As part of an on-going investment programme aimed at satisfying the growing demand for laser-processed parts, particularly in the retail sector, Wednesbury based Top Tubes has added another new BLM Adige tube laser machine to their tube laser roster. Its introduction will see significant productivity gains, cutting lead times and aiding job planning.
The LT722D, powered by the latest operating software, joins Top Tubes existing LT712, LT722 and LT8.The new machine offers a myriad of benefits. In particular, the equipment performs a doubling in speed compared to the BLM Adige machine it replaces, improved software functionality resulting in faster transfers between jobs, greatly increased versatility to tackle a wider range of jobs and better user controls,including a database of ready to use cutting parameters, which help minimise waste and set up times. With the installation of this machine, says CAD Engineer Dan Wellings, not only do we offer better tube laser resources than many laser specialist, we also offer bigger cost savings because we manufacture the tube too.
During the last few years Top Tubes has endeavoured to help spearhead the cost-saving advances offered by laser tube processing, replacing, for example, multiple components with single laser-processed pieces.
Top Tubes dedication to advancing laser tube processing has seen them employ state of the art computer aided design and CNC laser technology to pioneer the use of steel tube in place of sheet metal in component manufacture.
The firm can even manufacture components straight from a customers Cadcam files, in Solidworks or other packages, often turning a process which might before have taken a customer weeks to complete into one that can take hours.
The new equipment joins their existing BLM Adige LT8 which is renowned for its flexibility and has a tube diameter range from 12 to 220mm x 200mm. It can process square tubes up to 200mm x 200mm, rectangular tubes 200 x 180mm, and a maximum thickness of 10mm. In addition, their Adige LT722D machine is also one of the fastest laser cutting machines in the world.
Top Tubes dedication to investing in state of the art laser processing equipment is evidently resulting in a number of benefits, in terms of them deliveringexceptional tube-based manufacturing solutions that offer superior structural properties, add value and reduce costs and in turn allow them to pass these benefits onto their customers.