Limited space doesn’t mean limited productivity.

Right from the start Fiber Lasers were a game changer for fabricators and manufacturers with the efficiency and speed of cutting over traditional technologies the laser cutting industry was changed almost overnight. However, one thing didn’t change the size of the equipment and the floor space they required. Unfortunately, those with limited space or a limited budget just couldn’t take advantage of this technological advance, that is until now. With the advent of compact full sheet fiber laser cutting systems, manufacturers with limited space can now benefit from the same capabilities and performance of larger systems while using less than half the space.

So, if you have been doing without because of space or cost limitations there are now real options for you to add a compact laser system to the capabilities of your organization, here are a few things to consider.

Start with the raw material sizes.

Knowing what you are manufacturing will help you understand the best size the raw material should be. In most cases material suppliers provide standard sheet sizes in 4’ x 8’ and 5’ x 10’ as well as larger sizes. However, this does not mean you only have these choices.

Most suppliers offer services to size materials to your specific needs so if space is a premium in your shop, you may want to consider breaking standard sheet sizes into smaller blanks. Think of it like this, we don’t buy large sheets of paper for our office copier and then cut the paper down to the sizes we use most often, we buy paper precut to that size, so it stands to reason we should consider this for laser cutting.

The key is to ensure that the size of the laser cutting system is matched both to your available space and to the size of products you manufacture, which means choosing a material blank size that you can both handle and store with a minimum of floor space will ensure you meet your goals.

Next, focus on what you really need.

It is important to focus on what real capabilities are required for your manufacturing needs, that means the bread and butter of your business. One of the pitfalls that we have seen over the years is customers getting caught up in the “bigger is better” rather than focusing on the actual workload and type of materials they use on a day-to-day basis. All too often, the focus is put on a couple of projects that were large or difficult rather than on what constitutes most of the workload. So, think through what you do day to day and focus on that first.

Then, consider material thickness and laser power.

The most common materials used are in gauge thickness from 20ga to 12ga and these will likely dominate the use of the laser. A 1.5kW to 3KW laser will efficiently cut these materials depending upon the volume of work you’re cutting. However, some fabricators may have enough work in thicker materials and need the capability to cut ¼” and above. If you fall into this category, then, depending upon volume of cutting, this can be satisfied with laser powers from 4kW to 6kW. If you need to process even thicker materials, above ¾”, on a regular basis then you may need a high-power laser. Bear in mind, that when done on an occasional basis, a 3kW can cut up to ½” and a 6kW can cut up to 1”. If you do not have production volume for the thicker materials, you may find that a lower-powered laser will do the job nicely.

The laser power requirements are tied to material types, thickness, and frequency of use so listing them out will help the laser supplier choose the right laser type and power for you.

Finally, production requirements.

Determining your current and future production requirements will ensure you get a system with the capacity to keep up with your needs. At the same time being overly optimistic can be costly if you talk yourself into more than you need. The ultimate production requirements needed to make a laser system purchase worthwhile will depend on the laser system configuration, as well as the layout of your manufacturing floor. That's why it's essential to think things through and map out your workflow to make the right decision.

For years, the industry has told manufacturers that they need large systems with full sheet table exchangers with loading and unloading automation, and in some cases this may be true. However, if you are primarily processing gauge materials, we have found that a full sheet (5’ x 10’) averages less than 6 minutes of cutting time from start to finish. However, the average unload/reload time exceeds 7 minutes. While this can vary greatly depending on what you’re cutting, it does make one thing clear, table exchangers do not always offer a gain in productivity, but they do require double the floor space.

In closing.

Investing in a laser cutting system is a big decision and can seem overwhelming, but with a systematic approach to understanding the needs of your company you will be able to make an informed decision.

Vytek has pioneered a wide range of laser platforms designed to fit into space limited environments while offering full size capabilities. We have helped 100s of companies through the variables of choosing right laser with the best configurations and we can help you.

Vytek is an American manufacturer selling and servicing laser-based equipment worldwide for more than 30 years. Visit us at www.vytek.com or contact us at sales@vytek.com to learn how we can help your company.