LB LARGE AREA MACHINING CENTRES

Developed from the original LB HD standard series the LB Large Area systems extend the moving optic principle into large area processing.  The design concept of the systems allows for large material blanks to be easily loaded upon heavy duty reciprocating twin pallet tables outside the workstation without the operator being required to move, position or lift loaded pallets. 

Where applicable a uniquely designed programmed controlled beam path facility operating automatically under CNC control is incorporated to provide constant beam diameter control over the system area. 

Integrated complete with a CO2 laser carefully chosen to suit the customers application the LB Large Area series are complete and effective solutions for large area production.  

THE MOVING OPTIC MACHINE

Principally used as a flexible general purpose system this type of machine, sometimes termed as flying optics, employs the principle whereby the laser beam is moved over the stationary blank material or component to complete the process. 

The machine moves the cutting head around the workstation in a pre-determined path directed by the machine CNC controller.  The laser is positioned adjacent to the machine base and the laser beam output is steered by a system of reflecting mirrors to the cutting head and focused to a small spot size by a focusing lens contained within the cutting head.

Normally these machines are a welded box section construction forming a rigid support base frame onto which is mounted the 'X' axis assemblies, A crossbeam is carried upon these linear slideways and is designed in turn to carry the 'Y' axis carriage assembly. Mounted on the X Axis crossbeam the Y axis carriage carries the cutting head assembly.

The processing head assembly, which is mounted upon the Y Axis carriage, contains the focusing lens and lens mount.  The complete arrangement is mounted on the carriage via an integral  Z axis slideway assembly. The assembly will usually contain a Z Axis inter-movement for process head height control effected from a 'ride on' probe or a non contact capacitance device, a micrometer adjustment to enable fine focusing of the head is included and fitted to the exterior of the assembly.  Auxiliary gases used to assist in the cutting process are normally ported through the processing head.

The concept of the moving optic system allows for the materials to be loaded upon a table arrangement located within the working envelope of the system. The table will have a knife bar or tapered pin support arrangement chosen to suit a customer�s specific requirement providing for the consistent placement of materials

A process fume and debris extraction arrangement is generally fitted directly to the underside of the working area within the machine base. This facilitates the effective removal of debris and fumes from the system by an extraction unit.  An underside hopper forming part of the extraction assembly allows for the dropping down and removal of larger debris, scrap material and small parts.

Manufacturers establish axes drives and bearing arrangements very carefully to ensure that the total mass is driven with sufficiently high gain and resonant frequency, with fast and accurate servo motor performance.  Current designs provide that all linear axes are carried by cross roller linear bearings mounted upon hardened precision ground rectangular section steel ways and are protected from damage and debris by robust bellows or covers.  Movements are effected by preloaded precision ball screws with directly mounted brushless AC servo motors.  Positional feedback is achieved by directly coupled closed loop high resolution rotary encoders to provide interpolation of the movements.

All machine movements will move under simultaneous CNC control and will direct the laser beam along a pre-programmed path.  The co-ordination between the laser parameters and system movements will be under continuous CNC control.

Dependent upon an individual manufacturers design the operator console is normally mounted upon a flexible swing arm assembly attached to the machine base or is free standing. The console is positioned to allow the operator easy access to all system controls and to observe the workstation area from one position will contain the system CNC controller and monitor together with the laser function controls.

In order to conform to prevailing CE regulations, European manufacturers are now obliged to supply systems complete with a class 1 enclosure.  These have to cover the working area of the system in order to conform to the complete physical and laser safety requirements of the regulations with any access doors being fully interlocked against unauthorized entry into the working area.

The onward development of the moving optic system has been driven by industrial demands for higher throughput, more comprehensive and semi-automated workstations and the need to process thicker and larger area materials.

It is now commonplace to see systems delivered with any added combination of reciprocating pallet tables, material loading and unloading systems and roller ball material positioning.  Taking full advantage of the flexible ability to manipulate the laser beam instead of moving large masses of material NV L. Balliu MTC has been at the forefront of these advances and now offers a range of differing moving optic system configurations in the form of the LC OG series.  Complete with refinements such as integral tube cutting facilities, high pressure cutting capability and rapid material piercing devices the  LC OG systems can be tailored exactly to suit any production requirement.

In addition to the production of these standard series NV L. Balliu MTC was first in the field with the early development of large area systems in the form of the LB2000 Large Area range, encompassing such unique added features as integral pallet indexing tables and progressive controlled beam path facilities.

The moving optic system is now probably the most commonplace laser system chosen by industry and can be found in various formats in many areas. Ranging from stand alone basic system configurations as may be found in a sub-contract facility through to the comprehensive manufacturing cells produced by NV L. Balliu MTC the moving optic system is processing a widening range and increasing thickness of materials.