Automated laser system drops costs, adds productivity. (Lasers).Like all shops, Titan Metals (Glendale Heights, IL) needed to he more competitive. It needed to cut setup time and save on scrap. And it needed a way to cut several kinds of materials on one machine efficiently. The question was how to do it. For this shop, which has several turret punch presses punch press Machine tool that changes the size or shape of a piece of material, usually sheet metal, by applying pressure to a die in which the workpiece is held. The form and construction of the die determine the shape produced on the workpiece. , an automated laser system delivered the performance and capabilities needed. Using a Mitsubishi 3015 LZP LZP Level Zero Processing laser, Titan can fabricate a wide variety of materials, including carbon steel up to 0.50" thick, stainless up to 3/8", aluminum up to 0.25", as well as pre-plated steel and even plastic. "What we're doing with the laser and the material handling system is going into the future," says Sue Kraus, president, Titan. "It helps us just to be competitive. With the laser and material handling system, our idea was to show our customers, 'Yes, we're trying to keep up with technology, and these are the things we can do for you.'" In addition, the laser's flexible manufacturing system Flexible manufacturing system A factory or part of a factory made up of programmable machines and devices that can communicate with one another. (FMS FMS - Flexible Manufacturing System (factory automation). ) eliminates the tooling set-up required for Titan's NC turret punch presses. "NC turrets Turrets can mean or be confused with:
adj. 1. Taking place or existing before production: preproduction planning. 2. tasks, as well." Software Brings It Together Titan has a variety of fabricating equipment from top manufacturers, however the shop went with the Mitsubishi laser for one key reason--the Ncell automation software running it. The software can administer the laser cell's entire production process, including scheduling, NC file downloading, cutting, and sheet loading and unloading Unloading Selling securities or commodities whose prices are dropping to minimize loss. . Kraus is particularly fond of Ncell's nesting options, which can find useable material that probably would have been scrapped in a turret operation. The software can identify a section of steel sheet going unused on the laser's current job and find a piece from another job to fit it. "Now, with the laser, that part is being cut out and used for a part I'm running," Kraus said. "It really gives you a competitive edge." The fully automated FMS system can run a lights-out operation over the weekend and even call a preprogrammed phone number in case the machine goes down. Making The Switch Besides some minor operating errors, Nemic reported very few problems in transitioning from turrets to the [CO.sub.2] laser. Titan even has been able to move some of its machining work to the laser, which Nemic said makes it a "much faster" process. Nemic and Kraus said the shop already has seen positive results from the laser, namely lower costs and higher production capacity. Titan also will be able to add another laser tower to the machine when the time comes Adv. 1. when the time comes - at the appropriate time; "we'll get to this question in due course" in due course, in due season, in due time, in good time . "The idea is to get another laser someday some·day adv. At an indefinite time in the future. Usage Note: The adverbs someday and sometime express future time indefinitely: We'll succeed someday. Come sometime. ," she said. Mitsubishi Laser www.rsleads.com/304mn-205 or Circle 205 for more information |
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