The new direct diode laser (DDL) version of Mazak’s highly successful Fabri Gear machine range made its European debut at the recent EuroBlech 2018 show.

Mazak (www.mazakeu.co.uk) has fast-tracked the development of a DDL FG to complement the existing CO₂ machine, due to the significant productivity potential that laser users can gain from DDL technology, which allows the cutting of both thin and thick materials, as well as high-reflectance materials such as copper and brass.

The new machine is equipped with a 4kW DDL resonator that can achieve a 20% productivity improvement compared with previous systems.

This productivity is derived from its use of nitrogen, a reduction in piercing time (due to the use of a beam-on-approach pierce), and an increase in cutting speed due to the laser’s ‘higher light harvesting’.

Furthermore, the new DDL machine is capable of rapid-traverse rates of 100m/min in the X axis, 36m/min in the Y axis and 30m/min in the Z axis; and if production is interrupted by an alarm, the Quick Program Restart function makes it possible to quickly restart the machine, reducing down-time.

The running costs of the DDL machine are significantly lower than those of a CO2 machine, due to lower resonator and chiller unit consumption, as well as there being no need for a laser gas.

The machine is also equipped with a new 3-D head, which incorporates an independent Z axis and tapping units.

Furthermore, new laser-light-shielding covers have been developed to cover both the loading and unloading sides of the machine, while the quality of the cut when processing thick mild steel is comparable to that of a CO₂ laser.

Control is via the new Mazak FX CNC system, which has been designed to couple high productivity with ease of use.