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Lasers become the acceptable face of precision welding and cutting

Brian Rooks (Brian Rooks is UK Associate Editor of Industrial Robot: An International Journal, 30 Wood End, Pertenhall, Bedford MK44 2AS, UK.)

Industrial Robot

ISSN: 0143-991x

Article publication date: 1 April 2000

675

Abstract

The current state in the application of lasers for cutting and welding is reviewed. Most cutting operations are performed on specifically developed laser machine tools such as the Trumpf Lasercell and its application in the development of trim shapes and low volume panel production at a sub‐contract toolmaker is described. Robots are mainly used with lasers for welding, particularly of vehicle body components where laser welds are found to be advantageous in reducing material weight and improving body strength. One example is the production of differing thickness panels and a robotic installation for producing car door inners is described. The benefits of the new generation of Nd:YAG power lasers are listed, including the ability to transmit the laser beam via fibre optic cables. This is particularly advantageous when robots are used to manipulate the “torch” and a new robot cell from Trumpf is described. Finally, the role of gases in laser processing is discussed.

Keywords

Citation

Rooks, B. (2000), "Lasers become the acceptable face of precision welding and cutting", Industrial Robot, Vol. 27 No. 2, pp. 103-108. https://doi.org/10.1108/01439910010315409

Publisher

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MCB UP Ltd

Copyright © 2000, MCB UP Limited

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