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FEATURE MACHINE BUILDING, FRAMEWORKS & SAFETY
sponsored by
A CUTTING EDGE
SOLUTION
To help manufacturers across a range of sectors understand just what is possible within the field of automated laser cutting, the UK’s Manufacturing Technology Centre
(MTC) commissioned an industrial-scale laser cutting cell with a 12 x 4m cutting table. With automation solutions integral to its design, the machine builder turned to FANUC UK
T
he UK’s Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) has commissioned an industrial-scale laser cutting cell to showcase the
possibilities of automated laser cutting for a range of industries. Not only could the cell be used in the aerospace and automotive industries, as well as other industries that requires large- scale pre-cut profiles, but the construction sector could also benefit from cells of this size, in particular for precision cutting of profile sections for prefabricated buildings. The demonstration cell has been built by
Cyan Tec Systems and features a suite of automation solutions from FANUC UK.
THE DESIGN The demonstration cell comprises a cutting table and, from FANUC UK, a six-axis robot, a computerised numerical control (CNC) system for the flatbed, and the laser, all contained within a laser-secure enclosure. The cutting table and robot sit inside an
enclosure measuring 15.5m x 9m. However, the cutting table slides out an additional 13m to enable an operator to load a product measuring 12m x 4m – even if this requires the use of a crane or forklift truck.
The laser cutting bed is designed to handle flat plate, while the FANUC M-20iB robot is deployed to cut tubular sections. The robot’s six axes are mounted on a floor track and driven synchronously with a FANUC seventh axis, allowing it to move up and down the tube being cut. The integrated laser is versatile enough to be applied to either tubular or flat metal and can be regulated to suit different material types. Industrial machines of this sort have
20 DESIGN SOLUTIONS MAY 2023
traditionally been entrusted to plasma cutters, but in this application fibre laser equipment was the only possible solution to achieve the accuracy. “The choice of laser cutting is not so much about speed, but more about the quality of the finish that you achieve,” explained Ray Timberlake, sales manager for factory automation products at FANUC UK. Offering high precision and a reach up to 2m, the FANUC M-20iB robot is capable of handling payloads of 25kg. Furthermore, cameras are placed within the
enclosure to monitor production for quality and safety, and the enclosure is laser-tight to protect against scattering from laser beams, with interlocked guard doors to ensure there is no access while the laser is running.
OBSTACLES There were a number of hurdles to overcome to complete the project, including the MTC needing to make internal alterations to accommodate a cell of this size. The entire installation was first constructed at Cyan Tec’s
workshop, commissioned there, then stripped apart, shipped and reconstructed at the MTC. Grant Copson from Cyan Tec commented: “The main challenge was the physical size of the cell, as well as the detail of constructing guarding on that scale – ensuring it was safe, and engineering a table that moves in and out automatically, were paramount. The automation itself was less challenging, given that we are well used to applying these technologies.”
MACHINE CONTROL To control the flatbed CNC system, FANUC provided its 21.5in iH Pro human-machine interface (HMI) panel, along with all the motors and drives, while Cyan Tec created its own control software for the entire cell, accessed through the HMI. The ‘complete package’ that Cyan Tec sourced
from FANUC included 30ib series controls, managing both axis and machine functions, and the FANUC beam switch, which directs the laser beam either towards the robot or the flatbed. When selecting the control system,
compatibility with the laser – including, potentially, those from other suppliers – was an important consideration. Since the project completed, FANUC has launched its 0iFL series of laser-compatible controllers, which effectively perform the same role in an even more cost-effective way.
FANUC UK
T: 024 7605 3130
www.fanuc.eu/uk/en
The demonstration cell comprises a cutting table and, from FANUC UK, a six-axis robot, a computerised
numerical control (CNC) system for the flatbed, and the laser
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