We have now installed and commissioned two new BLM GROUP LT7 4 kW laser cutting systems at our New Berlin, Wisconsin plant. This new equipment replaces our former 1 kW and 3 kW machines, helping us to standardize laser cutting operations, while increasing the speed and efficiency of production. Both of these systems were completed in April 2023 and jointly installed by members of the Sharpe Products and BLM GROUP technical teams.
This equipment is able to cut round, square, rectangle and open profiles, up to 6-inches, and can be programmed for angled cuts on multiple sides or edges, as specified. The efficiency of this system - which includes more accurate weld seam detection and faster centering alignment - helps increase production throughput thus helping to reduce the overall cost per part.
This new machine technology allows us to stay ahead of customer demand and maintain the short turnaround times we are known for in the industry,” states Paul Krickeberg, President & CEO, Sharpe Products.
Some materials are very difficult or impossible to cut using traditional means due to their shape or type of metal. Laser cutting is ideal for aluminum, mild to high-strength steel and stainless steel. Additionally, lasering can handle highly reflective materials, as the beam is readily absorbed, versus bouncing off the surface of the metal.
Cut specifications can be met by raising or lowering the focal point of the beam from just above the surface of the plate, at the surface, or just below the surface. With the BLM LT7 technology, the beam can be tilted to form angled cuts, on the surface or edge, as specified.
Learn more about tube laser cutting here. Read more about this in the Tube & Pipe Journal, a sister publication of The Fabricator.