Building on its extensive experience in 5-axis laser cutting of straight and bent tubes, as well as complex 3D components, BLM GROUP is expanding its expertise to the processing of large three-dimensional metal profiles.
Roberto Costantino, Product Sales Manager for 3D laser cutting cells, introduces the new LT-FREE with an enlarged working envelope, designed for the automotive, aerospace and many other industrial sectors.
As a leader in tube laser cutting, BLM GROUP originally developed its 3D technology to overcome the challenges associated with machining already bent tubes. Deformations caused by the bending process can compromise the accuracy of machining operations performed beforehand. Laser cutting directly on the bent component eliminates this issue, ensuring parts that fully comply with design specifications.
Since 2015, it has been used in sectors such as automotive, where it allows high-strength materials to be processed without contact and with exceptional flexibility. Continuous investment in research and development, combined with close collaboration with customers, has enabled our technology to evolve and expand into new application areas.
To meet new manufacturing requirements, BLM GROUP has developed the new LT-FREE, featuring a working envelope of up to 3,000 × 1,500 mm and a 750 mm Z-axis stroke, available in two configurations. Increased dimensions have been achieved while maintaining outstanding levels of precision, structural rigidity and dynamic performance.
The usable height of the Z-axis is often the main limiting factor in three-dimensional applications.
It is important to consider not only the size of the workpiece itself, but also the space required by the fixtures used to hold it in place. With a 750 mm stroke, the machine can easily process particularly large components and multiple parts, complex bent tubes, frames, and large stamped and deep-drawn sheet metal parts which can also be positioned at an angle to make the best possible use of the available working volume.
This design delivers an exceptionally versatile machine without compromising the speed or precision required by even the most demanding production environments.
While the automotive industry remains a strategic market, today’s target audience is much broader.
With its larger working area, the machine is ideally suited to a wide range of industries, including aerospace, automotive, white goods (household appliances), yellow goods (construction and earthmoving equipment), industrial plants, HVAC and ventilation systems, commercial kitchens, stainless steel components, light metal fabrication, and three-dimensional sheet metal applications in general.
In short, any industry requiring high-quality 3D laser processing can benefit from the capabilities of the LT-FREE 3015.
One of the project's main objectives was to maintain high performance despite the machine's increased dimensions. The machine has been engineered with an extremely rigid structure, achieving a natural frequency close to 30 Hz.
This enables high acceleration rates and extremely accurate tool paths, even at maximum operating speeds.
For customers involved in high-volume production, cycle time is a critical parameter. The new machine has been specifically developed to meet these demanding requirements.
The main advantages can be summarized in three key points:
Outstanding dynamic performance, thanks to an extremely rigid and fast machine structure.
Exceptional versatility, made possible by the large working envelope and the 750 mm Z-axis stroke.
Compatibility with the existing market, making the machine an ideal solution for retrofit projects and machine replacement.
These benefits are complemented by ease of use, BLM GROUP's proprietary ArGo software, the ability to integrate third-party software solutions, and the wealth of expertise the Group has built through more than sixty years of innovation in laser cutting and metal processing.
It plays a decisive role. Over several decades, we have built an extensive database of application knowledge covering materials, thicknesses, geometries and cutting conditions. After all, a bent tube is essentially a complex three-dimensional component.
This wealth of expertise enables us to deliver stable, reliable and consistently high-quality machining processes.
Absolutely. In addition to the industries where we are already well established, we see particularly promising opportunities in the aerospace sector, where machining special alloys and advanced materials requires exceptional precision, a minimal heat-affected zone (HAZ), and the ability to produce complex geometries.
These are precisely the types of applications in which our technology can fully demonstrate its performance.
For further information:
Chiara Vaccari – Corporate Communication Coordinator BLM GROUP
E-Mail: pr@blmgroup.it