Half of those were for high power models launched at the EuroBLECH show in Hanover at the end of October last year. Two of the seven high power machines were 8 kW, with the remainder equipped with the 10 kW fibre laser source, the most powerful currently available on the UK market.
Says Larcombe: “Of the seven lower power fibre laser machines we sold during the last two months of 2016, five were 6 kW, while the other two were rated at 4 kW and 2 kW. There is still a demand for the latter, competitively priced fibre models from manufacturers processing only thinner gauge materials.”
Higher power fibre lasers are the future, believes David Larcombe
That said, he believes that higher power fibre laser machines are the future, as they can cut thicker plate and produce superior quality edge. The 10 kW fibre source is able to process 25 mm mild steel and 30 mm stainless steel and aluminium. Fibre also allows reflective materials to be cut safely. The same source can tackle 15 mm brass and 12 mm copper, formerly the province of waterjet or plasma cutting machines.
More importantly, says Larcombe, is the ability of the 10 kW source to cut mid-range thickness materials much faster. Mild and stainless steels in the 3 to 6 mm range, for example, can be profiled 2.5 to 3 times faster than with a 6 kW fibre laser, providing a massive boost to productivity.
