Laser technology has advanced significantly over the past few decades. However, for a while, we were still using traditional methods that weren’t quite cutting it. That is, until we discovered fiber laser technology. We started by investing in the Trumpf 2D Sheet Laser and quickly discovered the power and efficiency of these all-in-one machines. From there, we invested in the Trumpf Bending Cell—not fiber laser cutting technology, but equally important to our production—and more recently, the Trumpf tube laser.

The Impact of the Trumpf 2D Sheet Laser

In the past, jobs that required laser capabilities would require us to work with an outside partner. Inevitably, this resulted in markups to cover supplier costs, and we recognized the significant opportunities available for enhanced service and improved efficiency. It was time to invest in our own laser cutting technology. Enter: the Trumpf 2D sheet laser. From the speed and quality of cuts to additional features like automation and the relative ease of the software, the benefits made this fiber laser well worth the investment.

One major advantage of this technology is how it minimizes the number of handlings. As an all-in-one system, this fiber laser technology significantly contributes to minimizing human interaction and bringing our processes one step closer to full automation.

The Impact of the Trumpf Tube Laser

After getting the Trumpf bending cell, we were sold on the power of Trumpf technology to empower our machine workforce. When seeking new opportunities to upgrade and enhance productivity, we found that one of the primary bottlenecks in our processes was the wait for saws to cut. Whenever a tube required a secondary operation, it caused a significant hold-up in the pipeline. This made any custom work impractical.

We began investigating the Trumpf tube laser and conducted time studies, similar to those we performed with the sheer laser. The resulting percent increase in productivity is literally so unbelievable that you’d think we’re lying if we told you! We can now produce in a few hours what used to take multiple days, thanks to the improved quality, efficiency, and capacity of the tube laser compared to our prior saw cutting methods.

Productivity Gains and Reducing Waste

Fiber laser technology is powerful. It can handle heavier loads than its predecessors and significantly eases the strain on human operators by cutting tubes, sheet metal, and more into small, manageable sizes. Here are a few other ways fiber lasers cut back on waste:

Reduced Energy Loss

One of the most immediate benefits of fiber laser technology is its significant reduction in energy loss.  While the Trumpf tube laser model we have is not 100% fiber laser technology, the difference in energy loss is negligible, and more recent models have moved to full fiber optics from start to finish.

Decreased Scrap

Traditional cutting processes require much larger trim cuts, resulting in anywhere from 12 to 20 inches of scrap being thrown away. The Trumpf tube laser software minimizes scrap to less than eight inches by nesting out per tube what is being cut, thereby maximizing the number of parts that can be produced from a single bundle.

Less Miscellaneous Time

With significantly less human interaction needed, there is a lot less miscellaneous time wasted moving materials in and out of the machine, operating the machine, and taking other steps to complete a cut. While there is still some handling involved, it is made much safer and simpler by easing the number of steps involved.

The Future of Fiber Laser Technology

Fiber laser technology is already transforming sheet metal and tube cutting in manufacturing, and it has nowhere to go but up. We’re excited to see how Industry 4.0 and AI technology will impact fiber lasers, enabling more automation and reduced human intervention in the process. Our hope is to see fiber lasers become fully automated in the future, handing off the strenuous and monotonous jobs to a robot and allowing humans to supervise and react to issues.

Contact us to learn more about how fiber laser technology at American Manufacturing can contribute to your parts manufacturing!