The combination of the fully digital FastCAM™ Bevel Head with laser height control,FastCAM® 3D software and Linatrol Infinity CNC will cost around $60,000 (excluding installation and plasma torch).
Metal profilers and fabricators will be able to achieve a quick conversion of their existing oxy or plasma machine to precise weld preparation (PWP) of V, X, Y and K bevels and even rotating weld faces.
Weld preparation is on the critical path so customers have always wanted the enormous time and cost saving in fabrication with fully prepared accurate plate parts. It is Y and K bevels that offer the potential to halve welding costs and assembly labour by removing an entire step in the fabrication process. However beveling as a process is not simple. Machines, torches and programming systems are still tested by this type of application which is machining, not rough flame cutting. For many reasons, it just has not worked or has been too expensive or too complex. Where accuracy is required, there are varied inherent problems such as torch height control, special logic for loops, corners, adjustment to kerf, feedrate and more. A small error in the head position, horizontally or vertically means a big shift in the position of the small land formed in a K bevels. Many weld preparations are critically dependent on the angle of the 'land', which is often not 90 degrees.
To complicate matters further, there are multiple ways in which a drawing can be defined. Thus a simple rectangle is not enough. When bevelled you have to know if you are looking at the top, the bottom, half way through or even the top on one edge and the bottom on another, with the biggest or smallest rectangle approach. In many cases, the NC programmer has had to tackle problems best left to a welding engineer. If not calculated correctly, you may have a beautiful bevel but on a part which is too big or too small and does not fit.
Such an expert, complex problem required changes in all the cutting technologies to achieve a breakthrough in all the areas: accuracy, simplicity and cost. Combining the latest torches and high power PC based 5-axis controls with new 3-axis, 240v digital bevel heads and next generation offline software (with Patented EdgeSmart™ piercing and Patent Pending laser height control) has been the key. Respectively, all work as a set to solve the 3D problems of torch, control and head in a complete plasma bevel system.
The recommended '3D Bevel System' requires the following compatible components:
FastCAM™ Bevel Head - Digital CAT5 cable & power, highly modular, multi axis.
Integrated easy FastCAM® programming software enabled for both 2D & 3D nesting (Patent pending), predictive laser height control (Patent pending) and EdgeSmart™ piercing (Patented) technologies.
Linatrol™ Windows-based Touch Screen Infinity Controller.
m3 Plasma™ Bevel dry/Water injection 280amp plasma Cutting and Marking torch.
The low cost is achieved using simpler advanced electronics and a fully digital 'packaged' upgrade which will be available through Linatrol. The torches are now available through m3Plasma (a division of Esab). A separate 3D Bevel Editor (with Weld Prep Wizard) will be made available to welding professionals so that precise weld preparations can be specified at the design stage.
Sales Enquiries to:
FastCAM is a trademark of FastCAM. Infinity is a trademark of Wescan Systems. m3Plasma is a trademark of Esab. Windows is a trademark of Microsoft. EdgeSmart is a patented FastCAM technology. FastCAM 3D nesting concept and Predictive (laser) height control are patent-pending technologies of FastCAM. The FastCAM Bevel Head is designed by FastCAM and a trademark of FastCAM. Precision Weld Preparation (PWP) is a trademark of FastCAM. Product Photos courtesy of ESAB Welding & Cutting Products and Linatrol respectively.
