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Product category: CNC laser cutting and profiling machines
News Release from: Press and Shear Machinery | Subject: Finn-Power FPL-6 Laser Work Centre
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial Team on 23 April 2002

Laser profiler uses linear motor drives

Capable of processing material up to 20mm thick, a laser profiling machine is believed to be the only one using low-friction linear motors rather than rotary motors with mechanical drives.

Mild steel sheet of 1mm thickness may be cut at 20m/min on Finn-Power's new FPL-6 Laser Work Centre, which is capable of processing material up to 20mm thick It is believed to be the only laser profiling machine to use low-friction linear motors rather than conventional rotary motors with mechanical drives, enabling the X and Y axes to accelerate at more than 2Gand to be positioned simultaneously at up to 300m/min to an accuracy of +/-25 microns

Sole UK agent, Press and Shear Machinery, will show the machine for the first time in the UK at Metalworking 2002.

The company says that this is the Finnish company's first laser-only machine, although it supplies turret punch press and laser combination machines.

Sheet up to 1500 x 3000mm weighing up to 800kg can be handled and the shuttle table allows virtually continuous laser cutting.

Tables may be positioned on three sides of the machine to suit work flow within a factory.

An indication of the machine's high productivity may be gained from examples quoted in the literature.

For instance, 200 holes of 10mm diameter and at a 15mm pitch can be machined, including profiling the periphery, in 47 seconds - less than one third the time it would take on a conventional laser profiler.

Of flying optics / moving beam design, the laser delivery system uses just two external mirrors.

The auto focus cutting head can accept 5 inch and 7.5 inch focal length lenses which are interchangeable in seconds using a cartridge system, without any tools being needed.

Additional features are sheet probing to check size and position, oil spray and air blast availability, optional scrap conveyor, and the possibility to connect to Finn-Power 's teleservice for remote machine monitoring.

A new, fully automatic load / unload and component sorting system is available for Finn-Power turret punching and forming presses.

Designated LUR, the gantry-style load and unload robot is positioned to one side of the punch press in a relatively compact arrangement to enable minimally manned or lights-out production of components from 180 mm by 150 mm upward.

At Metalworking 2002, the system will be shown for the first time in the UK fitted to the manufacturer's F6 punch press.

Finn-Power machines may in any case have a measure of automation through incorporation of a parts conveyor to off-load components up to 500mm square.

Addition of the LUR greatly extends this range, offering the opportunity to load sheet automatically from a stack, off-load finished components onto designated stacking positions, and manage removal of the sheet skeleton.

Manufacturers are therefore able to take full advantage of automated production as there is no need to de-tag and sort components following a period of unattended working.

LUR comprises four main elements, being the gantry robot with vacuum-type gripper, the loading wagon for blank sheet, an unload gripper and wagon for sheet skeletons, and a stacking wagon for profiled components.

The sorting capability of the robot is virtually unlimited, allowing set-down of up to 3500kg of finished components anywhere in the stacking area.

Design of the off-load gripper has been tuned to allow handling of formed as well as flat components.

In addition, the electronic interfacing with the machine control allows the unload gripper to move in and hold the component during the final nibbling strokes, ready for immediate off-load with minimal interruption to profiling activity.

Metalworking 2002 - NEC Birmingham.

April 28 - May 3.

Hall 3.

Stand 3160. Request a free brochure from Press and Shear Machinery ...

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