SYSTEM INTEGRATION The intelligent
integration of a laser into a system improves the capability and efficiency of the tool
DESIGNED FOR LIGHT I
Greg Blackman speaks to laser system integrators and asks how best to get the most out of a laser machine
n some circles now the laser might almost be considered a commodity manufacturing tool; in others its use is still thought of as a bit of a black art requiring specialist knowledge. Te
work that goes into building a laser machining solution can vary enormously, depending on the task, so how do you get the best out of a laser and what questions should engineers ask system integrators when deciding on the production process? ‘Integration always starts with the end point,’
commented Dr Geoff Shannon, manager, advanced technology at laser system maker and
22 LASER SYSTEMS EUROPE ISSUE 29 • WINTER 2015
integrator Amada Miyachi. Tis can then be broken down into the application and system needs in order to fulfil the production requirements. ‘Sometimes our customers come to us with a
clear idea of the solution they have in mind; even the laser source is specified,’ commented Uwe Wagner, chief sales officer at 3D-Micromac. ‘In these cases, the customer generally does the process development. In other cases, we have to choose the laser source, the motion system, the optical beam path, and other components. Tere are also economic considerations for production systems, so it isn’t just the quality of the processing that’s important, but also how cost-efficient the system is in terms of investment as well as cost of ownership.’ 3D-Micromac, based in Chemnitz, Germany,
is a laser micromachining company offering standard systems, complete production solutions, and customised systems.
Te integrator needs not just to have
knowledge of laser technology, but also mechanical and electrical engineering, and oſten soſtware programming. Tilo von Grafenstein, marketing manager at Acsys Lasertechnik, a provider of laser machines, commented that a good laser system integrator should have knowledge of all these disciplines and how they interact with each other. Shannon noted that most of the time it’s a
collaboration between the integrator and the end-user. ‘It’s hugely beneficial for an integrator to have a solid understanding of the application, as opposed to purely making a machine to a specification. In many cases, the end-user doesn’t have sufficient understanding of the laser technology and system features to define a specification fully. It’s hugely beneficial to be able to lean on the integrator to choose the right laser and optimise the laser parameters to create a system that will work.’
@lasersystemsmag |
www.lasersystemseurope.com
3D Micromac
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