Kidderminster-based
www.amada.co.uk Amada UK Ltd has unveiled the ENSIS-AJ 12kW, its latest high-powered fibre laser cutting machine, which adds to the currently available 3, 6 and 9kW versions in te range. The comprehensive range of fibre lasers are aimed at any manufacturer needing fast-piercing and cutting across a wide range of materials.
The new 12kW ENSIS incorporates all the unique Amada features of the 6 and 9kW versions, such as variable beam control and automatic collimation technologies, as well as the in-house designed and developed fibre laser engine.
For the 12kW version, 3 x 4kW diode modules (the highest power, single module yet produced by Amada) ensure a very high beam quality is maintained for faster cutting speeds. It also opens new avenues for thicker mild steel processing with nitrogen, up to 15mm. The new ECO WACS system for thick mild steel processing with oxygen further enhances the overall package.
In recent years, high-power fibre lasers have become more popular for sheet metal processing, providing faster cutting speeds and quicker piercing times, and in turn, lower cost-per-part.
The new 12kW Amada ENSIS-AJ fibre laser has been specifically developed to enhance the already high performances of the existing 3-9kW versions that are currently available. The 3kW version was already able to process 25mm mild steel.
The 12kW simply takes this to a new level with the addition of the new ECO WACS function. WACS (Water Assisted Cutting System) has been standard on the fully featured ENSIS-AJ fibre lasers since the original launch in 2014 and allows very high-quality oxygen processing of thick mild steel.
ECO Cut was used for lower thickness oxygen processing (10-15mm), for speed increases and running cost reductions. Now, ECO WACS combines both these features to allow very thick mild steel processing with an extremely high edge quality and improved bevel angle, while maintaining fast cutting and piercing capabilities.
Higher power also brings the advantage of processing thicker mild steel with nitrogen to give an oxide-free cutting edge. The 12kW ENSIS-AJ can now process up to 15mm mild steel with nitrogen and uses Amada’s clean fast-cut (CFC) process to increase cutting speeds and reduce gas consumption by up to 70% compared with standard nitrogen processing.
This opens new opportunities for customers in the construction, agricultural and yellow goods markets. These significantly higher cutting speeds compared to oxygen result in quicker deliveries for the end user.
Central to the advanced capability of the ENSIS-AJ fibre laser range is Amada’s Variable Beam Control (VBC) technology, whereby the laser beam mode is automatically adapted to deliver stable cutting across all material types and thicknesses.
VBC can also change instantly between a high-power density beam for piercing and a high-speed, high-quality beam for cutting, thus reducing cycle time. Regarding set-up times, only a single lens is required to process thin-to-thick materials, helping to maximise machine uptime and eliminate costly operator errors.
Meanwhile, Amada’s Auto Collimation technology is a further stand-out feature as it delivers unrivalled beam diameter and focus-point control for the highest cutting speeds and surface quality, reducing the need for secondary finishing operations. It also produces a wider cut kerf on thicker materials, making for easier part removal from the sheet to reduce handling time.
Matt Wood, Amada Europe’s senior product manager, said: “By combining Amada’s well-proven VBC technology, which we have used since 2014, our Auto Collimation technology and 12kW of power, the latest high-power ENSIS model gives new and existing customers a significant advantage in a competitive market
“In fact, 25mm mild steel can be pierced in as little as 1sec on the 12kW version, saving significant processing time.”
Ease-of-use is facilitated by Amada’s intuitive AMNC 3i controller, while reliable production is assured thanks to functionality such as the 16-station automatic nozzle changer.
There are many automation options available for the ENSIS-AJ machines to help users maximise productivity and save on labour costs. For instance, the ASF-EU/ASLUL tower systems will automatically load and unload sheets, offering a very fast sheet changeover time of less than 90sec (for the ASF-EU).
Also available is the TK EU part-picking system for the automatic collection, sorting and stacking of laser-cut parts without interrupting the machine. The Second Output Station allows operators to unload parts and skeletons from three sides of the cutting pallet as well as introducing a third cutting pallet into the system for even greater flexibility and productivity.
For any laser job shop struggling with longer processing times when profiling thick materials on their existing laser, the ENSIS-AJ 12kW machine provides the solution.
Use of this technology will also introduce extremely reliable cutting across a broad range of materials and thicknesses. Last but not least, as Amada designs and manufactures both the machines and the fibre laser engines, customers can rest assured of class-leading service and support moving forward.