A first step into fibre

A new flatbed laser cutting machine has been introduced by Swiss manufacturer, Bystronic, aimed at sheetmetal processing companies wishing to exploit the high productivity of fibre technology and its broad range of applications.

Available in UK and Ireland through subsidiary Bystronic UK, Coventry, the new machine platform achieves same rapid, top quality cutting for which the Swiss manufacturer's fibre laser equipment is well-known.

The 6kW source enables users to achieve the maximum increase in cutting speed, for example by up to 70% compared to a 4kW fibre laser when cutting 3mm stainless steel. The advantage is even more pronounced in comparison to a 6kW CO₂ laser, as productivity is trebled.

Fibre lasers are able to process a wide range of materials from steel and stainless steel to aluminium, copper and brass with operating costs and maintenance requirements that are relatively low. For manufacturers whose applications lie in the thin to medium sheet thickness range, it means faster cutting, lower costs, and higher profit per part.

Additionally, Bystronic offers its Power Cut Fiber function to extend the range of applications to thicker sheet, delivering high quality cuts in material up to 30mm.

[caption id="attachment_46002" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] The new BySmart Fiber laser cutting machine from Bystronic[/caption]

The fibre laser’s powerful output must be optimally integrated into the cutting process and to achieve this, Bystronic equips the BySmart Fiber with the latest generation cutting head which can be adapted to maximise quality when profiling different metals. Users choose between two focal points of the laser beam depending on sheet thickness and material type.

In addition, Bystronic equips the 6kW version of the BySmart Fiber with the Cut Control function, which monitors the entire process. If a tear occurs, laser cutting is automatically stopped, reducing the risk of mis-cuts and rejected parts.

Operators control the BySmart via a 22-inch touchscreen. With the ByVision Cutting user interface, the process is controlled with a few swipes of the finger. The control accesses an extensive database that includes the parameters for all common types of sheetmetal. Taking the material, sheet thickness, and part geometry into account, it generates the ideal cutting process. During operation, all processes on the machine are tracked and the most important data appears on-screen, including the current cutting plan, the position of the cutting head and the machine status.

Bystronic’s extensive loading and unloading solutions and third-party automation equipment can be integrated. Depending on the order situation, the system organises material flow fully- or semi-automatically while also offering flexibility at the laser cutting machine to process smaller orders manually.

Bystronic www.bystronic.com