Laser used for Exact cutting

A provider of laser-based technology has rolled out the first of a line of machines aimed at meeting exacting material processing standards.

Developed by Coherent Inc., Santa Clara, California, the ExactCut laser micromachining system is for machining metals, such as titanium, copper, brass, gold and silver, as well as hard, brittle materials like ceramics, sapphire and PCD. The machine can cut complex geometries and produce excellent edge quality with little post-processing, according to Coherent.

Measuring 1,900mm long × 2,200mm wide × 2,130mm high, the compact system features a pulsed fiber laser with high peak power and pulse energy. Built on a stable granite base, ExactCut’s axis module can come with as many as five axes: standard X, Y and Z axes and optional A and B axes. The module offers positioning and repeatability accuracy of ±0.002mm and ±0.001mm, respectively, Coherent reports.

ExactCut is a compact laser-based system for cutting metals and hard, brittle materials. Image courtesy of Coherent

To simplify setup, the machine ships with preprogrammed process parameters. For example, “you can choose parameters for stainless steel and cutting thickness,” said Thomas Schreiner, ExactCut product line manager for Coherent Munich GmbH & Co. KG, Gilching, Germany. “So you don’t have to know which parameters you need. If you are a job shop and are often changing parts, it’s easy for you to set up a new program.”

With the system’s post-processing software, end users just put in a part drawing and quickly generate the CNC code for the laser system, he added.