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Laser Cutting Article List
Laser cutting related articles
There are 55 articles related to laser cutting.
With sales forecasts predicting that fiber laser sales will increase by 16 percent, to $323 million, in 2008--$112 million of that in metal processing industries--this year is being called the year of the fiber laser. A closer look at the technology shows why this might be true.
By: Mark Richmond - The FABRICATOR®, 8/26/08
 This article has been viewed: 380 times.  Printed: 45 times
Hawkeye Industries Inc., Tupelo, Miss., was getting more and more orders for parts that required both punching and laser cutting. To meet the growing demand, the company purchased a combination punch/laser machine. Some shops are more suited than others to this technolgy--combination machines can in...
By: Michael Bishop, Assistant Editor - The FABRICATOR®, 8/26/08
This article has been viewed: 362 times. Printed: 60 times
Not only can today’s laser optics handle more power, they also enhance beam quality, reduce maintenance, increase power delivered to the cutting head, and improve mode stability.
By: Erin Chasse - The FABRICATOR®, 7/15/08
This article has been viewed: 553 times. Printed: 58 times
This article was developed from the Comparative Cutting Panel conducted at the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association's Metal Matters conference in Orlando, Fla., March 2008.
By: Jeff Hahn, Al Julian, Chris Maier, Rick Neff, and Ron Schneider - The FABRICATOR®, 7/15/08
This article has been viewed: 2,086 times. Printed: 117 times
How can laser technology make metal fabrication more efficient? The efficiency comes not only from advances within the laser itself, but also in new ways to integrate those lasers for optimal part flow on the shop floor. Several presenters at ALAW 2008 hammered this point home.
By: Tim Heston, Senior Editor - The FABRICATOR®, 6/17/08
This article has been viewed: 387 times. Printed: 47 times
This roundup of laser lens providers gives tips on extending the life of lenses used in laser cutting.
By: Dan Davis, Editor-in-Chief - The FABRICATOR®, 6/17/08
This article has been viewed: 1,147 times. Printed: 92 times
Meeting a challenge sometimes requires out-of-the box thinking. One contract manufacturer employed a thorough knowledge of laser cutting, determination, ingenuity, and tenacity to successfully laser cut difficult-to-process materials.
By: Tim Heston, Senior Editor - www.thefabricator.com, 1/15/08
This article has been viewed: 1,012 times. Printed: 78 times
Lasers are capable of cutting thin-gauge metal and plate at incredible speeds and with outstanding results. But a laser also is capable of great damage to operators if the proper safety steps are not followed. To keep everyone safe and the laser cutting machine operating, a fabricating operation sho...
By: Rich Greene - The FABRICATOR®, 1/15/08
This article has been viewed: 686 times. Printed: 77 times
The new high-powered lasers allow fab shops to serve a broader range of custom needs.
By: Rick Neff - The FABRICATOR®, 12/11/07
This article has been viewed: 710 times. Printed: 68 times
Hype Manufacturing invested in a horizontal machining center, two lathes, two vertical machining centers, a universal milling machine, tube bending equipment, a press brake, a laser cutting system, and a waterjet to support its racing effort.
The FABRICATOR®, 12/11/07
This article has been viewed: 546 times. Printed: 95 times
Several modes of nitrogen assist gas supply exist, but with choice comes the potential of saddling your business with overhead costs that make it difficult to compete. The best approach is to map out a growth strategy, using each option’s performance and value, that coincides with monthly nitrogen u...
By: Richard Green - The FABRICATOR®, 10/9/07
This article has been viewed: 2,566 times. Printed: 164 times
Remote laser welding operations, many of which rely on a laser scanner to deflect the beam to the weld area, require high-beam-quality lasers. Years ago this meant that they were used only with high-power CO2 lasers. As the beam quality of Nd:YAG, disk, and fiber-optic lasers have improved, these la...
By: Dale A. Sabo - The FABRICATOR®, 10/9/07
This article has been viewed: 516 times. Printed: 83 times
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By: James Rogowski - The FABRICATOR®, 8/8/07
This article has been viewed: 1,297 times. Printed: 171 times
Fabricators are increasingly using compressed air in laser cutting, instead of relying on laser assist gases such as oxygen and nitrogen. Recent findings reveal that shop air can be used on more material types and thicknesses, including parts on which the edge quality is visible.
By: Erin Chasse and Mickey Lawson - The FABRICATOR®, 3/13/07
This article has been viewed: 2,596 times. Printed: 182 times
A real breakthrough in high-speed laser cutting occurred in 2005. Two additional parallel kinematic drive axes were placed near the point where the laser exits the head, creating a laser cutting machine with one dynamic and light cutting torch capable of independent movement along two axes b...
By: Thomas Burdel and Pieter Schwarzenbach - The FABRICATOR®, 2/14/07
This article has been viewed: 2,191 times. Printed: 149 times
An expanding metal fabrication shop invests in lasers to help it produce precision parts and manage tight lead times.
The FABRICATOR®, 2/13/07
This article has been viewed: 2,218 times. Printed: 173 times
High-speed laser cutting is a recent result of increased laser power and high acceleration motion technology, which have improved cutting speeds. Tilt beam 2D-3D systems allow laser cutting of small 3D parts, bevel cutting on 2D sheet metal and 3D parts, 3D trimming of small deep drawn parts, and pr...
By: Thomas Burdel and Pieter Schwarzenbach - The FABRICATOR®, 1/17/07
This article has been viewed: 1,928 times. Printed: 173 times
Both laser and waterjet cutting systems produce precision parts, and in many applications, either is appropriate. This article, which discusses the benefits and limitations of both technologies, can help you decide which is best-suited for your operation. In some cases, utilizing both can increase ...
By: Frank J. Arteaga, Contributing Writer - www.thefabricator.com, 1/9/07
This article has been viewed: 1,868 times. Printed: 191 times
CO2 lasers are available in wattages that can cut plate more than 1 in. thick. The wattage, however, isn't the only factor that affects total speed and power. The assist gas chosen and the mode of the laser also influence final results.
By: Jason Hillenbrand - The FABRICATOR®, 12/12/06
This article has been viewed: 2,047 times. Printed: 193 times
Laser machine users know it, but often ignore it. Laser manufacturers swear by it, but often don't push it. It's maintenance, and it should be the watchword of anyone who owns and operates a laser.
By: Jeff Hahn, Bernie Olguin, and Dru Schwartz - The FABRICATOR®, 10/10/06
This article has been viewed: 2,431 times. Printed: 236 times
Watson Engineering didn't have to add any laser operators during its most recent expansion effort. The reason was technology advancements associated with material handling and modern laser cutting devices.
By: Dan Davis, Editor-in-Chief - The FABRICATOR®, 9/12/06
This article has been viewed: 3,257 times. Printed: 238 times
One of the recent developments in laser cutting is the use of compressed air as a laser cutting assist gas. The process is not brand-new, but the benefits of the process are making it a growing trend.
By: James Rogowski and Mickey Lawson - The FABRICATOR®, 8/8/06
This article has been viewed: 4,838 times. Printed: 263 times
As explained in Part I of this two-part series, many factors can affect laser processing efficiency. This article explains basic laser beam delivery requirements; discusses laser gases and supply methods; and lists common problems caused by using incorrect pressure, flow, and laser speed.
By: David Bell, Contributing Writer - www.thefabricator.com, 3/7/06
This article has been viewed: 3,252 times. Printed: 334 times
H. Meeuwsen B.V., a fabricator in Yerseke, Netherlands, found that purchasing a laser that could handle parts up to 12 m long greatly enhanced its capabilities. It augmented this purchase with a tandem press brake. One side of the brake has an 8-m capacity; the other has a 4-m capacity. This gives t...
By: Eric Lundin, Editor, TPJ-The Tube & Pipe Journal® - The FABRICATOR®, 2/7/06
This article has been viewed: 1,916 times. Printed: 218 times
Many factors can affect laser processing efficiency. This article, Part I of a two-part series, stresses laser system maintenance and discusses factors that can affect beam quality and efficiency—namely, impurities introduced by laser gases and gas supply systems and how to prevent them. It also...
By: David Bell, Contributing Writer - www.thefabricator.com, 1/10/06
This article has been viewed: 4,260 times. Printed: 315 times
Laser beam sources with higher output powers and improved beam qualities have expanded the range of laser applications. Most system’s lasers have power higher than 2 kW. Higher power does not always accelerate the speed, however. Increasing the power during thermal cutting beyond this value may caus...
By: Thorsten Frauenpreiss - The FABRICATOR®, 12/13/05
This article has been viewed: 4,355 times. Printed: 263 times
Jeff Adams may have taken the nontraditional route in manufacturing by starting out in the laser equipment vendor community, but he has since moved to the job shop side of the industry, using his laser knowledge and expertise to help grow his 12-year-old laser job shop in Libertyville, Ill.
By: Stephanie Vaughan, Contributing Writer - The FABRICATOR®, 11/8/05
This article has been viewed: 2,223 times. Printed: 258 times
Paramount Fitness Corp., a manufacturer of strength training equipment, used to purchase small quantities of laser-cut parts from outside vendors. Its desire for a laser could not be justified because the quantities of parts were so low. Engineers at TRUMPF worked with Paramount to create special fi...
www.thefabricator.com, 10/11/05
This article has been viewed: 3,626 times. Printed: 263 times
Today's laser sources have the power and beam quality needed to cut and join metal in an expeditious and repetitious manner. The market demands that type of flexible production, so those characteristics are basic requirements in modern laser devices. The market demands also have promoted the idea of...
By: Dr. Dirk Petring - The FABRICATOR®, 10/11/05
This article has been viewed: 4,663 times. Printed: 307 times
For more than 30 years, lasers have been used successfully for flat sheet cutting. Complex 3-D laser cutting is well-established in the automotive industry.
By: Dr. A. Pieter Schwarzenbach - The FABRICATOR®, 10/11/05
This article has been viewed: 2,325 times. Printed: 251 times
Kvaerner Power Inc.'s Fairmont, W.V., metal fabricating operation needed new market opportunities and someone to take over plasma cutting chores after its business partner went out of business. They found a Pennsylvania job shop to help with metal cutting and eventually learned that a 3-D laser coul...
By: Dan Davis, Editor-in-Chief - The FABRICATOR®, 8/9/05
This article has been viewed: 3,176 times. Printed: 434 times
Three food service equipment makers spoke with The FABRICATOR about their investments in more automated fabrication equipment, especially lasers, and how these investments have paid off for them, even as the economy takes its time to recover.
By: Stephanie Vaughan, Contributing Writer - The FABRICATOR®, 7/12/05
This article has been viewed: 3,002 times. Printed: 257 times
Metalen Verhoestraete, a metal service center in Roeselare, Belgium, needed a laser, but not just any laser would do. Because many of the company's clients had 3- and 4-meter lasers, Metalen sought a laser that had a much longer bed so it would not compete with its customers.
By: Eric Lundin, Editor, TPJ-The Tube & Pipe Journal® - The FABRICATOR®, 7/11/05
This article has been viewed: 2,072 times. Printed: 217 times
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The FABRICATOR®, 2/8/05
This article has been viewed: 3,762 times. Printed: 742 times
When laser gases are used in significant volumes or in an around-the-clock operation, a centralized gas delivery system is a practical necessity. A well-conceived delivery system reduces operating costs, increases productivity, and enhances safety.
By: David Bell, Contributing Writer - The FABRICATOR®, 7/13/04
This article has been viewed: 2,984 times. Printed: 797 times
Contract manufacturer CGI Automated Manufacturing Inc., Cicero, Ill., fabricates parts as an outsource resource for vertical manufacturers. The company started out as a stamping operation, then added other fabrication technologies, including welding, press brake forming, drilling, punching, rolling,...
By: Kate Bachman, STAMPING Journal® Editor - The FABRICATOR®, 2/12/04
This article has been viewed: 2,962 times. Printed: 571 times
Whether you’re operating a 10-year-old laser machine or evaluating the purchase of a new one, staying up-to-date on current laser cutting technology and techniques can be the key to maintaining a competitive edge.
By: Dan Robinson, Contributing Writer - The FABRICATOR®, 2/12/04
This article has been viewed: 9,729 times. Printed: 772 times
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The FABRICATOR®, 9/25/03
This article has been viewed: 4,981 times. Printed: 495 times
As we all know, the laser industry has seen easier times. Economic and market pressures have changed the competitive landscape for laser cutting equipment, and the changes are likely to continue. Both lasermakers and laser users need to adapt to the changes in the laser market, and the companies tha...
By: Bill Isaac, Contributing Writer - The FABRICATOR®, 7/24/03
This article has been viewed: 2,440 times. Printed: 434 times
Today's job shop market is characterized by unrelenting competitive pressure for laser processing services. Job shops are expanding into niche services such as multiaxis laser processing and thick plate applications to differentiate themselves from their competitors. Others are performing additional...
By: Richard Green, Contributing Writer - The FABRICATOR®, 5/29/03
This article has been viewed: 3,028 times. Printed: 490 times
Laser cutting continues to grow in popularity with sheet metal fabricators. With developments in speed, cutting quality, and manufacturing economy in laser cutting, today's manufacturers have more options than ever before from which to choose the optimal manufacturing method for their specific appli...
By: Johannes Ulrich, Contributing Writer - The FABRICATOR®, 3/27/03
This article has been viewed: 5,279 times. Printed: 533 times
Although robotic laser cutting systems have advanced over the years, you should know exactly what one can do before you decide if it's right for you. To find out whether you should choose robotics to laser-cut your parts, you first must consider several factors, starting with what is in a system.
By: Mike Erickson, Contributing Writer - www.thefabricator.com, 3/27/03
This article has been viewed: 3,995 times. Printed: 467 times
At military installations across the country, repair personnel struggle to stretch the life spans of vital pieces of equipment. Sometimes welding can extend the life of damaged components in aircraft, tanks, and other military vehicles. But in some cases, high–temperature welding processes do more h...
By: Richard Grylis, Contributing Writer - The FABRICATOR®, 2/27/03
This article has been viewed: 2,541 times. Printed: 808 times
CO2 lasers were used predominantly for cutting flat sheet metal for many years. Advancements in laser beam quality, power, manipulation, and material handling features have propelled the CO2 laser into new areas of fabrication. Multidimensional cutting, increased cutting capacity, and the ability to...
By: CONCOA Laser Gas Delivery Systems Team - The FABRICATOR®, 12/12/02
This article has been viewed: 2,704 times. Printed: 454 times
Wrayco Industries Inc., Stow, Ohio, a 20-year-old family-owned precision fabricating shop, produces steel fabricated fuel tanks, hydraulic reservoirs, and fenders for a leading heavy construction equipment manufacturer. The company employs 102 and has more than 100,000 square feet of manufacturing ...
By: Loretta DeGasperi, Contributing Writer - The FABRICATOR®, 12/12/02
This article has been viewed: 4,650 times. Printed: 559 times
Capitalizing on the latest laser and information sharing technology, the
Australian auto industry is working to achieve critical mass within its
domestic market and to take advantage of the opportunities offered by
e-commerce.
By: Hafiz Mohd, Contributing Writer - www.thefabricator.com, 12/12/02
This article has been viewed: 2,644 times. Printed: 497 times
Editor's Note: This article is Part II of a four-part series covering flatness and stability in cut-to-length, slitting, and tension leveling operations. This article discusses flattening solutions and the anatomy of a bend. Part I, which appeared in the October issue of The FABRICATOR®, discussed h...
By: Richard Herzfeld, Contributing Writer - The FABRICATOR®, 11/7/02
This article has been viewed: 2,521 times. Printed: 434 times
Metal cutting lasers continue to evolve at an amazing rate, largely based on the demands of OEMs and job shops, while profit margins shrink because of increased competition and lower pay rates. To help fabricators meet the demands placed on them, laser manufacturers are creating new laser features t...
By: Kevin Cole, Contributing Writer - The FABRICATOR®, 8/8/02
This article has been viewed: 3,846 times. Printed: 705 times
This article discusses the history of lasers and material handling equipment with relation to unattended operation. It specifically examines material load/unload devices, sheet separation and detection devices, the auto-focus laser lens, raw material storage and retrieval systems, automatic part sor...
By: Frank J. Arteaga, Contributing Writer - The FABRICATOR®, 5/18/02
This article has been viewed: 2,658 times. Printed: 463 times
Lasers can be used to process expensive alloys as well as traditional materials such as stainless steel. However, knowing the strengths and weaknesses of laser processing is the key to determining whether or not a laser is the right choice for cutting.
By: Jim Wollenberger, Contributing Writer - The FABRICATOR®, 3/13/02
This article has been viewed: 7,636 times. Printed: 604 times
Here's some food for thought on lasing gases: How are they created? What are their potential impurities? Which impurities and how much of them are of concern? What lasing gases should be used? How do you protect yoiur high-quality lasing gases from contamination? Giving these items some attention co...
By: Jeremy Barr, Contributing Writer - www.thefabricator.com, 2/14/02
This article has been viewed: 3,761 times. Printed: 1,022 times
This article discusses online laser beam monitoring and its alternatives, with emphasis on beam quality and focusability.
By: Lawrence Green, Contributing Writer - www.thefabricator.com, 9/17/01
This article has been viewed: 3,872 times. Printed: 484 times
The most common power levels ranged between 1,500 and 2,000 watts. However, a statistical survey conducted by the AMT Laser System Product Group indicates a steady increase during the last 12 months of installations for high-power 3,000- to 4,000-watt laser systems and a decline in sales of lasers w...
By: Kevin Laughlin, Contributing Writer - The FABRICATOR®, 7/12/01
This article has been viewed: 3,804 times. Printed: 691 times
How you store and deliver assist gases to your laser cutting system is of critical importance to the effectiveness of your whole fabricating operation.
By: David Bell, Contributing Writer - www.thefabricator.com, 5/15/01
This article has been viewed: 2,906 times. Printed: 437 times
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By: Jerry E. Jones, Michael Mossman, and Valerie Rhoades, Contributing Writers - The FABRICATOR®, 4/24/01
This article has been viewed: 3,136 times. Printed: 488 times
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