CNC Laser Cutters Use Mirrors To Focus
Trumpf CNC laser cutters use mirrors to focus, enabling users to cut at high laser output with high quality without having to constantly clean the cutting lenses. The cutting head strategy was introduced at the company's in-house trade fair Intech on 27-30 April 2010 in Ditzingen. In contrast to the lens cutting head, in which the laser beam passes through the lens, the new cutting head focuses the laser beam by reflecting it at two cooled mirrors.
Debris does not cause heating or changes in the focusing properties, which is why the cutting head with mirrors cuts perfectly at high laser output, according to Trumpf. The new cutting head is now available for the 2D laser cutting system Trulaser 5030 in combination with the CO2 laser Truflow 6000. At high laser output, focusing lenses react sensitively to dirt and debris. Laser beams are absorbed by even the smallest particles and transformed into heat.
In the worst case, this damages the lens coating and makes the lens unusable. Consequently, users must clean the lens often in order to maintain high cutting quality. The uncoated copper mirrors of the new cutting head, on the other hand, are more rugged. Even debris that would make a lens unusable for cutting has almost no effect on the focusing mirror. One feature that makes this possible is continuous water cooling behind the surface of the mirror. This dissipates the heat generated when debris absorbs the laser radiation.
Therefore, the focusing mirror exhibits a longer lifecycle than the lens. Even extensive soiling of the mirrors can be simply removed. This opens up the possibility for the user of processing materials outside his usual range. The mirrors can deal with possible splatters without permanent damage. Therefore the user can define the appropriate laser parameters without the risk of disrupting the cutting optics. Whereas a lens must be cleaned after 24 hours of continual use with a 6kW laser, mirrors will only have to be cleaned after about 240 hours of operation.
The mirrors are also quick and easy to clean. They are loosened with commercially available tools, cleaned with a special cleanser and cotton pads and then easily reinstalled. The nozzles do not have to be re-centred after installation; precise stops ensure that the mirrors are always seated in the right position. The design provides for pressure conditions inside the cutting head that prevent penetration of cutting gas, fine particles, or environmental air into the beam guide of the machine. This guarantees consistent and dependable operation, Trumpf said. The cutting head with mirrors is equal to the lens cutting head, both in the sheet thickness that can be cut and in feed speeds.
Furthermore, synchronous starting enables an optimised flow between piercing and cutting. This increases process reliability and reduces the time for each part. The interface with the cutting head seating is the same for mirror and lens cutting heads. This makes it possible to change cutting heads in one move. The new cutting head can be retrofitted in Trulaser 5030 systems delivered after November 2008. The application determines which cutting head is more advantageous: for high-speed or compressed air cutting, the lens cutting head provides full flexibility and high advance speed. For standard processes and demanding tasks, the mirror cutting head ensures good processing results and high reliability.
Debris does not cause heating or changes in the focusing properties, which is why the cutting head with mirrors cuts perfectly at high laser output, according to Trumpf. The new cutting head is now available for the 2D laser cutting system Trulaser 5030 in combination with the CO2 laser Truflow 6000. At high laser output, focusing lenses react sensitively to dirt and debris. Laser beams are absorbed by even the smallest particles and transformed into heat.
In the worst case, this damages the lens coating and makes the lens unusable. Consequently, users must clean the lens often in order to maintain high cutting quality. The uncoated copper mirrors of the new cutting head, on the other hand, are more rugged. Even debris that would make a lens unusable for cutting has almost no effect on the focusing mirror. One feature that makes this possible is continuous water cooling behind the surface of the mirror. This dissipates the heat generated when debris absorbs the laser radiation.
Therefore, the focusing mirror exhibits a longer lifecycle than the lens. Even extensive soiling of the mirrors can be simply removed. This opens up the possibility for the user of processing materials outside his usual range. The mirrors can deal with possible splatters without permanent damage. Therefore the user can define the appropriate laser parameters without the risk of disrupting the cutting optics. Whereas a lens must be cleaned after 24 hours of continual use with a 6kW laser, mirrors will only have to be cleaned after about 240 hours of operation.
The mirrors are also quick and easy to clean. They are loosened with commercially available tools, cleaned with a special cleanser and cotton pads and then easily reinstalled. The nozzles do not have to be re-centred after installation; precise stops ensure that the mirrors are always seated in the right position. The design provides for pressure conditions inside the cutting head that prevent penetration of cutting gas, fine particles, or environmental air into the beam guide of the machine. This guarantees consistent and dependable operation, Trumpf said. The cutting head with mirrors is equal to the lens cutting head, both in the sheet thickness that can be cut and in feed speeds.
Furthermore, synchronous starting enables an optimised flow between piercing and cutting. This increases process reliability and reduces the time for each part. The interface with the cutting head seating is the same for mirror and lens cutting heads. This makes it possible to change cutting heads in one move. The new cutting head can be retrofitted in Trulaser 5030 systems delivered after November 2008. The application determines which cutting head is more advantageous: for high-speed or compressed air cutting, the lens cutting head provides full flexibility and high advance speed. For standard processes and demanding tasks, the mirror cutting head ensures good processing results and high reliability.
Comments