Page 37 - Metalorming Magazine January/February 2023

Special Section: FABRICATION
LASER FOCUSED AT FABTECH
34 MetalForming/January/February 2023 www.metalformingmagazine.com
productivity of higher-volume fiber lasers. Its modular sorting capability maximizes productivity and efficiency of downstream operations.
MC Machinery: www.mcmachinery.com
20 kW of Cutting Power, Plus Full Suite
of Shop-Floor Software
Bystronic showcased its ByStar 3015 fiber laser cutting machine, which offers a reliable cutting process even at high laser outputs, through a wide range of applications and at high throughput, resulting in a low-cost part, according to company officials. The machine (pictured) now is avail- able with 20 kW of power.
Also on display, the compact, 12- kW BySmart Fiber machine, with optional Parameter Wizard and BeamShaper features to help deliver high part output across thin to medium sheet metal thicknesses. At FABTECH, the BySmart Fiber was paired with Bystronic’s ByTrans Extended materi-
al-handling automation.
And, Bystronic presented its BySoft
Suite, which includes the following BySoft software products: BySoft Insight for analysis of historical data; BySoft Business that serves as the back- bone of seamless data flow in a smart factory; BySoft Shop Floor that takes responsibility for operation of the shop floor and integrates business data with production data; BySoft CAD, which enables import and processing of all types of 3D-CAD data; BySoft CAM for efficient and intuitive development from the cutting plans for laser cutting machines; and BySoft Cell Control for status monitoring, and device or cell control through real-time network communication with machinery, the manufacturing process and those working in a cell.
Bystronic: www.bystronic.com
Advanced 15-kW 2D Laser Cutting
Mazak Optonics provided demos of its new Optiplex 3015 NEO 2D laser cutting machine, which features 15 kW of power, beam-shape/diameter con- trol, an advanced
torch head and a
new series of
nozzles.
The machine
automatically
adjusts beam
diameter to opti-
mally cut various
materials, and
beam shape to
control beam concentration and power density. The result is improved cut speed and quality for a variety of mate- rials, according to company officials. Other keys to machine performance include use of variable power distri- bution and the advanced Mazak MCT3 cutting head. All of this, officials explain, allow the 15-kW machine to deliver faster cutting speeds than machines offering even greater power
levels, and significantly reduced cost of operation when employing high-pressure
air cutting.
For simple accessibility and ease of
operation, the machine is equipped with large front and side access doors, and minimized work-area restrictions ease the loading of material onto the machine and the unloading of finished parts.
The new Mazatrol SmoothLx CNC control, with a 21.5-in. screen and touch panel, features dual monitors that allow simultaneous running of multiple applications. And, the CNC control rotates to give operators the flexibility to work at the front or side of the machine. This feature also allows flexible shop-floor placement of the machine, where walls may block views to the front or side. Simply rotate the control for the ideal viewing angle.
The Optiplex 3015 NEO comes equipped with a nozzle changer and nozzle-centering camera for visibility
of nozzle location while making torch adjustments; camera-assisted part nesting, which automatically deter- mines arrangement of parts for cutting on remnant material; and other high- technology setup, monitoring and cut-
ting functions to support optimal laser- cutting performance.
Mazak Optonics: www.mazakoptonics.com
Software Suite for Laser Cutting and Other Operations
Cincinnati Inc. offered details on its Encompass software suite for laser cut- ting and other operations. The software is designed to help users move from the digital part to the physical part of everyday operations accurately and efficiently, according to company offi- cials. The Encompass suite includes:
• Design—From 3D models, accu- rately import geometry and identify the correct flat blank.
• Nest—Amplify the ability to nest parts with software automation, and create optimized machine code to make Cincinnati cutting machines— and machines from most other man- ufacturers—operate optimally.
• Bend—Improve offline press brake programming with advanced software automation.
• Schedule—Automatically schedule multiple jobs across multiple shifts and multiple Cincinnati laser cutting machines.
• Automate—Simulation capability in this software for robot-tended press brake bending cells ensures collision- free solutions and the generation of efficient programs for the robot and the press brake.