In today’s fast-paced manufacturing industry, tube laser cutting machine has developed into an essential tool for businesses across various industries like metalworking, vehicle production, kitchenware and sanitary ware. These machines can offer high precision, fast speed and full automation, making them ideal for cutting tube metals. However, with a wide range of options available on the market, selecting a proper tube laser cutting machine can be a daunting task. To help you make an informed decision, here are 10 key factors to consider when choosing a tube laser cutting machine for you.
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1.Tube Type and Size
The first and foremost consideration is tube type and size you intend to cut. Different machines are designed to handle different materials, such as carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminum alloy and copper. Additionally, please think about your tube size like diameter, side length, length, wall thickness and weight. These factors will directly affect your laser power. Generally speaking, the higher your power, the larger and wider range of your tube cutting.
2. Cutting Precision and Speed
Cutting precision and speed are critical factors that directly impact your machine quality. High cutting precision ensures that your products meet strict tolerances, while high cutting speed allows you to produce more parts in less time. When evaluating a tube laser cutting machine, check the machine’s accuracy specifications and cutting speed capabilities. We recommend paying attention to the machine’s positioning/repositioning accuracy, max no-load speed, max acceleration, rotating speed of chucks, etc.
3. Overall Cutting Capacity
A factor that novices are easy to ignore when purchasing is tailing length of pipe and whether the laser machine can cut into bevels, among which, the tailing length is related to material utilization rate, and then determines the user’s costs of purchase. The beveling can facilitate the subsequent welding, greatly lessening work flows and improving work efficiency.
4. Lasers Brand and Power
The lasers is the heart of a tube laser cutting machine, and its quality and laser power have a direct influence the machine’s performance. Common lasers include fiber lasers, CO2 lasers and diode lasers, with fiber lasers being the most popular choice for metal cutting due to their efficiency and low maintenance requirements. Some well-known lasers are from IPG, Raycus, TRUMPF, MAX, etc. Please prefer to lasers of big brands and laser power that matches with your demands.
5.Level of Automation
Automation is a key feature in modern tube laser cutting machines, and it can significantly improve your production efficiency and lower labor costs. Features like automatic loading and unloading devices, autofocus, automatic following and automatic nozzle cleaning reduce the need for manual intervention and minimize downtime. You need to choose highly automatic machines to boost your production.
6. Control System and Software Capabilities
The control system and software that come with your tube laser cutting machine play a crucial role in overall cutting. Advanced software can offer features such as automatic typesetting, automatic nesting, cutting path optimization and failure diagnosis. Ensure that the machine’s software is capable of integrating with your existing design and production systems for a seamless workflow.
7. Main Configurations
To keep your cutting stable for a long time, you also must highly value the brand of core components (such as, lasers, laser cutting head, control system, machine tool bed and accessories, electrical and pneumatic system, servo motor and drives, water chiller and transmission system) outfitted by your tube laser cutting machine. Generally speaking, the quality of parts produced by companies with advanced technology and a long history is guaranteed, so we advise you to purchase laser cutting machines that use international brands of parts.
8.Machine Footprint and Workshop Space
The physical size of tube laser cutting machine is another important consideration, particularly if you have limited floor space in your facility. Different machines have different space requirements, so it is essential to measure your available space and ensure that the machine you choose will fit comfortably. Additionally, consider the layout of your production line and how the new machine will integrate with your existing equipment.
9.Power Supply and Voltage
As we all know, the industrial power supply and voltage differ from country to country. According to number of phases, it is classified as single-, two- and three-phase. The voltage range is usually 110-380V. So if power supply and voltage of machine provided by manufacturers is different from that of your area, please contact the manufacturer to confirm the right wiring method and make your electrical operation professional.
10.Energy Consumption and Operating Costs
Energy consumption is an important factor to consider, especially in high-volume production. Machines with high energy efficiency can significantly reduce your operating costs over time. Fiber lasers, for example, are known for their low energy consumption compared to other types of lasers. Be sure to check the energy consumption specifications of the machine and factor this into your total cost of ownership calculations.
Machine shops across the country have a daily need for the ability to precisely and consistently cut metal. Laser cutting machines have been around for a long time, providing clean and accurate cuts in a variety of materials.
One specialist form of laser cutting is laser tube cutting—which is, as the name suggests, optimized for cutting cylindrical objects. Why would a fabrication shop want to use a laser tube cutting machine? What are the benefits of being able to provide laser tube cutting services?
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Here are some of the potential benefits of having a laser tube cutting machine:
1) Reducing Secondary Operations in Cutting Tubes
Cutting a tube with a physical blade often leaves metal shavings and imperfections in the cut edge. These issues would require additional cleaning and shaping processes to prepare the tube for whatever purpose it would be intended for.
However, when using a laser tube cutting machine with a spatter guard device, not only are the edges virtually perfect, the slag from the cutting process can be collected and kept out of the tube being cut. This eliminates the need for these two processes.
While a traditional laser cutting machine could also create clean cuts, its design would not be able to accommodate the tube, which would mean having to cut a flat piece of metal and then putting it through a roller or press brake (depending on whether you wanted a rounded or squared exterior). By using a tube cutting machine, you can cut a tube-shaped object directly.
2) Stronger Tube Ends
Another benefit of using a laser tube cutting machine, aside from creating smoother cuts, is that no mechanical force has to be applied to the cut. Normally, a CNC punch or other machine would break through the material being cut with physical force, applying stress to the surrounding material and weakening it slightly. Using a laser cutter helps to ensure that tubes are stronger at the point of the cut than they would be if physical cutting tools were used.
3) Diversity of Cutting Processes
CNC machinery enables a high degree of control and precision for many tasks—and CNC controlled laser cutting is no exception. Instead of simply making vertical cuts, laser tube cutting machines can be used to make angle cuts, slots, etchings, bevel cuts, and more depending on the equipment.
While traditional laser cutters can also do many of these tasks, they aren’t optimized for doing so with cylindrical objects.
4) Laser Tube Cutting Machines Can Fill a Niche Role
If your machine shop processes a lot of requests for custom-shaped or cut tubes, having a laser tube cutting machine can fill that niche quite nicely. Because these machines are optimized for this process, they can help to improve efficiency and throughput for making custom-cut tubing.
5) Low Maintenance Cutting
Physical cutting machines require frequent service and repair because their tooling wears out quickly. However, laser cutting machines don’t wear out nearly as fast. In fact, if you use a solid-state laser tube cutting machine (meaning one that uses a solid object to focus the laser) rather than a gas-based one, you can keep the laser operating almost maintenance-free for thousands of hours.
Of course, the physical mechanisms for moving the laser or the workpiece will still need regular maintenance.
Looking for a Laser Tube Cutting Machine for Sale?
If you’re thinking about purchasing a laser tube cutting machine, consider the following:
- What Kind of Laser Do I Need? Like regular laser cutters, laser tube cutting machines have some different options for the cutting laser. Common laser types include CO2 cutting machines and fiber laser tube cutting machines. This can impact the tightness of the beam and cut consistency. For example, fiber laser tube cutting machines have a beam that is much smaller than a CO2 cutting machine’s because they use a solid (glass fiber) for amplifying and focusing the laser rather than a gas (CO2).
- Should I Buy New or Used? The answer to this question depends on how much you need a specific feature or capability. If a must-have feature is only available on a new model, then it could be worth it. Otherwise, stick with a used machine from a reputable seller. A used laser tube cutting machine costs far less than a new one while doing just as much work with the same level of precision.
- What Features Do I Need, and Which Ones Do I Want? When purchasing a laser cutting machine, whether new or used, consider which features are “must-haves” and which ones are “nice-to-haves.” A “nice-to-have” feature might be beneficial or save time, but not necessarily be critical to your operation. A “must-have” feature is one that would prove crucial for completing your most common manufacturing operations. For example, if you need to make bevel cuts a lot, then a machine that can perform such cuts would be a “must-have.” Otherwise, that feature is just a “nice-to-have.” Basically, don’t get caught up in chasing a bunch of features you don’t actually need because finding one machine with every “nice-to-have” feature you want will cost far more than a more basic machine that fills your most critical needs.
- Is the Machine “Free and Clear?” If buying used, is the machine free of any equipment liens, loans, or other obligations where a creditor or some other party might claim ownership? It’s important to verify this prior to paying any used laser tube cutting machine’s price—otherwise, you could pay a hefty price only to watch a lawyer and a couple of repo guys cart the machine away just after you get it set up.
That last consideration is definitely worth worrying about, as it is all too common in private party sales for the buyer to forget to check—only to regret it later.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of cnc laser tube cutter. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.
