FABTECH 2014: Measurement, Metal Forming & Fabrication, Finishing

The company will also be showing its new L5 machine, the latest generation of fiber laser cutters designed from the ground up to harness the power an efficiency of fiber optic technology, and the only one to incorporate the patented, rotary motor driven Compass head positioner for unmatched speed, accuracy, reliability, energy conservation and performance.

http://youtu.be/eLOv74wO6w4
A demonstration of the L5 fiber laser cutting machine from Salvagnini America.

The versatile L5, available in 2kW, 3kW, and 4kW versions, can handle many configurations for feeding blanks, picking up and stacking finished parts and unloading skeletons. It’s new all-electric pallet changer is unique in the industry, with the processed piece always passing beneath the work table, thereby eliminating any risk of cut parts or scrap falling onto the incoming blank.

For more than 30 years, Salvagnini has served the global metalworking industry by designing, manufacturing, marketing and servicing flexible sheet metal processing systems, machines, process software and tooling for factory integration. Major product lines include punching and shearing, automatic panel bending and laser cutting systems. And as the originator of automation in the sheet metal fabricating sector, Salvagnini offers complete material handling capabilities, including ASRS, robotic loading/unloading, conveying and parts manipulation. More than 3,000 Salvagnini systems are in operation in more than 50 countries around the world. www.salvagnini.com

INTEGRATED ROLL FORMING SYSTEMS
In Booth B-5217, Samco Machinery Ltd (Toronto, ON) addresses challenges with roll forming and with material handling on either end of the roll forming equipment. The company, which has a staff of 25 engineers, designs and manufactures roll forming systems for steel stud and track, roofing and wall panels, automotive parts, shelving and racking, HVAC, furniture components and many other customized products. The will be on hand to work with customers to provide a fully integrated custom-designed line. www.samco-machinery.com

SUSTAINABLE BENDING TECHNOLOGY
To design tube processing especially resource-conserving and efficient, Schwarze-Robitec GmbH (Cologne, Germany) has developed a series of sustainable solutions. These include the integrated residual length optimization for tube bending machines for automobile industry suppliers that reduce residual tube lengths to a minimum for considerable material savings. Trials at customers have shown that the material input, depending on the respective tube system, could be reduced by up to 20 percent.

Or the Terminal-End-Bender used to manufacture tube systems in power plant construction. Bends in both directions are conducted subsequently at the rear end of the produced tube coil without having to interrupt the fully automatic manufacturing process. Another new development are the rapid clamping systems for bending tools in series and mass production that enable fast and easy tool change by significantly reducing unproductive set-up times.

In Booth B-4625, tube bending specialists will discuss the CNC 60 E TB MR bending machine that is equipped with multi-tools for production of different radii as well as bend-in-bend systems. It is ideal manufacturing exhaust pipes with a bending radius of 1 x D without straight intermediate lengths between two bends. The multi-bend tools minimize set-up times. Further cost savings can be achieved with the separating system integrated into the bending system. Several individual tubes are coupled to one bending program and separated after bending at maximum speed by the separator. Since no clamping and support lengths are required, there is considerably less material loss and scrap.

Time saving was a central aspect for the company when developing the new machine control that reduces non-productive times to a minimum by breaking up the original sequence of the bending process and synchronously rearranging the individual steps. The integrated diagnostics and maintenance tool guides the operator comfortably through all of the setting and optimization steps and checks all data reliably for validity. If the machine operator forgets to define a parameter, the tool will remind him. Equipped with a touchscreen, it can be operated intuitively to make his work easier.

“This control for tube bending machines increases productivity up to 25 percent. The operation and setup of the machine is extremely simple. The well thought-out operating concept makes it possible to familiarize new employees in only a few hours,” summarizes Bert Zorn, the managing director of Schwarze-Robitec. www.schwarze-robitec.com

FULLY AUTOMATIC HITCH FEED AND NON-FERROUS UPCUT SAWS
In Booth B-4361, Scotchman Industries, Inc. (Philip, SD) has taken their Hitch Feed Automatic saw to a new level! The new CPO 315 HFA-CNC saw is fully programmable so every cut length is fast and accurate. It uses a 30 in linear actuator, driven by a servo motor.

The CPO 315 HFA-CNC standard features include a large 10 in touch screen control, an unlimited length setting with a 30 in single length shuttle, and a variable speed control. The setup to change to a different part length only takes a few seconds; plus, the first part cut is always accurate! No need to cut a test piece and reset the stop. This saw has the ability to program either to a set length with a number of pieces to cut or enter up to four separate lengths and amounts to be cut in sequence.

An overview and demonstration of the CPO 315 HFA-CNC Hitch Feed Automatic saw from Scotchman Industries.

Also being announced is the addition of the SUP-600 NF to the existing lineup of circular cold saws. The SUP-600 NF is an Upcut Circular Cold Saw designed specifically for cutting non-ferrous material. Featuring a 24 in (600 mm), 132 tooth carbide blade that is capable of producing round cuts up to 9 in diameter and rectangular cuts up to 15 x 6, the SUP-600 NF offers an increased cutting capacity not found in traditional pivot down saws.

Standard features of the SUP-600 NF include an adjustable feed rate, mitering capability with fixed stops at 22.5 deg, 45 deg, 90 deg, -45 deg, and -22.5 deg, two horizontal and two vertical pneumatic clamps to secure material being cut, and a 4-1/2” port for chip collection plus a drawer under the bottom of the saw.  Standard safety features include dual hand operation and a safety interlock that will prevent the saw from operating if the safety hood is not closed.

All of these American-made machines are available in 230 volt and 460 volt configurations and are backed by the company’s Best-in-the-Business 3-year warranty. Scotchman Industries was founded in 1967 and has been providing quality materials and construction, dependable performance, competitive pricing, and service to its consumers ever since. As the world and its markets change and expand, Scotchman Industries continues to grow and adapt. www.scotchman.com

WATERJET CUTTING OF TEXTILES
In Booth B-4065 Semyx, LLC (Dalton, GA) addresses the unique cutting needs of each shop by designing a custom-tailored solution for their cutting application. The company specializes in custom machines and also continues the success of its newest line of custom water jet cutting systems, the Cobra Series, by giving the machines a makeover that is much more than just a facelift.

The team of world-class engineers added functionality, safety, longevity, and beauty to the design of this popular new series of cutting machines designed specifically for the textile industry. These machines are perfect for carpet, turf, rugs, mats, and many more applications requiring high-speed cutting of large materials! The company takes pride in first-class customer service and parts distribution for both Semyx and other brands of water jet cutters. Semyx continues its success by offering international distribution and support of all its waterjet products. semyx.com

ADVANCED CAD/CAM NESTING SOFTWARE
In Booth B-4125, SigmaTEK Systems, LLC (Cincinnati, OH), an authority on CAD/CAM nesting, material optimization and manufacturing process automation, announces the latest release of its industry-leading SigmaNEST software program. Powered by the industry’s most advanced CAD/CAM nesting engine, SigmaNEST Version 10.1 contains a number of new features and enhancements making cutting machine programming even more effective and easy.

James Lindsey, the SigmaTEK director of product management, comments, “Version 10.1 offers a range of new features benefitting novice and advanced users alike. While the complete list of enhancements is extensive, the common thread is usability. As cutting machines continue to offer more advanced features, it’s important for software to keep pace. This latest release optimizes machine performance by providing the most sophisticated, yet easy-to-use, programming software.”

Founded in 1993, SigmaTEK Systems is headquartered in Cincinnati and has an extensive global support network with branches in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Australia and Africa. The company develops and sells SigmaNEST®, a comprehensive software solution for nesting, NC programming and cutting of steel sheet, plate, tube/pipe, and wood that is a leading CAD/CAM nesting system for plasma, laser, punch, oxyfuel, waterjet, router, knife, tube/pipe and combination cutting machines. The software ensures superior material utilization, machine motion optimization, and maximum part quality balanced with cutting speed, work flow integration, material handling, accurate estimates and information management. www.sigmanest.com