TPT November 2013

Technology News

Cost-efficient tube processing WITH the new automatic tube loader, suitable for dry and wet cutting, ROFIN’s laser cutting system becomes a versatile tube processing centre for automated series production.

main housing. It was designed with a special focus on easy operation and maintenance. The water tank is easily accessible and removable for water change. A drawer allows the removal of finished parts without interrupting the cutting process. The StarCut Tube can be powered with ROFIN’s StarFemto FX, StarPico or StarFiber FC laser sources and achieves contour accuracies better than ±5μm. The femto second laser source provides pulses lengths down to 300fs and wavelengths of 1,030nm, 515nm and 343nm. Pulses shorter than 1ps are an essential prerequisite for true, cold material processing and distortion-free cutting and drilling of polymers. Optimum laser systems are just one part of the ROFIN philosophy; medium- sized companies expect more from their partner than just selling them suitable laser systems. ROFIN’s specialists take care of the employees’ training, help setting up the first applications and the application support provides unbureaucratic assistance during the first months. If required, ROFIN even designs the production room according to laser safety standards. With its various configuration possibilities and service and support from laser manufacturer ROFIN, the StarCut Tube emerges as a prospective solution for fully automated tube processing in a broad application range.

transformation of numerous mechanical machining steps into a single laser processing routine. With CNC-driven rotary-, x-, y- and z-axes and a solid granite machine set-up, even taper- free or offset cuts are as easy as ultra- precise processing of oval tubes or flat parts. Streamlining the manufacturing process with a laser system also reduces the processing time of parts up to a length of 600mm to only a few minutes. Therefore, an automated material loading system has to provide constant tube supply for efficient series production. ROFIN developed a new tube-loading module with a side-loading magazine for tubes of 3 to 30mm diameter and up to 3m length.Apivotable pilgrim step separation assures precise and gentle handling of tubes with small diameters. Sophisticated grippers provide accurate and reliable tube feeding and the automated removal of residual material. The automated tube loading module is also available for wet cutting. Wet laser

Manufacturing of various, frequently miniaturised, products requires cutting or drilling of thin-walled tubes or profiles with micron-scale precision. The delicate tube material has to be machined without burrs or distortion and this is where laser systems like StarCut Tube offer inestimable advantages compared to chemical and mechanical machining procedures. Manufacturing of parts for implants, instruments or endoscopes from round or oval tubes usually requires numerous different machining steps. Techniques like drilling, milling or eroding are carried out as separate processes, slowing down overall manufacturing speed. At the same time, the risk of production waste increases with each additional step. The 4-axis CNC laser processing system StarCut Tube allows the

cutting with burr-free and oxide- free cutting edges dramatically reduces necessary post- processing steps and offers huge potential savings. The new wet-cutting option dramatically reduces the additional efforts which are characteristic for wet laser- cutting processes. The entire water-cooling system has been integrated into the

ROFIN – Switzerland Website: www.rofin.com

e2v supplies world leading gridded tubes

technology and equipment. All of its devices are subjected to extensive high voltage conditioning and full functional RF/DC testing procedures. The company is committed to working in partnership with its customers, providing them with exactly what they needs and provides a high level of technical support.

standard and reliability, and have been chosen as original equipment by virtually all major OEMs in the industry. Ranging in power output from 25kw to 530kw, many of the EEV triodes and tetrodes that e2v manufactures are direct equivalents for other manufacturers’ devices or can be used to replace them with guidance at a relatively low cost. e2v has recently invested heavily in state-of-the-art manufacturing

FOR over 60 years e2v has been supplying customers with gridded tubes providing outstanding performance and long life. The company is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of high quality, award-winning products including a complete range of power grid tubes specifically designed for demanding industrial markets such as tube and pipe welding. EEV branded oscillator tubes are recognised for their high quality build

e2v – UK Website: www.e2v.com/tubes

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N ovember 2013