Blechexpo 2019: 3D laser machine from TRUMPF does efficient job of welding large endoscopes

TRUMPF presents world premiere of TruLaser Station 7000 3D laser machine at Blechexpo // With up to four kilowatts of laser power and a 150 percent increase in work area, the system makes it easy to process large and complex parts // New machine is ideal choice for medical devices

Ditzingen/Stuttgart, November 5, 2019 – High-tech company TRUMPF has unveiled its TruLaser Station 7000 3D laser welding system for the first time at the Blechexpo international trade fair for sheet metal working in Stuttgart. The development team behind this new generation of machines has achieved yet another boost in productivity thanks to a work area that is 150 percent larger and a beam source with a laser power of up to four kilowatts. This combination allows users to weld larger parts and form deeper weld seams. Higher feed rates enable the machine to produce parts faster and more productively. Another new feature is the intelligent image processing system that automatically corrects the laser beam if the part to be welded is out of alignment. This makes the process more reliable and reduces scrap. The TruLaser Station 7000 is particularly suitable for complex medical devices such as endoscopes. Surgeons in the OR need endoscopes of different lengths – from long ones for obese patients to short ones for babies. “The TruLaser Station 7000 makes it easy to fabricate endoscopes of all sizes while meeting the industry’s high quality standards. Not many machines can do that – and that’s why we see so much potential in the medical device market,” says TRUMPF product manager Thomas Kirchhoff. 

High productivity and versatility
The TruLaser Station 7000 can handle all the most common metals including mild steel, stainless steel, copper, aluminum and titanium. The boost in productivity is due to the larger work area, more powerful laser and a new rotational changer. As soon as the process comes to an end, the machine swivels the unit around, replacing the fixture on which it welded the part with an empty fixture. This allows the operator to load and unload the machine while it is busy welding the next part, leading to considerable time savings, particularly in series production. The TruLaser Station 7000 also comes with an image processing system. A smart camera detects the position of the part in the work area. If it is not aligned properly, the camera sends the new coordinates to the IT system. The machine adjusts the welding program accordingly and the laser takes just a fraction of a second to automatically correct the position of the weld seam. “The result is a reliable welding process with a consistently high level of quality. This offers significant added value, particularly in industries with very high safety standards such as the medical device sector,” says Kirchhoff.

Electronics and automotive industries also benefit 
Ergonomic operation was another top priority for the TRUMPF development team. The TruLaser Station 7000 can be controlled via a console located outside the welding cell. The operator can enter all the information on the welding process using the machine’s intuitive touchscreen user interface. As well as welding medical devices, the TruLaser Station 7000 is also suitable for all industries that need flexible and productive solutions for processing small and medium-sized weld assemblies. “We also envisage benefits for the automotive and electronics industries because the system can weld very conductive materials such as copper at the high standards of quality that are required for applications such as e-mobility,” says Kirchhoff. 

Digital photographs in print-ready resolution are available to illustrate this press release. They may only be used for editorial purposes. Use is free of charge when credit is given as “Photo: TRUMPF”. Graphic editing – except for cropping out the main motif – is prohibited. Additional photos can be accessed at the TRUMPF Media Pool.

		TruLaser Station 7000
TRUMPF’s TruLaser Station 7000 3D laser machine has a work area that is 150 percent bigger than its predecessors. The development engineers also increased the available laser power. (Source: TRUMPF)

		Intelligent image recognition
A smart camera in the TruLaser Station 7000’s work area detects when a part is incorrectly aligned. The system can then automatically adjust the welding program. (Source: TRUMPF)

		
Endoscope
With its large work area and high weld quality, the TruLaser Station 7000 is the perfect choice for medical devices such as endoscopes. (Source: TRUMPF).	
		Suitable for products from diverse industries
The TruLaser Station 7000 can weld assemblies of different sizes and handle a wide variety of materials. That makes it suitable for numerous sectors, including the electronics and automotive industries (Source: TRUMPF).	

			

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 2018/19 the company – which has about 14,500 employees – achieved sales of 3.8 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

Press contact:
Ramona Hönl
Media Relations, Spokesperson Additive Manufacturing
+49 7156 303-31251
Ramona.Hoenl@trumpf.com

TRUMPF GmbH + Co. KG, Johann-Maus-Straße 2, 71254 Ditzingen, Germany

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