Page 49 - MetalForming Magazine October 2022 - FABTECH

Fabrication: Expanded Inhouse Laser Cutting
Co-Line Welding, Lynnville, IA, decided in 2003 to insource laser cutting and take better control of processes through- out part and product lifecycles. Increased automotive-part supply played a big role in incorporating new laser cutting technology.
Ease of use of Mazak Optonics laser cutting machines enables Co-Line Welding. operators to get up to speed quickly on new equipment, according to company owner Eric Brand.
Laser Technology Enables Inhouse Product Control
A family-owned business now led by the Brands’ son Eric and his wife Faye, Co-Line still produces Sure-Latch products inhouse, but otherwise func- tions as a job shop. It is fully committed to laser fabrication, as it plays an inte- gral role in the company’s quest to con- trol its own destiny and manage all stages of the product life cycle, from prototype to production and distribu- tion, and maintain flexibility in job- shop operations.
“Our customer base was looking for a supplier that could take a part from start to finish,” says Eric Brand, Co- Line owner, reflecting on that quest. “To provide this, Co-Line needed to laser cut blanks, 3D trim prototypes and keep the process moving forward. Because we owned our own products, we understood the challenges our cus- tomers faced. We invested in technol- ogy that would meet our customers’ demands.”
Customers wanting a one-stop shop—beyond only cut parts and com- ponents—also rings true on the job- shop side, according to Brand. This has led Co-Line to invest increasingly in technology to cut, bend, weld, machine, powder coat and package. Today, the investment in tube, sheet
and plate cutting in particular has yielded Co-Line a roster of 14 Mazak Optonics machines, including 4-, 7-, 8- and 10-kW laser cutters.
7-kW Fiber Machine Brings Speed
Brand cites the 7-kW OptiPlex Nexus Fiber S7 2D laser cutting machine as one of Co-Line's most impressive pur- chases—in 2018—from Mazak Opton- ics, and evaluates the machine as hav- ing a considerable impact on Co-Line’s business.
“Compared with our CO2 laser cut- ting machine, the piece timing has been reduced by approximately one- sixth,” Brand says of its performance on steel approaching 1 in. thick, and impressed with the beam-shaping and diameter-control technology intro- duced on the S7, along with its intu- itive operation. “It’s a tool that every- one should have, like a Swiss Army Knife.”
As to ease of use, Brand reports that he was able to cut parts on the S7 with- out training—only from what he knew from running prior Mazak machines. Machine dependability also rates high with Brand. As Co-Line measures beam-on time each day, the S7 machine has run consistently in the mid-90s percentile with beam-on auto
cycle operations since a month after install, Brand reports.
Besides the S7’s significant impact on Co-Line’s productivity and capabil- ities, the two 10-kW OptiPlex 4020 Fiber III 2D laser cutting machines also oper- ating on the manufacturer’s shop floor deliver improved ability to cut thicker materials with nitrogen and improved processing times as compared to oxy- gen cutting. These attributes boost throughput, cut costs and allow greater business opportunities, according to Brand.
15-kW Machines On the Way
Co-Line soon will add to its laser cutting offerings, with three 15-kW OptiPlex 3015 NEO 2D machines slat- ed for install. Introduced to North America this past spring at Mazak Optonics’ North America Laser Tech- nology Center in Illinois, the machine includes technology that allows increased control of beam shape and diameter. It automatically adjusts beam diameter to optimally cut vari- ous materials, and beam shape to control the concentration and power density of the laser beam. The result, according to Mazak Optonics officials, is improved cut speed and cut quality for a variety of materials. Other keys to machine performance include use
46 MetalForming/October 2022
www.metalformingmagazine.com