The Benefit of Modular Laser Cells
What can industrial laser technology be used for?
Have you heard of laser technology? The answer is probably yes, though industrial lasers are certainly not to be mistaken with laser hair removal or laser eye surgery. Here we are talking about the integration of, often, high power laser sources for the processing of a wide range of individual applications. In the main, Cyan Tec Systems focus on laser cutting and welding, but also have valued experience in the production of systems for marking, cleaning, cladding, and ablating with industrial lasers.
The specific applications where lasers can be used is incredibly varied, though some examples include cutting of interior and exterior trim for automotive products, welding of nuclear waste containers and marking critical pharmaceutical components.
What is the best laser for the application?
The selection of the laser source and optics is essential to making a project of this ilk a success, and the process of choosing the right laser is made much easier with the helping hand of a specialist integrator, like Cyan Tec. In addition to the decision making surrounding the laser itself, said integrator must have the required experience in providing high-end automation too. This can include the collaboration of robotics, transfer devices such as conveyors, rotary tables and linear drives, control systems and most importantly, class 1 laser guarding.
What advantage do modular configurations offer the end user?
The biggest benefit of modular laser cells, contrary to custom built equipment, is that the elements being supplied are already proven as integrated combinations. This incidentally lowers the perceptual and more importantly, the actual risk to customers that are new to automation. In addition, the end user can easily configure their own automated machine using the modules that are offered by Cyan Tec. The Hyperion range of machines, including the recently launched Flexlase, lends itself particularly well to laser cutting and welding applications, with over half a dozen machines that each have different elements available to ‘mix and match’, creating a personalised Hyperion machine.
Are there any limitations do the modular configurations?
Of course, there are restrictions, as is often the case with modular automated solutions. However, the options that are offered within the Hyperion range – something that will continue to grow – is expected to cover most eventualities, especially in cutting and welding. The main benefit of working alongside an automation company, such as Cyan Tec, is that if the modular laser cells do not meet your specification, the dedicated engineering team are able to come up with a custom automated solution.
The Flexlase, a flexible laser processing cell that was recently launched at the Fanuc Open Day and MACH 2022, is designed to meet a lot of laser cutting and welding requirements but also has the ultimate flexibility to be add additional components such as conveyors and automated loading systems.
One of the impressive features of Flexlase is the compact footprint in comparison to the working area of the table. This machine is designed with three main configurations: a basic weld table, a weld table with rotary device and a basic cutting table.
