Laser cutting 5mm mild steel rings
We have been using our brand new Trumpf 3030 3KW fibre laser for just a few months now on cutting sheet metal components. We first started by converting some repeat jobs over from our 2 Trumpf CNC punch presses that we were confident with and already knew what could be achieved by CNC punching. We then moved onto laser cutting sheet metal components that we would have spent more time deburring if they had been CNC punched. We have even laser cut holes into mild steel tubes that we would have drilled before, all with great success. We had never CNC punched 5mm thick mild steel before and certainly not circular disks. When this job came up it was a great opportunity to experiment with the fibre laser machine and see what could be achieved by us. The Trumpf laser just flew through this work in no time at all and we were all very impressed with the finished results.
Trumpf laser control
The control of the laser cutting machines head is achieved using our Radan sheet metal software system. The parts can be drawn out in the same way as CNC punching and we can use past part symbols and easily convert them for laser cutting. The most efficient use of material is calculated instantly using this software and then the cutting nest is saved to our network server. The machine setter can call down the correct file when they are ready to laser cut the parts needed. They can amend size slightly to calibrate the cut from job to job and save the data for future batches. They can also create small programs on the fly to use up off cuts of material from other jobs helping to increase the overall efficiency of using the laser cutter in the manufacturing system.
Laser cut mild steel rings
This image shows the parts as they came off of the laser cutter. The edge finish around all the holes, the inner and outer profiles was good enough to need no further processing before they were sent off to be powder coated.
To see a video of the rings being laser cut please follow the link to plant web page.
If you would like to know more about this machine and the type of work that it can cut or perhaps you have a manufacturing project you would like us to quote for please call us on 01489 577786 or send us an email.