How to reduce material waste in laser processing, Part 1

Most machine tool manufacturers use dynamic nesting software to make the best use of the available material. BLM GROUP goes beyond simple nesting, leveraging advanced machine and software functions to minimize machining waste.

Advanced in-machine features to get the most out of the material

BLM GROUP’s Lasertube machines are equipped with various mechanisms that allow material to be cut as close as possible to the end of the bar, making more efficient use of the material’s usable length:

• Scrap reduction: This machine cycle, typical of BLM GROUP’s Lasertube machines, moves the spindle forward, making it possible to cut the material very close to the chuck. This increases the total length of the material available, allowing it to be used for additional cuts.

   

• Zero scrap: Available on large Lasertube models - LT14 FIBER and LT24 - this feature allows the tail carriage to be moved backward, leaving the tube fully exposed at the end and supported by two chucks allowing the material’s full length tube utilized, and both ends tube laser-cut.
  
  
  
  
  
• Active Sense: An intelligent process control feature available on the LT7 and LT8.20 that optimizes cutting parameters - while the machine is cutting - to reduce scrap or increase productivity, depending on the material quality.
  
  

In addition to the machine's built-in features, the BLM GROUP software suite—Elements—offers functions that further reduce scrap, simplify the programming process, and enable rapid production startup.

Continue reading: How to reduce material waste with laser processing, Part 2