6kW laser cuts big plate.

The profile of the average fabricator of large plate and sheets is varied, including ship building, agricultural equipment, construction machinery, food processing, industrial machinery, and transportation industries.

Each industry has its own needs. Plate fabricators are looking for improved part quality and accuracy. Machine shops are more concerned with reducing machining time and costs for less critically dimensioned parts. Specialty fabricators are concerned with the machining needs of stainless steel and other exotic materials.

Heavy plate fabricators are classified as those fabricating parts in medium to large sections in materials greater than 1/4" (6 mm) in thickness. Many employ oxy-fuel or plasma-cutting equipment but are progressing to laser cutting systems to achieve higher part accuracy, a better cut quality, and reduced secondary finishing operations.

Large table lasers offer the plate fabricator the advantage of cutting oversized sheets and the ability to accommodate multiple plates, providing more cut time and less time spent on material loading and unloading. Using larger material sizes also improves sheet utilization and nesting efficiency. The accuracy of cut parts ensures the success of secondary bending and assembly operations.

Heavy plate fabricators, including manufacturers of construction and crane equipment using high strength alloy materials, require higher tonnage press brakes with the ability to produce parts with accurate first time bends. Programmable gages and material handling equipment add to the overall efficiency of the press brake, reducing operator fatigue and improving safety.

LVD's solution for heavy plate fabrication is the combination of high accuracy, large table laser-cutting systems and high tonnage or custom press brakes. The Implus C[O.sub.2] laser systems product line has been expanded to include large table models with up to 3-meter capacity and resonators up to 6-kW capability.

The Implus 12030 has a large capacity table that allows loading of several 3 x 1.5 meter sheets for the processing and handling of oversized workpieces, and providing increased capacity and productivity when processing heavy plate materials.

Three models of Impuls lasers--Impuls 6530, Impuls 8030, and Impuls 12530--now feature this increased table size. EVD's Impuls 6530 handles workpieces up to 6.5 x 3 meters (256" x 120"). The Impuls 8030 accommodates sheets up to 8 x 3 meters (315" x 120"). The Impuls 12530, the largest capacity Impuls model, features a work area of 12.5 x 3 meters (492" x 120"). These large table lasers cut oversized sheets and accommodate multiple plates, providing increased cutting time and less time spent on material loading and unloading. Using larger materials sizes also improves sheet utilization and nesting efficiency.

Impuls laser cutting systems allow the user to load/unload one table while the machine processes parts on the other table. LVD's Impuls 4030-R model allows users to load a 500 x 4,000 mm diameter rotary while the machine processes flat plate or load the table while processing preformed parts up to 4,000 x 1,000 x 1,000 mm in size.

Impuls laser systems process flat plate up to 25 mm mild steel. The machines also provide a fully-programmable Z-axis with travel up to 280 mm for use with the rotary axis and for processing preformed parts.

All Impuls lasers feature an advanced, fully-integrated GE Fanuc control and laser package. This complete integration of the laser source, CNC control, AC digital motors and amplifiers offers a high degree of reliability, as well as superior processing speed.

LVD's Impuls laser systems are now available with the Fanuc 6 kW laser resonator for increased processing power, particularly for fabricators who process thick materials. The Fanuc 6 kW laser has optimized beam quality and provides stable cutting of 32 mm mild steel. The resonator features the latest radio frequency excitation technology. LVD Company, www.rsleads.com/ 412tp-233