Product category:
CNC laser cutting and profiling machines
News Release from: Prima Industrie UK | Subject: Platino CNC laser cutting system at PAB
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 25 December 2007
High speed CNC laser cutting system
installed
Tier One automotive supplier has invested in a 'latest generation' high-speed laser cutting and work handling equipment to ensure low cost, consistent quality and dependable product delivery.
Sheet metalworking specialist PAB Coventry has invested in the 'latest generation' high-speed laser cutting and work handling equipment from Prima UK PAB supplies pressings, assemblies and bracketry to some of the world's leading motor manufacturers
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 31 May 2002 at 8.00am (UK)
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PAB's managing director, Mark Brazier, said: "Ongoing 'cost down' pressures from customers mean that manufacturing accuracy and fast throughput are crucial to our continued success." Brazier said that PAB operates a range of power presses up to 500 tonf (5000kN) capacity, as well as 5-axis and 2-axis laser cutting equipment.
"We purchased our first 2-axis laser machine in 2004, but as business continued to grow, it simply could not keep pace with our requirements," he explained.
"Around 80% of our work is produced from up to 3mm steel raw material, so 2D laser cutting is central to our operations.
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Repeated equipment breakdowns started to have a negative impact on our own ability to meet customers' demands.
It therefore became essential to find a replacement machine that could deliver speed and accuracy with low unit part costs".
Brazier and his laser systems manager, John Laud set about an exhaustive evaluation of the market, ultimately 'benchmarking' several suppliers on a series of 10 components in various materials and thicknesses.
PAB said its findings resulted in choosing Prima UK's Platino model equipped with an automatic work handling system.
"The fact that Prima could tailor the system to our precise requirements and offer us excellent local support provided an unbeatable package," said Brazier.
The Prima Platino has cutting speeds of 140m/min and head acceleration of 12m/s2 to serve a 3m x 1.5m bed.
The machine has a 4kW laser that can cut mild steel components up to 25mm thick.
As well as exhibiting high dynamics the Platino, said Prima to manufacturingtalk.com, has exceptional precision.
It has been achieved through a fixed workpiece design and the use of advanced flying optics.
Consequently, it will consistently maintain positional accuracies of 0.03mm across its entire work area, along with a repeatability of 0.03mm.
The machine's productivity and performance are also enhanced by off-line programming capabilities, optional nesting software and an in-built anti-collision safety device.
* Operating with 'lights out' - The Platino installation has a 30 tonne capacity, 10-storey, work handling tower unit, for full 'lights out' operation.
Laud explained: "We normally run two shifts per day, with unattended operation overnight and at weekends.
Typically, we'd expect the machine to process around 100-off 2m x 1.25m sheets per night".
The Platino is equipped with a number of fail-safe devices, which ensure that the machine automatically shuts down if it runs out of raw material or encounters a problem.
After three attempts to restart, it will switch itself off and email a nominated operator to notify them of the situation.
The installation also provides remote internet access, which not only allows key operating parameters to be interrogated and adjusted, but also enables changes to the production schedule to be made 'on the fly', without the need for an operator to return to site.
Brazier said: "The Platino's speed and versatility have helped us to offset steady increases in raw material costs over recent months.
It provides significant cycle time reductions across the 500 different laser cut components we currently produce on site.
It also uses around 30% less power than the machine it superseded, even though it is equipped with a 4kW laser compared to the original's 2.5kW unit".
These advantages not only helps to minimise running costs, but also supports PAB's accreditation to the ISO14001 environmental management standard, said Prima.
In parallel, the work handling equipment's ability to keep the laser running virtually 'round the clock' means significantly reduced piece part costs and a fast return on investment.
Laud commented that during PAB's benchmarking exercise, his team was impressed by the reliability of the Prima work handling equipment's operation.
Laud continued: "This has been borne out in practice, with the tower unit requiring only scheduled maintenance since its installation and commissioning".
Further features helping to streamline PAB's production include the following.
* Automatic and programmable control of the equipment's focal position.
* Rapid lens changes enable instant switching between material types and a wide variety of sheet thicknesses, without adjustment.
The consistent quality delivered by the Platino underlines the company's recent certification to TS16949, the automotive sector's quality standard based on ISO9001:2000.
In addition, the overall increase in throughput has enabled PAB to reduce its raw material stockholding.
The laser cutting installation also provides further capacity to support PAB's continued growth and product development particularly in the aerospace and defence sectors.
* Continuous improvement - "We believe that a culture of continuous improvement is a prerequisite for any company looking to remain competitive in today's tough market place," said Brazier.
"Investments like the Platino fully support that by enabling us to tackle more complex, higher value parts paving the way for our continued growth".
* About Prima Industrie UK - Coventry-based Prima Industrie UK Limited draws on the established track record of its Italian parent organisation, Prima Industrie, a world leader in the design, development and manufacture of laser cutting machines and automation solutions.
Prima UK provides sales, installation and servicing for a wide range of new and pre-owned 2D and 3D cutting machines that are used by customers in industries as diverse as aerospace, automotive, marine and electrical equipment manufacture.
* About PAB - with a customer list that includes such well-known names as Aston Martin, Jaguar, Ford, Land-Rover and Prodrive, West Midlands, UK-based PAB has established a strong reputation as a tier 1 supplier of pressings, assemblies and bracketry to some of the world's leading motor manufacturers.
Founded in 1986, the 60-strong company relocated from Rugby five years ago and is a sister organisation to Coventry Powder Coating Limited. Request a free brochure from Prima Industrie UK ...
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