The use of fast-passing new tubular laser outsources the past

The arrival of the new Trumpf TruLaser Tube 3000 fiber at Lasercell in Salisbury allows the company to eliminate the cost of previously outsourcing its tube laser cutting requirements.

In addition to reduced lead times, Lasercell's new in-house capabilities mean that the company can now design many parts more efficiently.

Lasercell began operations in 2012 and has grown into a business with 25 employees. Initially, the company focused on building sheet metal products, installing flat plate lasers to facilitate this work, but it soon became a well-known subcontractor in the region, supplying industries such as store renovations, Marine and general engineering.

"We are primarily a subcontractor of laser copying, both sheet and now tube lasers," confirms Kieran Bernstein, one of the three company directors. "It provides a nice balance - a pretty even split - with the other side of our business, building metalwork. From a subcontracting perspective, we take on almost anything, although we tend to pick and choose a lot of thinner specification laser work in attractive metals such as brass, copper and stainless steel.

Impressive growth over the past decade has led Lasercell to investigate the potential of in-house tubular laser facilities.

"Tubular lasers not only eliminate outsourcing costs, but also allow us to design some of the building metal in a different way," explains Mr Bernstein. "Previously, if we had a rush job, we had to design the folded profile for a feature that would normally fit into a box cross-section, so we could produce it in-house quickly using our flat laser and bending machine. By investing in tubular lasers, we can make it much easier and more efficient in terms of design and how we connect the parts together.

Lasercell studied several major tubular laser manufacturers before drawing up a shortlist of two. After a thorough evaluation, the company selected the Express TruLaser Tube 3000 fiber, a machine that can accommodate tubes up to 152 mm in diameter and process mild steel up to 8 mm thick, stainless steel and aluminum up to 6 mm thick and copper and brass up to 4 mm thick.

The 3kW machine installed in Lasercell is the first of its kind in the UK and includes a 3D cutting head and LoadMaster tube automation with strapping space for up to &lt. > Tons of raw material.

Over the past few years, Trumpf's tubular laser demand has grown significantly, prompting the company to expand its machine portfolio and related software products.

"Perhaps the most influential reason behind our selection was Programming Tube 3D software, which was superior to other potential vendors," said Mr. Bernstein. "With programming tubes, we can create NC programs quickly and intuitively. The software provides flexible data import procedures and efficient design, and provides step-by-step support.

The TruLaser Tube 3000 fiber laser, launched in May 2022, is busy serving two aspects of Lasercell's business: construction metal processing and general subcontracting. In routine work, the machine machines mild steel and stainless steel cases, Angle steel and tubing, as well as brass and aluminum, usually thin gauge and small diameter materials. However, the company sometimes processes materials as thick as 5 or 6 millimeters.

"Although we are really busy, the machine is very fast and maintaining feed can be a challenge at times," Mr. Bernstein said, alluding to the unusually fast processing speed of the TruLaser Tube 3000 fiber.

"In addition to eliminating the outsourcing of our tube laser work, reducing lead times and designing parts more efficiently, the new machines provide us with a unique selling point when promoting our services. We want to help our customers design to meet manufacturing requirements, and tubular lasers play an important role in this product.

In addition to laser cutting and bending, Lasercell offers professional services such as welding, assembly, polishing, powder painting and galvanizing, as well as 3D CAD, rapid prototyping and even on-site installation.

"Quality, speed and understanding set us apart from our competitors," concludes Mr Bernstein. "We have a lot of engineering knowledge: it's not just about taking what customers give us, it's about what we can offer them in return. Our ability to solve problems is what keeps customers coming back.

As our business thrives, Lasercell will continue to invest in technology and people. The company's recent hiring of five more employees is a good demonstration of this strategy.

Source: Laser Net