FOCUS ON LASER CUTTING
Because of highly automated machines like the TruLaser Center 7030 , Hans Sanders can increase his productivity .
All Images : TRUMPF .
Programming the TruLaser Center 7030 .
machines take over , including three TruLaser Center 7030 fibre laser cutting systems from TRUMPF . The all-rounders take care of the entire machining process , from loading the raw material to the completely sorted component , virtually independently .
Unmanned 24-hour shifts
Up to 2021 , a 4kW TruLaser 3030 , a 6kW TruLaser 5030 and an 8kW TruLaser 5030 fiber were connected to the STOPA storage system at VDL Technics .
“ After these highly productive machines had worked all weekend , lasering around 150 hours , my staff had the task of tidying away and storing the finished parts in the STOPA storage system every Monday ,” explained Hans Sanders . “ That took another 125 to 150 hours , which meant we lost the time advantage gained by quick cutting . In addition , it was very monotonous work ; skilled workers are much too good for that ,” he added .
He told his contact at sheet metal specialist , TRUMPF , a few years ago , how much he would appreciate a machine that not only cuts but also independently removes the parts , stacks them on pallets and brings them into the store . However , when TRUMPF presented him with the TruLaser Center 7030 which can do exactly that , Sanders still waited . He wanted to see how the machine proved itself in practice .
But the time came in 2021 when the first fullservice laser machine was put into operation at VDL Technics .
When Sanders placed the order , it was under the proviso that TRUMPF install a 12kW laser instead of the standard 6kW laser . That was provided and around ten weeks later , the machine was running its first unmanned 24-hour shifts . Today , five TruLaser Center 7030 systems operate across the entire VDL Group . Sanders now has three full-service laser machines in his production , and his colleagues from sister companies VDL Industrial Modules and VDL NSA Metaal now rely on the fullservice machines .
The all-rounders take care of the entire machining process , from loading the raw material to the completely sorted component , virtually independently
Easy operation
The three TruLaser Center 7030 full-service laser machines , as well as another laser system and a bending machine from TRUMPF , are connected to a STOPA high-bay storage rack . This will soon be followed by a 24kW laser system .
“ The only thing that is still done manually is storing raw sheets in the STOPA store ,” explained Sanders proudly . However , none of the other machines work as fully autonomously as his three TruLaser Center 7030 machines .
“ We program the systems offline using the TruTops Boost programming software and then that ’ s it . From that point on , the machines take care of everything automatically ,” outlined Sanders .
Programming is easier than with conventional automated laser cutting systems because of the high degree of automation of the TruLaser Center 7030 .
“ My programmers can handle the systems and we have a fully finished part at the end of the process ,” maintained Sanders .
Process reliability
Hans Sanders believes that logistics are the most important [ element ] in production . “ What is the point if the laser cutting process is fast but the downstream processes come to a halt due to delays caused by manual removal ?” he asked . The process reliability of his machines is much more important to him .
“ We have a problem if a part is tilted somewhere along the line during unmanned cutting ,” he added . The TruLaser Center 7030 is equipped with numerous functions to prevent this from happening . For example , SmartGate integrated in the brush tables prevents parts from overturning . It consists of two carriages that move synchronously to the cutting head
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