Five-Axis Laser Cutting, Deposition Machine Improves Efficiency

Trumpf’s TruLaser Cell 3000 is a five-axis laser machine for fine cutting, precision welding and additive manufacturing. The machine is designed to offer cost-efficient laser processing of 2D or 3D components, producing high-quality results on small- or medium-sized components.

The TruLaser Cell 3000 will be featured with the new laser metal deposition (LMD) technology package, as addition to the additive manufacturing systems portfolio the company offers. This additive manufacturing process is used for cladding or to add volume and structures to existing parts. It uses a laser beam to generate a melt pool on the surface of the component or substrate. Then, a stream of metal powder is blown into that melt pool and fused to the substrate. According to the company, fabricators can apply precise layers, both in overlap and size, using this technology.

The laser machine is designed to accommodate one-off prototypes through high-volume production. The machine can process a variety of materials, including nonferrous metals, using its solid-state laser options which provide laser power ranging to 8 kW. Operating software adjusts the focal position to the thickness of the sheet metal, simplifying the processing of metals. It is also possible to expand the diameter of the focus. This enables fabricators to cut materials of different thicknesses or to switch between welding and cutting applications without changing the focusing optics.

The laser machine requires minimum floor space since the electrical control, cooling units and laser optics are all integrated into the machine, the company says. Its modular design enables the laser machine to adapt to different requirements in the production environment.