TRUMPF Introduces New TruLaser Series 5000 12kW and New Part Sorting Solution

Farmington, Conn. December 18, 2020 – Machine tool manufacturer TRUMPF has equipped its latest TruLaser Series 5000 laser cutting machines with a TruDisk 12001 disk laser which offers 12-kilowatts of laser power. The new machines also come with intelligent assistance systems that increase feed rates for medium to high sheet thicknesses by up to 50 percent compared to conventional laser machines with a 10-kilowatt laser. The higher feed rates result in higher throughput and because of that, these new machines can handle up to 20 percent more sheets per hour. The latest TruLaser Series 5000 machines also come with tried-and-tested features such as Active Speed Control and BrightLine Fiber, which lead to more reliable processes and higher-quality parts in both flame and fusion cutting.

Machine productivity makes the difference

It is not uncommon for problems to arise that slow down or stop the production process, especially when cutting thick mild steel. There are plenty of factors that might bring the cutting process to a halt, including dirty sheet surfaces, lowquality materials and variations in thickness between different sheets. This can lead to wasted time and materials. TRUMPF’s Intelligent assistance systems can prevent those problems from occurring. TRUMPF’s Active Speed Control is the first step on the road to autonomous laser cutting. Machines equipped with this cutting sensor system can automatically control and monitor the cutting process in real time even when there are variations in material quality. Another helpful feature for cutting thick material is the CoolLine nozzle, which sprays water onto the workpiece around the laser beam to cool the metal and prevent heat from building up and negatively affecting the quality of the cut. With the BrightLine fiber function, users can cut mild steel with a large focal diameter. This leads to a wider kerf and improves the quality of the cut edge. TRUMPF’s Smart Nozzle Automation makes life easier for operators by guaranteeing reliable, burr-free cutting. The system switches to the right nozzle and checks it for wear even in fully automated operation.

The smart way to increase throughput

All in all, the TruLaser Series 5000 12-kilowatt sets new standards of productivity, efficiency and reliability. It is the perfect choice for customers who need a reliable process for cutting medium to thick sheets and prefer to take a smart approach to increasing throughput. The TruDisk 12001 is available for the TruLaser 5030 fiber, the TruLaser 5040 fiber and the TruLaser 5060 fiber.

Sorting Guide

TRUMPF has developed a solution that makes life easier for machine operators by helping them to sort sheet metal parts from a laser cutting machine. The Sorting Guide uses an AI solution to identify which part the operator has removed from the machine and displays the necessary part information on a screen such as the part’s next step in the process chain. The Sorting Guide improves efficiency at the interface between the laser cutting machine and intralogistics, especially when dealing with sheets containing parts from multiple orders. It helps machine operators optimize their workflows by highlighting all the parts from one order with the same color on the screen. At the same time, it enables the operator to keep tabs on the machine’s status when working at the pallet changer – and, as an option, even to keep an eye on the interior of the machine. That makes it easier for the operator to react quickly to any problems that might arise. The Sorting Guide automatically registers each part in the system as it is removed. This eliminates the need to re-check the number of parts and manually update the part count in the control system. The digitally recorded data in the control system represents the real production progress in real time. The operator can then see which parts are ready for further processing and where they may need to initiate post-production. Overall, the Sorting Guide results in higher productivity on a day-to-day basis and more efficient use of the laser cutting machine.

Image processing that learns from data

The Sorting Guide works using artificial intelligence. It consists of a camera and an industrial PC equipped with intelligent image processing software. Its neural network detects which parts the machine operator has already removed from the sheet. Unlike conventional image processing techniques, this network can be trained and improved on the basis of the data that is collected continuously. In addition, the database serves to open up further optimization potential for users in the future. The Sorting Guide is currently available on systems running TruTops Fab or TruTops Boost software.

About TRUMPF

The high-technology company TRUMPF offers production solutions in the machine tool and laser sectors. It is driving digital connectivity in manufacturing industry through consulting, platform and software offers. TRUMPF is the world technological and market leader for machine tools used in flexible sheet metal processing, and also for industrial lasers. In 2019/20 the company – which has about 14,300 employees – achieved sales of 3.5 billion euros. With over 70 subsidiaries, the TRUMPF Group is represented in nearly all the countries of Europe, North and South America, and Asia. It has production facilities in Germany, France, Great Britain, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, the Czech Republic, the USA, Mexico, China and Japan. For more information about TRUMPF go to www.trumpf.com