Page 29 - MetalForming-May-2018-issue

Hungry press brakes at Fab Metals stand at the ready to process parts after they exit
the fiber-laser machine.
the laser operator can just walk over and flip out the parts as they exit. And, if the operator falls behind the machine will stop until we catch up. I love this option.”
Two Is Better than One
Having two fiber-laser machines and their attached automation options did more than just address production- workload issues.
“We also perform a lot of prototype work,” Hensley says. “We’ve always had two laser cutters, and when we brought in the new 6-kW machine we got rid of the old ones, so we had no second machine to work on prototypes. Now we do. In addition, we need a second machine to serve as a backup. When
customers want something, they want it now, so we have to deliver.”
Besides the equipment, Trumpf pro- vided all installation, integration and initial operator training, and the new fiber-laser cells—with press brakes near- by and at the ready for post-laser work— run off of Trumpf-supplied software.
To say that Hensley is thrilled with
performance of the cells would be an understatement, but he and Fab Metals do not have the luxury to ease back and enjoy the show. They’ll be loading up their new building throughout the spring and the company plans on adding more press brakes as well as automated sheet-bending equipment in the near future. MF
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