FORMING AND FABRICATING AUTOMATION
Laser Cutting–Picking Power and Adding Automation F rom a basic question on choosing laser cutting power comes a discussion on just how powerful laser cutting, teamed with automation and software technology, can be. When opting for higher-power laser cutting systems for what- ever reasons, fabricators must be cognizant that faster cutting enabled by the power uptick will boost throughput, which must be dealt with. Enter automation into the conversation.
“Fabricators,” Michael Koch, manager of laser and press brake applications for MC Machinery, says, “must ask, ‘can we load and unload material and parts quickly enough?’ Just as im- portant, they must consider how greater throughput will affect downstream processes. This is where loading and unloading automation comes in, as well as automated part sorting.” MC Machinery, for its part, offers part-sorting automation via its Astes4 high-speed laser-part-sorting system. In prac- tice, part-sorting automation—for high speed, low-mix and for high-mix operations—sorts parts to a specific pallet or shelf at a specific destination on the shop floor. “The parts are stacked on a pallet, ready for the press brake
Automation provides the means for gaining the most effective use out of powerful, high-speed laser cutting machines. Case in point: Astes4, a high-speed laser-part- sorting system displayed by MC Machinery at FABTECH 2023. Of modular design, the displayed unit picked and sorted parts cut from ¼-in.-thick steel sheet, and deposited skeleton sheets as shown here. The post-cut part-sorting automation provided a 5-min. cycle time, ahead of the 15-min. cutting cycle time. “Three times faster in sorting the parts than in cutting them—the situation that a fabricator wants,” says Michael Koch, MC Machinery manager of laser and press brake applications.
or painting department—wherever—in the correct order and volume to re- lieve the downstream-process bottle- neck,” Koch explains.
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