PRECISION ENGINEERING
The new automated fibre laser cutter at Hammond.
Manway cover( carbon steel).
Image: Hammond Machine Works.
iNspire 1530 F20.0
Eagle Laser’ s iNspire 1530 F20.0 fibre laser cutting machine with its components, dynamic linear motors on all axes, modern composite material body, carbon fibre traverse and eVa cutting head is designed to deliver high functioning efficiencies. This includes a positioning speed of up to 340m / minute and acceleration of 6G.
At Hammond Machine Works, automated plate storage capabilities speed up the process even more.
“ We can now control scheduling better, have direct oversight of quality inspection and review and seamlessly move parts into our further assembly operation without any supply chain interruptions,” confirmed Hammond Machine Works.
Eagle Lasers is a high-tech R & D company specialising in advanced fibre laser systems and automation solutions for sheet metal processing. Laser cutting automation systems reduce downtime, increase throughput and optimise a machine’ s performance while providing a safer environment for operators.
■ Aluminium from 1 / 16 in. up to 1 in.
■ Carbon steel up to 1.25 in.
■ Stainless steel up to 7 / 8 in.
The machine cuts using nitrogen, oxygen or mixed gas, allowing operators to optimise cut quality depending upon the application.
“ When I cut aluminium with nitrogen, I get the cleanest finish,” Jones confirmed.“ For thicker materials, mixed gas gives me better results without needing excessive pressure.”
One of the greatest advantages Hammond Machine Works noticed was the quality of the cut parts.
“ The burn quality of the parts coming off the Eagle is perfect,” Nau added.
The company purchased a deburring machine to handle edges but, in many cases,
parts can move directly to the next process step.
“ Sometimes we’ ll just knock the edge off with a grinder or send the part straight to the next operation,” said Nau.
Service and support
Both management and operators highlight Eagle’ s service and support as another key advantage.
“ The service has been very responsive,” Nau confirmed.“ Our operators can send an email and usually get a response within an hour.”
If a problem requires deeper troubleshooting, technicians can connect through the Eagle Eye remote camera system, allowing service engineers to see exactly what the operator sees inside the machine.
“ They can walk us through how to fix the issue step-by-step,” outlined Nau.
For Jones, the responsiveness of the support team is critical to maintaining production.
“ If we ever need a part, it usually arrives overnight,” he explained.“ We install it the next morning and the machine is running again.”
Two-year ROI
Perhaps the most remarkable result of Hammond Machine Works’ investment is the machine’ s financial performance.
“ The ROI( return on investment) that we expected was five, six, maybe seven years,” Nau explained.“ However, we actually paid the machine off in two years.”
“ The combination of speed, automation, cut quality and reliability has allowed the company to reduce lead times, increase throughput and compete more effectively in a demanding market,” Eagle Laser told ISMR.
Asked whether he would recommend Eagle to other manufacturers, Nau said:“ Eagle would be my first choice. The service has been top notch, and the machine is a workhorse. It has chewed through everything we’ ve given it and more.”
As demand for faster turnaround and precision continues to grow across the rail and manufacturing sectors, investments in advanced fabrication technology are becoming a critical tool for job shops looking to remain competitive.
For Hammond, the Eagle fibre laser cutter has not only increased productivity but also created new opportunities for growth. n
www. hammondmachine. com /
www. eaglelasers. com
32 | ismr. net | ISMR June 2026