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Laser Cutting Article List
Laser cutting related articles
There are 64 articles related to laser cutting.
The high-powered fiber laser now can take on the work of the blanking press.
The FABRICATOR®, 11/2/09
Beverlin Manufacturing Inc., a tube producer and component fabricator, struggled with various cutting processes. Its produces and fabricates perforated tube which, because of the perforations, complicates the cutting process. After using two sawing methods, it changed to laser cutting.
The FABRICATOR®, 9/6/09
IMEC, a small job shop in southwest Missouri, invests in automation
not necessarily to increase capacity, but to increase flexibility.
By: Tim Heston - The FABRICATOR®, 8/1/09
Gases for laser operations can be a significant factor in keeping costs down.
By: John Gabris - The FABRICATOR®, 7/6/09
Matrix Metalcraft, Clinton Township, Mich.,
has done plenty of prototype and production
work for the automotive industry in the past,
but with the downturn in the industry, it is
targeting industries aligned with alternative
power generation for new business. In doing
so, it has found out that...
By: Dan Davis, Editor-in-Chief - The FABRICATOR®, 7/2/09
Typically, compressed air or nitrogen circulates in the plenum to ensure that water, dirt, dust, smoke, haze, and solid particulate matter are absent so that the mirrors in a laser resonator do not become cloudy. In recent years, membrane air dryer systems that provide drying and removal of particul...
By: David J. Connaughton - www.thefabricator.com, 6/23/09
Bobcat determined that the nesting software on its laser cutting systems didn’t maximize the capabilities of the machines. After the company decided to purchase new nesting software, programmers outlined what capabilities they wanted. The company purchased ProNest® from MTC Software, Lockport, N.Y. ...
By: Michael Bishop, Contributing Writer - The FABRICATOR®, 2/12/09
H.W. Metals offers punching, shearing, arc welding, machining, oxyfuel cutting, and standard and high-definition plasma cutting. The company found that there was more and more work it couldn’t do for its customers because some jobs required laser-cut parts. The company decided to purchase a laser to...
By: Michael Bishop, Contributing Writer - The FABRICATOR®, 2/10/09
Knowing the capabilities and drawbacks of laser and waterjet machines is the key in determining which is best for a particular application.
By: Jeff Hahn and Steve Szczesniak - www.thefabricator.com, 1/27/09
Hawkeye Industries Inc., Tupelo, Miss., was getting more and more orders for parts that required both punching and laser cutting. To meet the growing demand, the company purchased a combination punch/laser machine. Some shops are more suited than others to this technolgy--combination machines can in...
By: Michael Bishop, Contributing Writer - The FABRICATOR®, 8/26/08
With sales forecasts predicting that fiber laser sales will increase by 16 percent, to $323 million, in 2008--$112 million of that in metal processing industries--this year is being called the year of the fiber laser. A closer look at the technology shows why this might be true.
By: Mark Richmond - The FABRICATOR®, 8/26/08
This article was developed from the Comparative Cutting Panel conducted at the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association's Metal Matters conference in Orlando, Fla., March 2008.
By: Jeff Hahn, Al Julian, Chris Maier, Rick Neff, and Ron Schneider - The FABRICATOR®, 7/15/08
Not only can today’s laser optics handle more power, they also enhance beam quality, reduce maintenance, increase power delivered to the cutting head, and improve mode stability.
By: Erin Chasse - The FABRICATOR®, 7/15/08
This roundup of laser lens providers gives tips on extending the life of lenses used in laser cutting.
By: Dan Davis, Editor-in-Chief - The FABRICATOR®, 6/17/08
How can laser technology make metal fabrication more efficient? The efficiency comes not only from advances within the laser itself, but also in new ways to integrate those lasers for optimal part flow on the shop floor. Several presenters at ALAW 2008 hammered this point home.
By: Tim Heston, Senior Editor - The FABRICATOR®, 6/17/08
Lasers are capable of cutting thin-gauge metal and plate at incredible speeds and with outstanding results. But a laser also is capable of great damage to operators if the proper safety steps are not followed. To keep everyone safe and the laser cutting machine operating, a fabricating operation sho...
By: Rich Greene - The FABRICATOR®, 1/15/08
Meeting a challenge sometimes requires out-of-the box thinking. One contract manufacturer employed a thorough knowledge of laser cutting, determination, ingenuity, and tenacity to successfully laser cut difficult-to-process materials.
By: Tim Heston, Senior Editor - www.thefabricator.com, 1/15/08
The new high-powered lasers allow fab shops to serve a broader range of custom needs.
By: Rick Neff - The FABRICATOR®, 12/11/07
Hype Manufacturing invested in a horizontal machining center, two lathes, two vertical machining centers, a universal milling machine, tube bending equipment, a press brake, a laser cutting system, and a waterjet to support its racing effort.
The FABRICATOR®, 12/11/07
Remote laser welding operations, many of which rely on a laser scanner to deflect the beam to the weld area, require high-beam-quality lasers. Years ago this meant that they were used only with high-power CO2 lasers. As the beam quality of Nd:YAG, disk, and fiber-optic lasers have improved, these la...
By: Dale A. Sabo - The FABRICATOR®, 10/9/07
Several modes of nitrogen assist gas supply exist, but with choice comes the potential of saddling your business with overhead costs that make it difficult to compete. The best approach is to map out a growth strategy, using each option’s performance and value, that coincides with monthly nitrogen u...
By: Richard Green - The FABRICATOR®, 10/9/07
...
By: James Rogowski - The FABRICATOR®, 8/8/07
Fabricators are increasingly using compressed air in laser cutting, instead of relying on laser assist gases such as oxygen and nitrogen. Recent findings reveal that shop air can be used on more material types and thicknesses, including parts on which the edge quality is visible.
By: Erin Chasse and Mickey Lawson - The FABRICATOR®, 3/13/07
A real breakthrough in high-speed laser cutting occurred in 2005. Two additional parallel kinematic drive axes were placed near the point where the laser exits the head, creating a laser cutting machine with one dynamic and light cutting torch capable of independent movement along two axes b...
By: Thomas Burdel and Pieter Schwarzenbach - The FABRICATOR®, 2/14/07
An expanding metal fabrication shop invests in lasers to help it produce precision parts and manage tight lead times.
The FABRICATOR®, 2/13/07
High-speed laser cutting is a recent result of increased laser power and high acceleration motion technology, which have improved cutting speeds. Tilt beam 2D-3D systems allow laser cutting of small 3D parts, bevel cutting on 2D sheet metal and 3D parts, 3D trimming of small deep drawn parts, and pr...
By: Thomas Burdel and Pieter Schwarzenbach - The FABRICATOR®, 1/17/07
Both laser and waterjet cutting systems produce precision parts, and in many applications, either is appropriate. This article, which discusses the benefits and limitations of both technologies, can help you decide which is best-suited for your operation. In some cases, utilizing both can increase ...
By: Frank J. Arteaga, Contributing Writer - www.thefabricator.com, 1/9/07
CO2 lasers are available in wattages that can cut plate more than 1 in. thick. The wattage, however, isn't the only factor that affects total speed and power. The assist gas chosen and the mode of the laser also influence final results.
By: Jason Hillenbrand - The FABRICATOR®, 12/12/06
Laser machine users know it, but often ignore it. Laser manufacturers swear by it, but often don't push it. It's maintenance, and it should be the watchword of anyone who owns and operates a laser.
By: Jeff Hahn, Bernie Olguin, and Dru Schwartz - The FABRICATOR®, 10/10/06
Watson Engineering didn't have to add any laser operators during its most recent expansion effort. The reason was technology advancements associated with material handling and modern laser cutting devices.
By: Dan Davis, Editor-in-Chief - The FABRICATOR®, 9/12/06
One of the recent developments in laser cutting is the use of compressed air as a laser cutting assist gas. The process is not brand-new, but the benefits of the process are making it a growing trend.
By: James Rogowski and Mickey Lawson - The FABRICATOR®, 8/8/06
As explained in Part I of this two-part series, many factors can affect laser processing efficiency. This article explains basic laser beam delivery requirements; discusses laser gases and supply methods; and lists common problems caused by using incorrect pressure, flow, and laser speed.
By: David Bell, Contributing Writer - www.thefabricator.com, 3/7/06
H. Meeuwsen B.V., a fabricator in Yerseke, Netherlands, found that purchasing a laser that could handle parts up to 12 m long greatly enhanced its capabilities. It augmented this purchase with a tandem press brake. One side of the brake has an 8-m capacity; the other has a 4-m capacity. This gives t...
By: Eric Lundin, Editor, TPJ-The Tube & Pipe Journal® - The FABRICATOR®, 2/7/06
Many factors can affect laser processing efficiency. This article, Part I of a two-part series, stresses laser system maintenance and discusses factors that can affect beam quality and efficiency—namely, impurities introduced by laser gases and gas supply systems and how to prevent them. It also...
By: David Bell, Contributing Writer - www.thefabricator.com, 1/10/06
Laser beam sources with higher output powers and improved beam qualities have expanded the range of laser applications. Most system’s lasers have power higher than 2 kW. Higher power does not always accelerate the speed, however. Increasing the power during thermal cutting beyond this value may caus...
By: Thorsten Frauenpreiss - The FABRICATOR®, 12/13/05
Jeff Adams may have taken the nontraditional route in manufacturing by starting out in the laser equipment vendor community, but he has since moved to the job shop side of the industry, using his laser knowledge and expertise to help grow his 12-year-old laser job shop in Libertyville, Ill.
By: Stephanie Vaughan, Contributing Writer - The FABRICATOR®, 11/8/05
Today's laser sources have the power and beam quality needed to cut and join metal in an expeditious and repetitious manner. The market demands that type of flexible production, so those characteristics are basic requirements in modern laser devices. The market demands also have promoted the idea of...
By: Dr. Dirk Petring - The FABRICATOR®, 10/11/05
Paramount Fitness Corp., a manufacturer of strength training equipment, used to purchase small quantities of laser-cut parts from outside vendors. Its desire for a laser could not be justified because the quantities of parts were so low. Engineers at TRUMPF worked with Paramount to create special fi...
www.thefabricator.com, 10/11/05
For more than 30 years, lasers have been used successfully for flat sheet cutting. Complex 3-D laser cutting is well-established in the automotive industry.
By: Dr. A. Pieter Schwarzenbach - The FABRICATOR®, 10/11/05
Kvaerner Power Inc.'s Fairmont, W.V., metal fabricating operation needed new market opportunities and someone to take over plasma cutting chores after its business partner went out of business. They found a Pennsylvania job shop to help with metal cutting and eventually learned that a 3-D laser coul...
By: Dan Davis, Editor-in-Chief - The FABRICATOR®, 8/9/05
Three food service equipment makers spoke with The FABRICATOR about their investments in more automated fabrication equipment, especially lasers, and how these investments have paid off for them, even as the economy takes its time to recover.
By: Stephanie Vaughan, Contributing Writer - The FABRICATOR®, 7/12/05
Metalen Verhoestraete, a metal service center in Roeselare, Belgium, needed a laser, but not just any laser would do. Because many of the company's clients had 3- and 4-meter lasers, Metalen sought a laser that had a much longer bed so it would not compete with its customers.
By: Eric Lundin, Editor, TPJ-The Tube & Pipe Journal® - The FABRICATOR®, 7/11/05
Manufacturing requires reliability and service, as John Deere Mexico found out when it researched an upgrade for manufacturing equipment. The company invested in a punch-laser combination machine and a press brake to help become a just-in-time manufacturer.
The FABRICATOR®, 2/8/05
When laser gases are used in significant volumes or in an around-the-clock operation, a centralized gas delivery system is a practical necessity. A well-conceived delivery system reduces operating costs, increases productivity, and enhances safety.
By: David Bell, Contributing Writer - The FABRICATOR®, 7/13/04
Whether you’re operating a 10-year-old laser machine or evaluating the purchase of a new one, staying up-to-date on current laser cutting technology and techniques can be the key to maintaining a competitive edge.
By: Dan Robinson, Contributing Writer - The FABRICATOR®, 2/12/04
Contract manufacturer CGI Automated Manufacturing Inc., Cicero, Ill., fabricates parts as an outsource resource for vertical manufacturers. The company started out as a stamping operation, then added other fabrication technologies, including welding, press brake forming, drilling, punching, rolling,...
By: Kate Bachman, STAMPING Journal® Editor - The FABRICATOR®, 2/12/04
Bourgault Industries specializes in seeding and tillage equipment, and other agricultural products including sprayers, grain carts, and heavy harrows. The company performs all fabrication involved in manufacturing the equipment from sheet or plate to finished product. It examined its operating costs...
The FABRICATOR®, 9/25/03
As we all know, the laser industry has seen easier times. Economic and market pressures have changed the competitive landscape for laser cutting equipment, and the changes are likely to continue. Both lasermakers and laser users need to adapt to the changes in the laser market, and the companies tha...
By: Bill Isaac, Contributing Writer - The FABRICATOR®, 7/24/03
Today's job shop market is characterized by unrelenting competitive pressure for laser processing services. Job shops are expanding into niche services such as multiaxis laser processing and thick plate applications to differentiate themselves from their competitors. Others are performing additional...
By: Richard Green, Contributing Writer - The FABRICATOR®, 5/29/03
Laser cutting continues to grow in popularity with sheet metal fabricators. With developments in speed, cutting quality, and manufacturing economy in laser cutting, today's manufacturers have more options than ever before from which to choose the optimal manufacturing method for their specific appli...
By: Johannes Ulrich, Contributing Writer - The FABRICATOR®, 3/27/03
Although robotic laser cutting systems have advanced over the years, you should know exactly what one can do before you decide if it's right for you. To find out whether you should choose robotics to laser-cut your parts, you first must consider several factors, starting with what is in a system.
By: Mike Erickson, Contributing Writer - www.thefabricator.com, 3/27/03
At military installations across the country, repair personnel struggle to stretch the life spans of vital pieces of equipment. Sometimes welding can extend the life of damaged components in aircraft, tanks, and other military vehicles. But in some cases, high–temperature welding processes do more h...
By: Richard Grylis, Contributing Writer - The FABRICATOR®, 2/27/03
Capitalizing on the latest laser and information sharing technology, the
Australian auto industry is working to achieve critical mass within its
domestic market and to take advantage of the opportunities offered by
e-commerce.
By: Hafiz Mohd, Contributing Writer - www.thefabricator.com, 12/12/02
Wrayco Industries Inc., Stow, Ohio, a 20-year-old family-owned precision fabricating shop, produces steel fabricated fuel tanks, hydraulic reservoirs, and fenders for a leading heavy construction equipment manufacturer. The company employs 102 and has more than 100,000 square feet of manufacturing ...
By: Loretta DeGasperi, Contributing Writer - The FABRICATOR®, 12/12/02
CO2 lasers were used predominantly for cutting flat sheet metal for many years. Advancements in laser beam quality, power, manipulation, and material handling features have propelled the CO2 laser into new areas of fabrication. Multidimensional cutting, increased cutting capacity, and the ability to...
By: CONCOA Laser Gas Delivery Systems Team - The FABRICATOR®, 12/12/02
Editor's Note: This article is Part II of a four-part series covering flatness and stability in cut-to-length, slitting, and tension leveling operations. This article discusses flattening solutions and the anatomy of a bend. Part I, which appeared in the October issue of The FABRICATOR®, discussed h...
By: Richard Herzfeld, Contributing Writer - The FABRICATOR®, 11/7/02
Metal cutting lasers continue to evolve at an amazing rate, largely based on the demands of OEMs and job shops, while profit margins shrink because of increased competition and lower pay rates. To help fabricators meet the demands placed on them, laser manufacturers are creating new laser features t...
By: Kevin Cole, Contributing Writer - The FABRICATOR®, 8/8/02
This article discusses the history of lasers and material handling equipment with relation to unattended operation. It specifically examines material load/unload devices, sheet separation and detection devices, the auto-focus laser lens, raw material storage and retrieval systems, automatic part sor...
By: Frank J. Arteaga, Contributing Writer - The FABRICATOR®, 5/18/02
Lasers can be used to process expensive alloys as well as traditional materials such as stainless steel. However, knowing the strengths and weaknesses of laser processing is the key to determining whether or not a laser is the right choice for cutting.
By: Jim Wollenberger, Contributing Writer - The FABRICATOR®, 3/13/02
Here's some food for thought on lasing gases: How are they created? What are their potential impurities? Which impurities and how much of them are of concern? What lasing gases should be used? How do you protect yoiur high-quality lasing gases from contamination? Giving these items some attention co...
By: Jeremy Barr, Contributing Writer - www.thefabricator.com, 2/14/02
This article discusses online laser beam monitoring and its alternatives, with emphasis on beam quality and focusability.
By: Lawrence Green, Contributing Writer - www.thefabricator.com, 9/17/01
The most common power levels ranged between 1,500 and 2,000 watts. However, a statistical survey conducted by the AMT Laser System Product Group indicates a steady increase during the last 12 months of installations for high-power 3,000- to 4,000-watt laser systems and a decline in sales of lasers w...
By: Kevin Laughlin, Contributing Writer - The FABRICATOR®, 7/12/01
How you store and deliver assist gases to your laser cutting system is of critical importance to the effectiveness of your whole fabricating operation.
By: David Bell, Contributing Writer - www.thefabricator.com, 5/15/01
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By: Jerry E. Jones, Michael Mossman, and Valerie Rhoades, Contributing Writers - The FABRICATOR®, 4/24/01
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