How do you buy a laser cutter machine? This is not an easy task and some shops don't know where to begin. Fabricators can use this guide to help them ask the right questions before making an important purchase. A major investment for most Fiber laser cutting manufacturers is buying an industrial laser cutter machine. The purchase of an industrial laser cutting machine will have a significant impact on your manufacturing process. This goes beyond the price. You will have to accept the fact that you made a poor choice and live with it for a while. Manufacturers can keep a laser for as long as seven to ten years.
Are you unsure how to purchase a laser cutting machine? If you already own one, when did you purchase it? What has changed in the meantime? This guide will help you make a capital purchase decision that will propel your manufacturing operations to new heights.
What is the Application?
The real question is "Should I buy a laser cutting machine?" There are many reasons why investing in a different system might make more sense for your company's manufacturing operations. It is important to explore all options so that you don't regret anything in the future.
A stamping press can deliver the lowest price per part, depending on how large the part is. However, metal forming in a press also means that you need to invest in tools. As part of the production process, stamping allows for multiple tasks such as tapping and forming.
The traditional turret punch machine can be used to cut holes and shapes economically, but it requires tooling. The production speed of laser cutting machine is also not possible with a punching machine. The punch press can also be used for some forming, just like a stamping machine.
High-definition plasma systems are ideal for thick materials, and applications where the quality of the edges is not critical. Abrasive waterjets are also good for thick materials. They can be used in applications where the metal cannot have a heat-affected area, which is an issue with many thermal cutting methods.
While Plasma Cutting Machines are cheaper than laser machines, they often do not have the same cutting speed. Plasma cutting and waterjet systems can increase productivity by using multiple heads and being able to cut stacked blanks. However, the application will determine what you require.
Are We Really Going to Need Laser Cutting?
If a company doesn't own a laser cutter machine, they will subcontract the work to one of several shops that do. This is a good option if you are flexible with your lead times and don't take on too much risk.
However, you will need to consider whether it is time for laser cutting to be brought in-house. Even if you have a great business relationship with your subcontractor, this should be considered.
How can you tell if it's the right time for a laser? Take a look at the monthly cost of laser-cut parts. Henry Ford said, "If you don't need a machine, you'll eventually find that you've paid for it.
You may need to justify the decision to bring laser cutting in-house if you make the decision to do so. Subcontracting laser cutting is just one example of the costs. How productive will in-house laser cutting make the manufacturing process? What does this mean for lead times? You have to consider the expense of laser cutting machines, as well as labor and consumables such laser cutting aid gas.
These answers will help upper management and lending institutions to determine production savings and the subsequent return on investment (ROI).
What does it mean to control the laser cutting process?
Manufacturers will not only mention financial reasons when they talk about why they want to purchase a laser cutting machine. They also mention "control."
- How many times has our business been lost because of late delivery?
- Were there ever parts that were of poor quality we had to reject?
- What would our image look like if we could laser-cut our own images?
Who should we buy the laser cutting machine?
There are many options for purchasing a laser cutting machine as a manufacturer. You can find original equipment manufacturers and dealers who specialize in used equipment. They offer cutting machines at a fraction of the cost of new machines.
Ask ADK engineering about availability of service. Modern technology doesn't require as much maintenance. However, if a machine breaks down, you want it to be back up and running as soon possible. Find out about delivery and availability of parts. A laser cutting machine that cannot cut due to a damaged part is just not able to do the job.
Laser cutting machines made by ADK engineering & Solutions are more easily identifiable in the industry. They often have higher resale value.
Fiber Technology or CO2?
The majority of the industrial market is currently dominated by two types of lasers: older CO2 gas lasers as well as newer solid-state fibre lasers. For the past two decades, CO2 lasers were the backbone of metal fabrication. These lasers work by running electricity through a gas-filled resonanceator (which also includes CO2) and then using mirrors to focus the beam. A fiber laser uses banks of diodes to create the laser. The laser is then channeled through fiber-optic cables, similar to the one used in the telecom industry.
The fiber laser was introduced in 2008 and has higher cutting speeds than the CO2 one. Fiber technology was initially limited to cutting thin materials at high speeds. However, with the introduction of stronger lasers, fiber lasers can now cut even thicker material up to 0.5 inches. Fiber lasers are a popular choice, despite the higher cost.
Fiber technology could also open up new opportunities for fabricators. These machines can cut reflective material such as copper and brass, which is much easier than CO2 lasers.
Some applications are still better suited for CO2 lasers. These include applications that require excellent edge quality on thicker materials or other specialized materials. Some manufacturers might feel more comfortable using CO2 technology since they have been using it for a long time and because their company has the necessary maintenance skills.
You will need to decide about maintenance after the warranty ends. Do you prefer to rely on the ADK engineering for all service or are you more comfortable being independent and relying on third-party sources for any maintenance? The fiber laser requires less maintenance than a CO2 resonator because it has fewer moving parts and mirrors for laser generation.
Will We Need Material Handling?
It is important to choose the right level of automatic material handling equipment. This is especially important due to the faster cutting speeds offered by fiber laser technology.
It is important to know how you plan to use the new laser cutting capabilities. Are you planning to use the laser for a few hours each morning or several shifts per day? Based on how long it takes to process a sheet, is your operator able to manually load and unload the laser even though it has a second table? To make a profit and remain competitive, it is important to minimize the labor costs in part production.
Metal fabricators sometimes choose not to purchase material handling automation right away. This route will allow you to add pallet systems, or an automated storage tower, in the future.
Are We Going to Need New Software?
Many times, the software that manufacturers use is already familiar to everyone. Is this software compatible with the laser cutting machine? What new capabilities will the software offer?
Fiber laser Manufacturing companies are increasingly talking about interconnectivity between machines and software systems. It is important to find out if your new software can run other machines on the shop floor. It's also worth discussing how the laser could be integrated into the company's network. The laser cutting speed is not the only thing that is increasing rapidly. Manufacturers are now able to quickly gather relevant manufacturing information, which allows them to make more informed and timely decisions.
How much does it cost to run the equipment?
A manufacturer must know the efficiency of equipment that is being used after such an investment. It is not enough to know if the machine runs. Equipment performance monitoring is the solution. You should find out whether software can monitor the laser cutting machine's overall efficiency (OEE), in real-time. Is the software compatible with other laser cutting machines? If yes, could it be used to measure your "hidden potential"?
Monitoring software costs about 1% of the equipment cost and can deliver a productivity boost of 10 to 50% with paybacks in less than four months.
How will we finance the purchase?
Some manufacturers will pay cash for a laser but most use some form of financing. Your bank may not be the best option for financing the purchase of laser equipment.
What is involved in delivery and installation?
For a successful delivery or installation, preparation is essential. First, determine what kind of foundation is required. The second is that the laser cutting machine must be placed in the correct place within the facility. The laser should be placed in a location that allows for efficient laser-cutting blanks flow to downstream manufacturing processes.
Many companies find the delivery of new equipment a thrilling experience. They can answer all your questions regarding shipping and rigging.
What can be done to make the purchasing decision easier?
These questions can help narrow down your search for a laser cutter machine supplier. You will need to choose the right model and ask the right questions at equipment demonstrations. Finally, you'll need to negotiate a fair price. During the final negotiation, you will need to address many issues.
It can be overwhelming to purchase such a machine. It might be a good idea to join an industry association such as the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association to meet peers in the manufacturing sector and to gain insight from them. This effort would likely prove worthwhile.
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