Page 20 - MetalForming April 2013

Tech Update
Laser-Cut Blanks, Parts from Coil
Chicago Slitter, Itasca, IL, has developed a new coil-fed laser-cutting system that combines the benefits of continuous coil feeding with the precision and flexibility of laser cutting. Laser cutting from coil promises to reduce part cost by improving flex- ibility and enabling fabricators to quickly change between production runs. Labor for handling sheets and stacking finished parts is reduced or eliminated.
When compared to mechanical blanking systems, the coil-fed laser eliminates the cost of expensive dies, provides the ability to cut high-strength steels and requires a smaller footprint, freeing up production floor space. Servo motors control strip feed (y direction) and laser traverse (x direction).
Watch a video of the setup in operation at www.chicagoslitter.com/coil-process- ing-equipment/coil-fed-laser-systems.
Chicago Slitter: 630/875-9800; www.chicagoslitter.com
Simplified Robotic Parts Feeding
Adept Technology, Inc., Pleasanton, CA, a provider of high-speed industrial automation products for manufactur- ing, packaging, material handling and fac- tory automation, introduces the FlexiBowl, an innovative vision-based robotic part- feeding solution available as an option on all Adept robot systems. The Adept
18 MetalForming/April 2013
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