Available for the company’s ENSIS and LCG (4 kW+) range of fibre laser cutting machines, these breakthrough innovations ensure superior quality in comparison to standard fibre lasers, allowing customers to enter new markets and win new orders.
For fibre lasers, it is well documented that quality dips below that of CO2 lasers when working on thicker sheets with certain materials. Silky Cut has been developed to offer CO2-quality stainless steel processing up to 15 mm thick using fibre laser technology, while Gas Mixer is designed for CO2-quality processing of aluminium when using fibre laser technology.
Silky Cut is a combination of Amada’s own fibre laser source, new cutting head design and optimisation of the beam path optics, as well as advanced understanding of gas-flow dynamics and beam-shaping techniques. Customers can now process mid-to-thick stainless steel with the confidence that it will meet the highest standards. In addition, users processing thicker materials can now enjoy the reduction in energy consumption associated with fibre laser cutting, which is typically 70% less than an equivalent CO2 laser. Sectors set to benefit include, oil and gas applications and food industry equipment.
For aluminium cutting, although near dross-free aluminium fibre laser profiling can be achieved using oxygen as the cutting gas, because of the inability to weld after oxygen cutting, this solution is rarely applicable. As a result, most opt for nitrogen when cutting aluminium, which is fast but exhibits quality that is less than satisfactory in some instances.
Using Gas Mixer system, gases are mixed to a proven ratio that allows the perfect combination of improved cut quality and post-cutting weldability. Subsequently, users have the potential to eliminate secondary operations and reduce welding defects in comparison with oxygen-cut parts. Manufacturers working in the automotive, aerospace and general subcontract markets will be among those to benefit most.
Along with Silky Cut and Gas Mixer, customers choosing ENSIS machines will enjoy the additional advantage of original variable beam control technology. ENSIS technology allows high speed processing of thin materials, high quality processing of thick mild steel with negligible taper, and high speed piercing of thick mild steel. Moreover, the 3 kW ENSIS fibre laser can process the same thickness mild steel (25 mm) as a standard 6 kW fibre laser, with half the power. The upshot is lower cost-per-part, lower energy bills and greater profit margins. The ENSIS machine has proved particularly popular among sub-contractors, who demand flexibility with reduced process costs.
In summary, while many manufacturers are switching to fibre laser technology to increase profit through faster processing and reduced energy consumption on thin parts, quality can be compromised at the thicker end of the material spectrum. With this in mind, any fabrication or profiling shops faced with processing both thin and thick materials should opt for Silky Cut and Gas Mixer to enjoy benefits across the board. There will no longer be any need to retain a CO2 laser cutting machine, or compromise on quality.
