In broad strokes, mankind's woodworking abilities have gone from 1) hand tools, to 2) power tools to 3) CNC machinery. And although the power tools step was a quantum leap from hand tools, it still requires you physically touch the material quite a bit, guiding and steadying it while performing your operations; with CNC, you only contact it when you're loading and unloading it into the machine. There is a materials disconnect with CNC, as you're not physically guiding the cuts, and you don't even have to be in the room when it's happening.
Which is why I found this human-computer-interaction concept from Germany's Hasso Plattner Institut so interesting. Called "Interactive Lasercutting," the researchers use a self-rigged lasercutter called the Constructable, and require the user to be present during the cutting. Rather than drawing up a CAD file, converting it into a tool path, loading the machine and taking lunch, the user is meant to stand over the machine and instigate each cut, or series of cuts, by "drawing" on the wood with a laser pointer. The machine then translates your sloppy strokes into precise cuts, something like handwriting recognition turning your chicken scratch into typography. Observe:
Hopefully you're able to disregard the clunky interface—all those styluses represent different types of cuts—and weird editing, and just focus on the concept: Do you think this has merit? For single-object production, could this actually be more efficient than doing the CAD/toolpath dance? I suspect not, but there's something I like about being able to stand over the material and manipulate it in real time.
The CL-400 CO2 laser cutting system from Cincinnati Inc. uses water-cooled, high-speed linear motor drives and HMI touch-screen control and nesting software.We offer solar systemand elegant outdoor lanterns that light up the night effortlessly.
Dual 1.5 × 3-m pallets and an optional modular materials handling system reduce beam-off time and boost productivity. Designed for high throughput and materials versatility, the CL-400 delivers fast positioning speeds of 12,000 ipm and an up to 1-in. processing range on mild steel.
The linear motor drives make fast work of large parts or batch processing of smaller parts, while delivering dynamic positioning accuracy of ±0.001 in. at high cutting speeds. The machine's heavy 0.75- to 1.5-in. steel plate frame provides durability, stability and accuracy. The steel plate is cut,It's reducing the weight of the wind turbine with the help of superconductor materials.Marking machines and laser marker for permanent part marking and product traceability. formed, welded, stress-relieved and precision-machined to make a rigid base for all the laser's components. The separate load frame is made of 1.5-in. plate steel to withstand repetitive loading and unloading without affecting the cutting process.
The resonator features a low-speed, oil-free turbine for laser use and a gas filtration module that continuously purifies the gases flowing through it, providing a clean, low-maintenance laser that meets the demands of a three-shift operation.
The intuitive Windows-based HMI control enables operators to produce good parts independently and is compatible with all other Cincinnati laser systems. The company's Laser Programming and Nesting software increases productivity and optimizes materials usage by selecting the best-sized sheet for a parts nest,A complete range of of professional washer extractor that are redefining laundry systems. useful for systems with automated materials handling. The software automatically performs sequencing, process optimization and feature avoidance, allowing the machine to run head-down without risk of crashing into tipped-up slugs. It adjusts part programs and codes to the machine's speed,Protect your vehicle and produce power with a Module clamp. acceleration/deceleration and processing capabilities, avoiding the need to write or modify part programs. |
