Product category:
CNC laser cutting and profiling machines
News Release from: Trumpf | Subject: Trumpf L3030 laser cutting/profiling system
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 04 May 2006
Flexibility, productivity and lights out
running
Commercial catering equipment manufacturer has purchased a CNC laser profiling system to provide flexibility, productivity and 'lights out' running.
E and R Moffat is one of the largest UK-based designers and manufacturers of commercial catering equipment The company's stainless steel products for the preparation, display and serving of food can be found in schools, hospitals, cruise ships, oil rigs and gourmet restaurants the world over
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 21 Jun 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
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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!
Although it still appreciates the value of craft skills for certain aspects of its production, it has not been slow to invest in advanced technology and purchased a Trumpf L3030 laser system with LiftMaster automatic sheet handling.
The Trumpf system not only provides flexibility, productivity and lights out running, but running costs for high speed cutting are slashed by using compressed shop air instead of high pressure nitrogen.
As R and D technician Scott Hamilton explained, "We do a lot of one-off bespoke equipment such as ranges and serveries where the architect or chef will specify exactly the layout they want - so you can end up with some quite fancy cut shapes.
We have Cat Eye on it as well which means we can put a sheet back on and make further modifications if the customer decides to change their specification." Before the laser was installed this work was done on a Trumpf TC500 punch press, and as Scott says, using tool rotation they could cut almost anything on the TC500 that they can on the laser, but on the type of work they are doing the laser is much quicker.
"The speed is unbelievable," said Hamilton.
"The normal thickness for our stainless counter tops is 2mm and with normal shop compressed air we can cut this at around 12 to 13m/min.
On lighter gauge material - and we go down to 0.9mm - we are cutting at up to 28m/min.
"When you cut with shop compressed air you get a gold finish on the edge rather than the conventional edge you get with high pressure nitrogen.
These edges are perfectly acceptable for welding without any further preparation, but most of our edges are turned under anyway, and once they are hidden it doesn't matter." What does matter though are the cost savings.
"Our running costs are more than halved," said Hamilton. Request a free brochure from Trumpf ...
"The laser gives us an unlimited profiling capability and the freedom to produce any size or shape of cut-out that we want.".
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