Stoke-on-Trent subcontractor Grenville Engineering has recently installed its first fibre laser cutting machine, a 3 kW BySprint Fiber 3015 from Bystronic UK. The 3 metre x 1.5 metre sheet capacity machine replaced an old CO2 laser facility from another supplier, leaving two 3.2 kW CO2 machines on site capable of cutting up to 20 mm thick mild steel. On thin materials, the fibre laser machine cuts two to three times faster and so is much more productive. It has the added advantage of superior performance when processing reflective materials.
Grenville can cut aluminium sheet to a maximum of 8 mm on its CO2 machines but 50 per cent thicker using fibre technology of similar power. Additionally, the latter can cut copper and its alloys, such as brass and bronze, whereas a CO2 machine is unable to tackle these materials due to back reflections damaging the optics. Grenville was therefore either turning this work away or putting it on less efficient turret punch presses.
There are currently six press brakes on site, including a Bystronic Xpert 150-tonne / 3-metre model and an Xpert 40-tonne machine installed in December 2016. The latter is the smallest press brake in the Swiss manufacturer’s company’s range and the fastest for processing work up to one metre long.
