close pitched slots on 4.4KW Bystronic

[kendalsimon]

We have some groups of small slots (2.3mm x 15mm) pitched 2.3mm apart on 1.2mm mild steel. When we cut, quite often a slug doesn't drop through the hole and sits up on the sheet so when it comes to the adjacent hole, the height sensor detects the slug instead of the sheet and focusses too high causing a really poor cut. Anybody had anything similar and found a solution? We are using all standard cutting conditions, 5" lens and Nitrogen as assist gas

 

[JayMaechtlen]

This is a classic issue. Maybe change the start/end point of the cut to let the gas help blow the slug down after it is cut free.
You could just tab the slug, but then you have to remove all of them later.
Any other ideas out there?

Jay Maechtlen

http://home.covad.net/~jmaechtlen/

 

[kendalsimon]

We have tried tagging and it is a bit of a non starter, the part is a door and on show, the "sprog" that the tag leaves when the slug is removed is a bit obvious, especially when painted. I was thinking of using a longer lead in of about 2mm and starting the cut on the long edge, then when it cuts the opposite side, the cut should meet the lead in and cut the slug in half. Any thoughts?

 

[thepooh]

I have already seen the same problem in one of my customer's laser and my solution was cutting/dividing the slug in two like you was thinking (in my case 0.8mm stainless steel).

The pooh

 

[joeg3]

I have had the same problem with a couple of jobs that have a lot of slots or cut outs close together. I ended up having to cut up the slugs in those to get the parts to come out decent. It takes a little longer but at least the parts are good then, and you don't have to go grind tabs out.

 

[kendalsimon]

Our Radan software wouldn't let me try what I wanted so i had to manually add a cut through the middle, that worked well but I have hundreds of these slots so I am still looking for a better solution. I did have better results using a long lead in on the radiused end and approaching on a radius, but still not 100%

 

[chlaser]

what year is your bystronic because if it is a newer one the Byvision software has a fix for this if you have a newer machine. Call the apps department and they will tell where to turn it on. It is as simple as hitting a switch if you have the right version

 

[kendalsimon]

It is only 6 months old, I have spoken to apps about it and they didn't mention any fix, do you know what the fix does and I will quiz them a bit further