My experience is mostly with Amada's line of laser cutting systems.
|
Machine |
Layout |
Laser head (s) |
Control (s) |
notes |
|
LC-644, LC-667 |
ball-transfer table, material moves in X, Y |
Spectra 971 |
Fanuc 6-M |
primitive- water assist (coolant) helps compensate for lack of ability to pulse laser. |
|
LC-644II, LC667II |
ditto- head height is now servo-controlled (Z-axis) |
Spectra/Rofin 820, PRC |
Fanuc 11-M |
ditto, except PRCs can pulse. |
|
LCE 645, 655 |
inexpensive replacement for 644II |
PRC(?), Fanuc |
Fanuc 0-L |
|
|
Overhead gantry, full flying optic machine. 5 programmable axes, plus nozzle height follower. |
Coherent EFA-51, Coherent Arrow |
Prima CRG306 |
See Prima's website- the descendent has been updated and is in production! |
|
|
Pulsar, Altair series |
Head moves in Y, sheet moves in X. Programmable Z. Lens height programmable on most models. Nozzle standoff programmable on later models |
Fanuc 1500, 2000, 3000 |
Fanuc 16LA, 16LB, 160iLA |
Much better control of feedrate and cutting parameters than previous Fanuc control series. |
|
Gemini |
Full flying optic X-Y machine, plus Z axis (head height) |
Fanuc 2000, 3000 (?), 4000 |
Fanuc 160iLA |
Fastest Amada machine to date. |
The early 644 and 667 machines were limited, but durable. The lenses and heads couldn't withstand much pressure. Until the PRC lasers were fitted, power control was cumbersome, and beam pulsing could only be done with a mechanical "chopper". The main drawback of this was the time required to switch the chopper from one duty cycle to another, and from CW to chop mode.
Optimo was created by Prima Industrie, a group of very bright Italians.
Some stuff I didn't work on:
|
Model |
Layout |
Laser head (s) |
Control (s) |
notes |
|
LCV-6510, LCV-6612(?) |
Hybrid: material moves in X, head moves in Y |
Fanuc |
Fanuc (models?) |
Mainly intended as plate machine, rated at 1/2" or 5/8" ? |
|
LCM |
Flying optics- head moves in X, Y, Z |
PRC? |
Fanuc |
only a few built- not suited for dirty environments |
|
LCF 644 |
Moving grid or pin table, head only moves in Z |
Spectra/Rofin 820, PRC |
Fanuc |
High precision machine. When equipped with the 820 and Lenny's chopper, could do wonderful work with very good edge quality. PRC doesn't have the same beam quality, and hence the cut edge isn't as good. |
Another style chopper (Lenny's Chopper) was fitted to a few machines, including some of the LCF644 high precision machines. This had some great advantages (very rapid duty change from CW to any duty %), and in conjunction with the Spectra/Rofin 820, could do some very nice work. By that time, the 820 had fallen from favor, replaced by PRC and later, Fanuc.