ISMR February 2023 | Page 31

FOCUS ON LASER CUTTING

Below and inset : A selection of laser-cut parts at Beuting Metalltechnik GmbH & Co . KG .
Automation and digitalisation
The entire industry of steel service centres , contract cutters and metal processors is under pressure . To remain competitive , Beuting Metalltechnik GmbH & Co . KG must meet the increased demands of its customers on the quality of their parts . This is compounded by the shortage of skilled workers .
“ In the future , all parts supplied by us are to be processed on robot welding systems at our customers ’ premises . We must prepare for this by automating and digitalising our manufacturing processes ,” explained Mechthild Beuting , managing director of the company . “[ Our experience is ] that plasma cutting systems are more difficult to automate and machine operators are harder to recruit for plasma cutting systems than for laser cutting systems . In addition , employees are less and less willing to work in shifts .”
The plasma cutting system from Messer Cutting Systems , delivered in 2006 , could no longer meet these increased requirements and Beuting needed a sustainable replacement solution . The requirement criteria were very high .
The new cutting machine had to be able to cut sheet formats of up to 3 x 8m with a sheet thickness of up to 20mm , as well as offer burr-free cuts . Chamfers should be possible up to 15mm , with 90 % chamfered parts with a maximum angle of +/ -50 ° and a tolerance of less than 0.5mm with V , Y , X and K seams . It was also important for the new machine to be able to process metal sheets with varying surface quality such as blasted , lightly rusted , primed , oiled etc .
“ The main focus for us centred on the intuitive operation of the machine . After a short training period , our operators should be able to handle the machine safely ( and on their own ) and be able to operate it semi-unmanned in a second shift . In addition , it had to be possible to integrate our own shuttle table system into the machine ,” Stefan Tenhumberg , project manager at Beuting , explained . “ We also need a lot of flexibility to convert the machine to higher laser powers as customer requirements increase and more powerful laser sources become available .”
Ulrike Beuting , project manager for digitalisation and prospective managing director , is thinking one step further ….
“ We naturally want to push ahead with the automation of our production . The first step is to transfer orders from the ERP system to the machine and have the machines report back with valuable real-time data on times and quantities . For this , we needed a practical and functioning overall concept .”
In May 2021 , Beuting Metalltechnik upgraded its ERP system to the latest version . With the changeover , various processes were improved and interfaces activated . Expected benefits include work-step simplification ; a permanent , up-to-date overview of production status ; further improvement in delivery date adherence ; reduction
The ELEMENT L at Beuting Metalltechnik GmbH & Co . KG . of throughput times and stock levels ; faster responses to customers during the order flow ; shorter delivery times etc .
Breaking new ground
After extensive market analysis , in 2021 the company opted for the ELEMENT 400 L laser cutting machine from Messer Cutting Systems with a new ‘ Bevel-U ’ bevel head and 8kW IPG laser source as well as the automatic Laser Nozzle Control ( LNC ) and Global Connect machine control system . Further digitisation of production is possible with the latest version of the CAD / CAM nesting software , OmniWin , and the digitisation suite , OmniFab , with ERP- Connect , Job Management , PDC and Machine Insight modules .
“ When we decided on this solution , we were very aware that not only were we breaking new ground with the ELEMENT L , the LNC and the Global Connect , but so was Messer Cutting Systems ,” explained Mechthild Beuting .
Ingo Staudinger , Product Manager , Material Handling and Lasers , Messer Cutting Systems , added : “ It was also clear to us that the introduction of three new products at a customer ’ s site would mean a maximum challenge for both sides . But the partnership in place since 2006 was so good that we were able to take this step together .”
First , the old plasma cutting machine had to be dismantled and the foundation for the new machine created . This was followed by assembly of the special track by Messer Cutting Systems and construction of the shuttle table system by Beuting . Regular productive operation of the ELEMENT 400 L with one shift has been running since December 2021 .
Ingo Staudinger , Product Manager , Laser & Material Handling , Messer Cutting Systems .
ISMR February 2023 | ismr . net | 31