simulation including tool set up details with a material and bend allowance database, which has been built-up over the last 20 years by LVD for precise setting and control of the process.
With a large proportion of its year on year growth business based in the inkjet printing market, Dutton also services sectors such as electronics, packaging, weighing and labelling, laboratory and pharmaceuticals.
Its capability to produce a complete product - not just a component, means that its customers have come to rely on Dutton to not only cut and form material, but also paint, finish and assemble - which has even involved adding electronic packages.
Andrew Read, Managing Director states: "Although we carefully scrutinise the market and follow the technical developments in sheet metal, we cons istently return to purchase equipment from LVD UK.
We now have seven machines installed and have found them to be exemplary and the service and working relationship excellent.".
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