Laser Cutting Machine Generates Bevels While Cutting, Reduces Downstream Processes
TRUMPF Inc. will show a new laser cutting machine that automatically prepares parts for welding at the FABTECH 2024 show in Orlando. The TruLaser Series 3000 Bevel Cut Edition can produce beveled cutting edges (chamfers) on the top and bottom edge of the component while cutting. This ensures optimum preparation of the welding edges and reduces downstream processes. The machine can apply chamfers to sheets of up to 1 inch thick and handle complex bevel geometries with ease. The TruLaser Series 3000 Bevel Cut Edition solution is particularly suitable for mild and stainless steel.
“With the TruLaser Series 3000 Bevel Cut Edition, manufacturers have a particularly productive universal machine with which they can integrate downstream process steps into laser machining,” said Grant Fergusson, TRUMPF Inc. TruLaser 2D laser cutting product manager. “Thanks to the unique design of the cutting unit, the machine can create chamfers of up to 50 degrees, depending on the sheet thickness, which is more than the 45 degrees that were previously standard in the industry.”
High flexibility in bevel design
For this solution, TRUMPF has equipped the cutting unit of the TruLaser Series 3000 Bevel Cut Edition with two additional rotary axes, ultra compact drive motors, and a nozzle specifically developed for bevel cutting. Thanks to the special design, the cutting head can be tilted in all directions up to an angle of 50 degrees. As usual, the cutting unit regulates the distance to the sheet, minimizing the risk of collision despite the steep angle. The TruLaser Series 3000 Bevel Cut Edition also comes equipped with TRUMPF collision protection, to further guarantee process reliability and prevent structural damage by avoiding collisions with tipped parts.
Due to the cutting unit’s high flexibility, users can create bevels in different geometries. In addition to the classic V and Y edges, edge geometries in which both sides of the part edge are provided with bevel cuts, also known as double V (DV) edges or X prep and double Y (DY) edges or K prep, are possible. This edge-geometry flexibility is advantageous when complex parts or groups of parts must be welded.
To meet the high demands required to prepare complex bevel cuts, TRUMPF has developed a new, particularly simple, and intuitive programming system. It contains a preselection of all the processing strategies, which the user can flexibly adapt as required. There are also predefined cutting parameters for the special bevel cut nozzles. This does not reduce the high productivity of the TruLaser Series 3000.
For 2D processing of components without bevels, the machine is equipped with all of TRUMPF’s proven laser cutting features, such as Highspeed Eco for gas consumption reduction, FlexLine for the reliable processing of different material grades, and EdgeLine Bevel for the rounding of the upper sheet edges.
The TruLaser Series 3000 Bevel Cut Edition will officially launch at EuroBLECH in Germany and will make a North American debut at the FABTECH show in Florida.
“We are excited to share this bevel cutting capability with our American customers, many of whom have requested bevel cutting to enhance production,” added Fergusson. “At TRUMPF, our success is built on meeting customer needs with new technologies. With this new bevel cutting product, manufacturers can realize substantial savings in setup times, tooling costs, and material handling.”
About TRUMPF
TRUMPF is a high-tech company offering manufacturing solutions in the fields of machine tools and laser technology. It drives digital connectivity in manufacturing through consulting, platform products, and software. TRUMPF is one of the technology and market leaders in highly versatile machine tools for sheet metal processing, and in the field of industrial lasers.
In 2023/24, TRUMPF employed approximately 18,550 people and generated sales of around 5.2 billion euros (preliminary figures). With about 90 companies, the TRUMPF Group is represented in Europe, North America, South America and Asia. The company has production facilities in Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, the Czech Republic, the United States, Mexico and China.
