Corporate Profile: Hypertherm

An overview of the company and its organization, products, services and capabilities.

RAPID PART™ TECHNOLOGY HELPS FABRICATORS DOUBLE PARTS COUNT WITHOUT ADDED COST
One of the newest and most exciting advances in the metal cutting industry is Rapid Part technology from New Hampshire-based Hypertherm. The technology helps businesses increase their through-put by reducing the non-cutting time that is a part of most any cutting operation.

Normally, when a cut is completed, the torch retracts by several inches, moves to the next pierce location, performs an initial height sense and pre-flows the gases. This can add up to seven seconds for each cut-to-cut cycle. In fact, it isn’t unusual for noncutting time to actually surpass the cutting time. Working in concert with the right software, Rapid Part targets four aspects of the process to significantly reduce non-cutting time. They include:

1. Torch Retract: rapid vertical motion using the ArcGlide® THC intelligently retracts the torch to the next pierce height.

2. Table Motion: optimized motion instructions minimize the chance of a torch collision and the distance between the end of one cut and the pierce on the next.

3. Intelligent Height Sensing: sets the torch at the correct height for the next pierce, based on material and part properties, and applies optimized avoidance paths, including partial or full torch raises.

4. Gas Pre-Flow: occurs while the torch is moving, eliminating idle time at each pierce and helping the torch fire quickly using rapid ignition technology to eliminate long purge cycles.

The most significant gains are achieved on nests using thin plate with a high quantity of parts or pierces. More pierces equals a greater time savings. The benefits for businesses are clear: less wasted time. This makes it possible to increase the number of parts produced per hour—in some cases up to 100 percent—without adding additional employees or purchasing additional tables.

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Hypertherm
PO Box 5010
21 Great Hollow Road
Hanover, NH 03755
800-643-0030
Fax: 603-643-5352
www.hypertherm.com