Product Code: ICAL06_405

A New Approach to 3D Laser Cutting
Authors:
Axel Fischer, Reis Robotics; Obernburg Germany
Greg Lamanna, TRUMPF Laser Technology Center; Plymouth Township MI USA
Jochen Deile, Trumpf, Inc.; Farmington CT USA
Presented at ICALEO 2006

Presented is a new approach to CO2 laser processing, and in particular to 3D laser cutting. Sophisticated 5 axis machines with high accuracy are compared to much simpler robot solutions using a 2 kW laser mounted directly to the arm of the robot with an integrated, fixed length, beam delivery system. Although robots with integrated lasers have been around for many years the power levels were restricted so far to 600 W and therefore applications were limited to non-metal or very thin metal cutting applications. This set-up enables customers to use a simple, of the shelf solution without complicated beam delivery systems for applications that require laser power levels of 2 kW.