VIDEO: How to Simplify Low-Volume and High-Mix Part Production

From cutting a part out of a metal sheet to bending it, small to medium job shops face high costs involved in CO₂laser cutting and the tiring, monotonous operation of bending machines.

However, advances in automation, HMIs and laser technology, make it possible to streamline these processes to cut down costs and simplify operators’ jobs.

Fiber laser cutting is still a evolving technology, although some experts believe it may advance to the point of completely replacing conventional CO₂ cutting solutions.

“Fiber is known for cutting thin materials really fast, but with new innovations in the technology we can now see it cutting thicker materials,” said Frank Arteaga, head of product marketing for Bystronic INC.

A 1.8" aluminum part cut by the BySpring Fiber 3015 by Bystronic INC.

“As we see more and more developments in R&D, fiber will be able to process thicker and thicker materials,” Arteaga continued. “At this point with fiber laser cutting, we’re still cutting thicker materials slower than CO₂, but it’s a lower cost per part due to spending 50 percent less in operating costs.”

Laser Etched QR Codes Simplify Part Bending Operations

Speeding up and simplifying production processes is the ultimate goal of industrial automation.

Working toward this goal, Bystronic has developed an interesting combination with their BySpring Fiber 3015 fiber laser cutting machine and their Xpert 40 press brake, streamlining the two processes with QR codes.

A laser etches a QR code onto the sheet. The code can be scanned to identify the part and, in certain press brakes, to bring up a bending program. (Image courtesy of Bystronic Inc.)

“With a fiber laser, we can etch a QR code onto a part and then use the scanner on the Xpert 40 to scan the code, which will bring up the exact program the operator requires to process the part,” Arteaga said. “Scanning basically eliminates any kind of error like the operator putting in the wrong kind of program, so we know it’s gone through the process with the right program for the right part.”

Programmed QR codes can be generated for each part in association with their part number to further simplify the process.

“For a high-mix, low-volume run it’s very easy to make the right program for the material you are bending,” Arteaga continued.

For more information, visit www.bystronic.com.