Mazak Singapore manager on Tube Gear 150

Today, Iain Soh, Laser Product Manager-S.E.A. of Yamazaki Mazak Singapore Pte Ltd is presenting the 2D laser cutting system designed for high-speed precision tube and pipe cutting applications to the readers of INTERNATIONAL METALWORKING NEWS FOR ASIA.

According to Iain some of the recent and larger challenges Asian manufacturers encounter includes increasing of minimum wages, high skilled labour turn-over, and high-mix and low volume product order from customers. The Tube Gear 150 was constructed in the concept of minimizing the mentioned concerns through: automation (auto loading & un-loading); user friendly operational system; and high flexibility of different tube/pipe applications.

It is suitable for metalworking manufacturers in South East Asia who need a machine that is high speed, user friendly & high productivity. For the reason that it was built for speed, utilizing state-of-the-art drives, software & design features to reduce cutting times which directly result in an overall high efficiency fabrication system in end use factory.

Iain believes that compared to its rivals existing 2 chuck systems, the Tube Gear’s unique 3 chuck design delivers superior precision, higher accuracy & significantly reduced vibration, especially when cutting long tubes at high speed. The Tube Gear features a bundle loading system with a 4.2 ton capacity for greater throughput and productivity.

High-speed laser processing machine

Tube Gear 150 laser cutting system has a maximum tube diameter of 6 in round or square and utilizes a bundle loading system to accommodate the demands of high throughput production environments. It is available in a 2.5 kw or 4 kW resonator, is geared towards highly efficient, high-speed tube and pipe cutting operations that require extreme precision. The system uses a three-chuck design, which muffles vibration during high-speed cutting, for increased accuracy.

The Tube Gear 150 can handle round or rectangular tube and pipe with diameters up to 6 in with a rapid traverse rate of up to 6,299 rpm. Workpiece length can range from 78.7 in to 255 in, and the bundle loader can handle up to 140 square tubes. The optional long-parts unloader can handle pieces 39.37 in to 118.11 in and the optional short-parts unloader can handle parts shorter than 39.37 in.

Mazak says the Fanic 31i helps to speed up processing times by offering simple control and drive technology user options, in addition to the ergonomic design that pairs the loading and unloading bays in one direction. The three-chuck system also allows rigid chuck clamping for added speed and safety. Smart technology, including automatic profiler calibration, auto focal distance measurement and adjustment, and automatic nozzle cleaning, also cut process times.

South East Asia market

IMNA asked Iain Soh regarding manufacturing and marketing standpoint in South East Asia. He remarked, “As I have travelled throughout a few S.E.A country like Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia. Especially in Singapore & Vietnam, we have worked closely with few of major players in the market. From my visitation, I have seen that all of our customers are very happy with all of our cutting-edge machines. Though that in sheet metal, we have not done mass marketing or advertising like some of the competitors but our business is always there, and ready for our satisfied current customers, recommended customers by an existing user. I believe that our product speaks for its self.”

When asked about plans in SEA for 2014, and beyond, Iain Soh said, “With our core value, we keep looking forward & expanding our business throughout the S.E.A region. In Singapore, we have expanded into a bigger & larger manufacturing plant, the next expansion will goes to Malaysia where we will have our new Technical Center which showroom & application training ground for fresh/ trained engineers.