Yamazaki Mazak is set to unveil its latest laser automation cell at Blechexpo, Stuttgart, which will be exhibited along with two machines from its high-performance sheet metal cutting portfolio.
Taking centre stage on the Mazak stand at Blechexpo, which runs from 7-10 November, will be the OPTIPLEX 3015 DDL 4.0kW laser processing machine, which features revolutionary Direct Diode Laser technology unique to Mazak, complete with a new state-of-the-art robotic automation system.
The machine, which complements Mazak’s existing CO2 and Fiber OPTIPLEX machines, has been positioned to offer premium cutting performance, specifically for those requiring ultra-fast cutting and high-quality cutting edge.
The OPTIPLEX DDL series can cut thin material 20 per cent faster than fibre lasers and thick materials with unsurpassed surface quality. The machine has an axis acceleration of 1.8G and benefits from rapid traverse rates of 120m/min.
Positioning accuracy is maintained to within ±0.05mm/500mm in the X- and Y-axes and to within ±0.01mm/100mm in the Z-axis. The machine also offers exceptional repeatability accuracy of ±0.03 in the X-, Y- and Z-axes.
Crucially, the OPTIPLEX DDL is a highly efficient machine capable of a wall plug efficiency of 40-50 per cent compared to 10 per cent for a CO2 resonator; 15-20 per cent for a disc resonator and 30-40 per cent with a fibre resonator.
The OPTIPLEX DDL also benefits from an exceptionally user-friendly ergonomic design, including the new NC control PreviewG.
The machine on display at Blechexpo will be exhibited as part of a new robotic automation cell offering, being shown for the first time. The cell incorporates a robotic arm mounted onto rails adjacent to the cutting table, to load and unload work pieces. The arm can quickly change between sorting tools – which are mounted directly onto the robot’s base – depending on application, and the size and weight of the workpiece. To deliver fast and accurate machining, the cell’s laser table is equipped with an automatic clamp to secure the workpiece’s position on the table. This is especially useful for cutting thin vinyl-protected material.
The entire cell – inclusive of sheet metal cutting and robotic automation offering – can be programmed through Mazak’s MAZATROL PreviewG control, which also allows operators to access detailed reports of cell production status and operation.
Also on display at Blechexpo will be Mazak’s OPTIPLEX 3015 FIBER III 8.0kW laser processing machine, which will be making its world debut. The 8.0kW variant is ideal for cutting thick material such as stainless steel and aluminum. The high-power fibre laser can also improve the productivity of thin worksheet cutting by more than 14 per cent, thanks to faster machine acceleration and rapid traverse rates of 120m/min in the X- and Y-axes.
It also features a host of intelligent set-up, monitoring and cutting functions, all controlled by the revolutionary MAZATROL PreviewG CNC which has been specially developed for digital production. These include focus detection, nozzle changing and cleaning, and beam diameter control as part of the set-up function; as well as burning, piecing and plasma detection, and lens monitoring capability; and intelligent cutting functions including fine power ramping, sharp cut and flash cut.
Gaetano Lo Guzzo, Director Laser Business Europe at Yamazaki Mazak, commented: “Supporting automation systems for sheet metal cutting applications have been an integral part of the industry over the last few years. However, the end-user demand for flexible and more accurate cells has intensified.
“To help service this demand, Mazak is delighted to unveil our latest robotic automation cell dedicated to sheet metal cutting at Blechexpo. The show has fast become a mainstay of the laser users calendar, and it is the perfect platform to unveil the company’s latest automation offering, along with the new 8.0kW variant of our highly popular OPTIPLEX 3015 FIBER III series, and the flagship model from the OPTIPLEX DDL series.”
