Laser processing system allows thin sheet cutting

Edited by the Manufacturingtalk editorial team Jul 29, 2010

The Trulaser 5030 2D laser processing system with fibre-guided Trudisk solid-state laser enables a reduction of 20 per cent in production costs for for job shops who need to cut thin sheet parts.

Due to its high dynamics, the machine makes full use of the solid-state laser and achieves very high cutting speeds in thin sheet.

In fusion cutting of stainless steel up to 4mm thick, the Trulaser Fiber achieves feed rates up to three times faster than on its CO2 counterpart, reduces the table time by up to 45 per cent and decreases the cost per part significantly.

Suitable for the cost-effective cutting of construction steel, stainless steel and aluminium, the machine also cuts non-ferrous metals such as copper and brass.

The core of the Trulaser 5030 is a fibre-guided Trudisk solid-state laser with an output rating of 3kW.

With the 2D laser-cutting system, users can process sheets measuring 3,000 x 1,500mm.

To keep processing time to a minimum and increase the flow rate of parts, the Trulaser 5030 Fiber relies on features from the CO2 laser version - for example, the single-cutting-head strategy for all sheet thicknesses.

As the complex beam-guidance system of the CO2 machine is substituted by fibre guidance on this new machine, the Trumpf development team was able to accommodate new construction ideas.

The result is a compact and streamlined machine that reduces its footprint by 20 per cent.

In principle, the Trulaser 5030 Fiber can cut the same sheet thicknesses as the CO2 machine but the differences lie in the quality of finish and the productivity of different sheet thicknesses.

The 1.03um wavelength of the solid-state laser makes it possible to cut thin sheet at speed, using fusion cutting and nitrogen, and also achieve high part quality.