FOCUS ON LASER CUTTING
Its flexible design also allows for stable cutting of highly reflective materials such as copper , brass and aluminium , and higher productivity when cutting thin-to-medium-thickness material
A laser-cut fire pit design from JSR .
at JSR noticed Mazak ’ s OPTIPLEX NEXUS 3015 FIBER laser processing solution during a visit to Mazak ’ s European Technology Centre in Worcester , UK . As this model was similar in specification to JSR ’ s existing laser , the company believed it could be suitable for machining its products .
The latest machine in the series , the OPTIPLEX NEXUS 3015 FIBER uses flying optics and a helical rack and pinion positioning system that enables high cutting speeds , maximum throughput and rugged construction . Its flexible design also allows for stable cutting of highly reflective materials such as copper , brass and aluminium , and higher productivity when cutting thin-tomedium-thickness material , which proved beneficial to JSR .
“ Not only did the new machine seamlessly replace our old laser with no compromise in quality , the increased reliability of the OPTIPLEX NEXUS meant there was less downtime than our previous model ,” said Simon Pepper . “ This , combined with the faster cutting times , means we can fulfil complex orders even more quickly , allowing the business to grow further .”
One such example of a difficult project made easier by the OPTIPLEX NEXUS ’ innovative design was a recent enquiry for 1500 mild steel parts , made up of
190 drawings of components ranging in thickness from 5mm to 20mm . Utilising JSR ’ s programming software to record off-cuts that could be repurposed , the OPTIPLEX NEXUS was able to quickly machine parts while keeping waste material to a minimum . As a result , JSR ’ s customers were able to save money while enjoying precise processing work and a lead time of just three days from initial enquiry to order delivery .
Laser cutting services have become increasingly more popular over recent years , said the company . JSR can deliver one-off products , batch or mass-produced parts . Its sales and design team works with customers throughout the process to ensure that a specification is correct .
Its new Mazak laser , it told ISMR , is ‘ three times faster than an ordinary CO 2 laser cutting system and has increased efficiency and production in the business , allowing us to provide increased capacity and a faster turnaround for our customers ’.
The new laser cutting system is suitable for cutting stainless steel ; aluminium ; brass ; bronze ; copper ; thin gauge steel and steel plate with a high-quality finished edge .
JSR ’ s laser cutting facilities can cut sheet dimensions of up to 3000mm x 1500mm .
“ Our new fibre laser eliminates mirrors and other components of the beam delivery path by using fibre optics to significantly reduce the cost of maintenance , allowing us and our customers to benefit from production cost efficiency . Equipped with sensors that monitor and adjust the laser focus and calibration for additional accuracy , the OPTIPLEX NEXUS 3015 FIBER includes additional intelligent cutting functions which optimise cutting conditions to provide quality surface finishes during high-speed cutting , so that there is no further requirement for secondary finishing ,” said Simon Pepper .
He concluded : “ The innovative design of the new laser processing machine means it has fitted seamlessly into our existing operations and become an integral part in a very important and continually expanding part of the business .” n
Above , inset and right : The cutting head on the OPTIPLEX NEXUS 3015 FIBER .
ISMR March 2021 | sheetmetalplus . com | 21