Thomas Burdel

Laser tube cutting machines do more than cut a dazzling variety of features and combine processes. They also eliminate material handlings and storage of semifinished parts, making a shop run more efficiently. However, this isn’t the end of it. Maximizing return on investment means carefully analyzing the shop’s operations, reviewing all the available machine features and options, and specifying a machine accordingly.

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 but working in precise synchronicity with the machine's more sweeping movement of the laser head. This new approach opened up new frontiers and much higher limits in processing speed.

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 processing of holes and cut-outs in hydroformed parts.