Product category:
CNC laser cutting and profiling machines
News Release from: Trumpf | Subject: HSL 2502C laser-profiling machine
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 05 April 2002
Two laser heads are three times better
than one
In theory a twin-head laser profiler produces double the output of a 'normal' single-head machine. Except in this case, it is around three times as productive!
Ask Nigel Stokes - the MD of Coventry-based sub-contractor DCM why in a word he bought the new HSL 2502C laser-profiling machine from Trumpf, and he'll answer with a single word - "space" Mr.Stokes goes onto explain that with its unique combination of a compact and space efficient design with unrivalled speed, productivity and output, the Trumpf machine delivers more turnover per square metre of floor space used than any other piece of fabrication equipment available
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 21 Jun 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Heavy duty laser profiler works through the night
Palletisation and latest control and diagnostics systems enable laser profiling system to cut dumper truck parts under 'lights out' conditions.
Trumabend brings accurate, consistent bends
The biggest benefits to come from the TrumaBend pressbrake to date have been its accuracy and consistency of bend, said Operations Director Tony Yapp at road sweeper manufacturer, Johnston.
Launched at EuroBlech, in December 2000, this new twin-head, CO2 laser-profiling machine has more than lived up to expectations and worldwide sales of the machine have increased - even in hardening markets.
DCM have used Trumpf lasers for about ten years - other machines even longer.
Consequently the company could call on considerable technical and commercial experience to help them with their new machine justification.
Further reading
Trumpf to show fastest CNC punching machine
Trumpf will be holding their annual In Tech 2001 Open House event at their premises in Luton on 14th, 15th, 16th, 19th, 20th and 21st March.
Laser and punch boost switchgear output
The bottom line at Lucy Switchgear is that one laser and one punch have enabled the company to produce 10,000 parts/week, compared with some 6,000 parts/week from the old two-punch facility.
One-hit laser tube profiler reduces operations
A hospital equipment manufacturing company has added on a CNC laser tube cutting machine to compliment a laser-profiling machine installed two years ago.
In theory a twin-head machine produces double the output of a 'normal' single-head machine.
However, DCM saw that in the case of the HSL 2502C this isn't true, it is in fact around three times as productive! The reason is that in designing this machine Trumpf's engineers took advantage of their experience in linear-drive technology, and applied it to the X and Y-axis movements of the two flying-optic heads.
These drives offer greatly increased speed and acceleration.
Not only does this reduce the positioning times in a job cycle considerably but also unlocks more of the power potential of the machine's two 3kW lasers.
This enables faster profiling to be undertaken, particularly on thinner sheets.
The consequent productivity improvement more than offsets the higher capital and running costs of the machine (compared with single-head equivalents), and yields component cost reductions of between 20% and 50%.
The machine was delivered and installed at DCM's Coventry plant in their July 2001 holiday shut-down, and has proved it's worth ever since.
It now does in 11/2 shifts what 2 Laserlab machines each took 3 shifts to do.
For example on 1mm aluminium they now profile at 35m/min.
Because of twin-head operation, this could be equated to 70m/min., which in Nigel Stokes words is "Something like 10 times the industry norm." He concedes that this may be a bit theoretical, but in practice it does make him several times more productive than his competitors in this field.
In their justification, DCM took the productivity of their existing Trumpf L2530 as a 'datum' (100%), and expected their new machine to deliver between 230 and 260% production.
In fact, over the whole spectrum of work done to date, they have achieved over 300%, proving Trumpf's claim that the machine is 3 times as productive as a single-head machine (of comparable size and power).
Getting three times the work out of the same floor-space is worth a lot to a company like DCM.
Cycle times are extremely rapid - usually in the order of a few seconds per component.
Small or medium components are therefore usually batched-up on standard 2.5 x 1.25m sheets making work handling more manageable.
Nevertheless the machine still produces scores, or even hundreds of components from a single sheet - within cycle times which rarely exceed several minutes.
DCM have, however, found that the machine has caused them one 'problem'.
As a company that likes to offer a complete fabrication service, most of their work is usually bent, welded, and finished after profiling.
The productivity of the HSL 2502C is such that the balance between the capacity of their profiling and existing follow-on equipment is now temporarily disturbed.
However, while they are restoring it, the available extra capacity on the new machine can be sold on a profile-only basis at very competitive rates.
Nigel Stokes is well pleased with his investment, which he says has made his company more competitive at just the right time.
His message to others in his field is simple, "If you don't buy equipment like this, you're going to get left behind." . Request a free brochure from Trumpf ...
(This was Manufacturingtalk's Top Story on 4 April 2002).
• Trumpf: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Manufacturingtalk email newsletter
• Manufacturingtalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
