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Mazak – tube laser for small to medium diameters

Yamazaki Mazak launches a new laser cutting machine specifically designed for super-fast cutting of thin tubes – the FT-150 FIBER.
Photo by Yamazaki Mazak

Yamazaki Mazak launches a new high productivity laser cutting machine specifically designed for super-fast cutting of small to medium diameter tubes in large quantities.

The new, extremely compact FT-150 FIBER laser cutting machine features an ergonomic design with the operator’s station and loading and unloading station all on the same side.

Equipped with a 3.0 kW fiber laser resonator, the FT-150 FIBER is capable of cutting individual workpieces weighing up to 150 kg with a length of up to 6,500 mm and a maximum tube diameter of 152.4 mm. As a special version, a machine for dimensions up to 8,000 mm and a weight up to 180 kg is offered.

The machine is suitable for cutting a wide variety of materials, such as those commonly used in the architectural, automotive, construction and furniture industries. These include structural steel, stainless steel, copper, brass and aluminium.

Designed for maximum productivity, the FT-150 FIBER covers numerous machining processes from cutting, tapping and drilling to flow drilling. Overall production time is reduced by eliminating processes such as punching with a punch press, deburring or separate tapping. In addition, exceptionally high cutting speeds are achieved with the fiber laser and the high feed rates, which are accompanied by enormous acceleration and fast chuck indexing.

Machine productivity is further enhanced by the large tube bundle loading magazine. The latter can automatically load tube material weighing up to four tons, thus enabling uninterrupted operation even over long periods of time. In addition, the FT-150 FIBER offers a variety of workpiece unloading options. This ranges from standard solutions to automatic sorting systems for highly efficient mass production of pipe parts as well as for the manufacture of different part models. Finished parts up to a length of 3,000 mm (an equipment variant for 4,500 mm is available as an option) can be unloaded into receiving containers or via an optional conveyor belt. The sorting system can sort small, medium and large finished parts and unload them into four different areas.

In addition, the FT-150 FIBER is equipped with a number of features aimed at high accuracy and cut quality. These include an additional U-axis for ultra-high cutting speeds and a pivoting laser cutting head for extremely precise mitre cutting.

Maximum cutting accuracy is also achieved by the machine’s ‘Visual Seam Locator’, the optical weld seam detection function that uses a high-performance camera and image analysis software to detect weld seams on the tubes and thus determine the required radial cutting position. Another optimization function is the Work Center Location, which detects bends and twists in the workpiece and automatically makes any necessary adjustments before cutting.

Other features of the machine include supports for supporting long pipe material and for protection against sagging during cutting, as well as an internal spatter guard to prevent spatter from adhering to the inner surface of the workpiece and causing burns. A spindle for driven tools with ATC for tapping, drilling and flow drilling tools is also available as an optional extra.

In addition, the FT-150 FIBER has a variety of automatic functions, including automatic height detection and nozzle cleaning. This further improves productivity.

Mazak’s innovative FX-TUBE CAD/CAM software makes it easy to incorporate time studies and consumption cost data into a user’s ERP system, while the editing function for imported 3D data significantly reduces editing time and associated waiting times. Overall productivity is further improved by the MAZAK FX NC control system. It includes important functions such as fast program restart, the ability to schedule based on the QR codes generated by FX-TUBE and a ‘Database Viewer’ to view the machine’s cutting database.

Gaetano Lo Guzzo, Director Laser Business Europe at Yamazaki Mazak, explains: “With the new FT-150 FIBER, we are expanding our range of tube lasers with a machine specifically designed for the precision machining of small to medium diameter tubes at high speed. It owes its exceptionally high productivity to the combination of fiber laser resonator, highest feed rates and the integration of various processes as well as the integration of the tube bundle loading magazine. This makes the FT-150 FIBER the ideal machine for volume manufacturers who want to enter new dimensions in laser cutting with tube lasers”.

For more information, please visit: https://www.mazak.com/