Centre (MTC). Constructed by system integrator Cyan Tec Systems, the demonstration cell comprises a 12m x 4m 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. FANUC was the clear choice for automation
A
partner on this project. “The main reason for working with FANUC was the fact that they could offer a seamless automation solution incorporating not just the robot but also the laser and motion system,” says Cyan Tec’s project co-ordinator Grant Copson.
BIGGER IS BETTER The system was specifically commissioned by the MTC to sit at the upper end of industry expectations in terms of scale to showcase to visiting manufacturers just what is possible within automated laser cutting. There is real scope for the cell to be used within the aerospace and automotive industries, or any industry that requires large-scale pre-cut profiles. The construction sector could also benefit from cells of this size, in particular for precision cutting of profile sections for prefabricated buildings. The cutting table and robot sit inside a
large enclosure measuring 15.5m x 9m, but the space requirements go even further. The cutting table slides out an additional 13m ensuring that if an operator wants to load a 12m x 4m product, they have adequate access to do so – even if this requires the use of a crane or forklift truck.
suite of automation solutions from FANUC has proved integral to the delivery of an industrial-scale laser cutting cell commissioned by the UK’s Manufacturing Technology
bringing MTC’s vision of a large- sCale roboTiC laser CuTTing Cell To life
FLEXIBLE BY DESIGN 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. Ray Timberlake, sales manager for factory
automation products at FANUC UK, points out that industrial machines of this sort have 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,” he explains. Capable of handling payloads of 25kg, the
FANUC M-20iB robot was chosen for its high precision and reach of up to 2m. There are cameras inside the enclosure to monitor production for quality and safety. In addition, 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.
40 ConneCTing inDusTrY 20Th anniversarY eDiTion
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