TPT November 2007

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130 November/December 2007
Cutting, S awing & P rofiling Technology
An increasing number of manufacturers
are taking advantage of laser-equipped
machines for cutting tubes and 3D-shapes.
Sheet laser cutting is still the most popular
application: the more complex the contours,
the higher the gain in time and the more
economical compared to conventional
methods like sawing and punching.
The clean edges without burrs, the silent
machining process and no tooling costs are
extra advantages that also apply for cutting
tubes and 3D-shapes. Laser welding and
cladding are less known but have equally
interesting advantages.
Balliu designs and
manufactures laser cutting
machines, laser welding
machines and laser
cladding machines for a
wide range of applications.
These machines are
both highly automated
and robust. First of all,
the company can analyse a specified
production process to see if its standard
LD and SLF sheet and tube laser machines
can be integrated into the production flow.
In some cases,
adaptations are
necessary: they go
from the integration of
automatic feeding- and
unloading systems to
additional NC-axis.
Balliu can also
develop custom
made projects. In
one particular case
study, Balliu provided
a high volume tube-cutting machine using
a CO2 laser with a robot unloader for the
automotive industry. In another example,
the company supplied a diode-laser
cladding machine for cladding long tubes
for the oil industry. Other projects include
use of YAG or fibre lasers.
Part of a European holding of machine
manufacturing companies, Balliu installs over
90 per cent of its machines outside Belgium,
covering the five continents. The design,
manufacturing and commissioning of the
laser machines is undertaken in Lokeren.
Balliu Machine Tool Corp nv – Belgium
Fax: +32 9 340 6630
Email:
Website:
Laser equipped machines for cutting
tubes and 3D shapes
fi This Megacut 5A system is a 5-axis laser cutting/welding machine. The right
pallet changer on the picture is used for sheet material, the left table is used
for 3D-applications
› This SLF 110 has an auto loader for tubes up to 13m. The unloader can
handle and unload parts up to 5m