Revolutionising laser cutting

Sheet processing lasers are continuously getting tougher and quicker. But that doesn’t assuree profitable cutting jobs. The actual profit margin for cutting sheet metal parts is determined much earlier, for example with optimal parts grouping in a cutting plan. In this way, users can save on raw materials and obtain faster cutting times. Up until now, this required a great deal of time and know-how. A different online service promises cut parts as accurate and cost-effective as never before. This one-of-a-kind online service on the market creates maximally optimised cutting plans for laser cutting.

The Swiss machine manufacturer Bystronic now rounds out their selection of laser cutting systems with a revolutionary innovation: ByOptimizer. The exclusive online service creates optimised cutting plans in the blink of an eye. Lengthy cutting plan creation becomes unnecessary.

ByOptimizer is based on new Cluster technology by the Swedish company Tomologic. This technology automatically groups cut parts on a sheet. So tightly, in fact, that no more raw material is wasted on gaps between parts. The tightly placed parts are then cut out of the sheet with short cutting paths.

More parts per sheet

In comparison to traditional cutting plans, ByOptimizer achieves a distinct 15 percent advantage on a standard 2 x 1 meter sheet. For example, the 60 parts traditionally requiring two sheets, can be obtained on just one thanks to ByOptimizer grouping and efficient material use. That saves materials as well as set-up time, since placing a second sheet is no longer necessary.

Tighter parts grouping enables more efficient cutting paths across the sheet. Shorter laser paths result in faster cutting job processing overall. In comparison to traditional cutting plans, the time savings for one standard sheet of 60 parts is approximately 19 percent, depending on complexity and material thickness.

Integrated know-how

But Bystronic promises more than improved raw material usage and shorter cutting times. ByOptimizer even takes cutting process safety into account. “With traditional cutting plans, excessive use of raw materials often leads to risky cutting maneuvers and even occasional cutting errors,” product manager Marcel Mosimann explains. With ByOptimizer, users don’t need to worry about such risks. The technology contains cumulative know-how. ByOptimizer takes the key components into account: cut parts geometry, raw material state, and laser power. A database with over 300 parameters provides comprehensive information for ideal cutting processes and material performance.

Quick implementation

Implementation is easy for users because ByOptimizer is an online service. “Implementation is easy for our customers, without high investment costs for new hardware or software”, Marcel Mosimann assures. All a user needs to start using the service is a PC with an internet connection, BySoft 7, and a Bystronic laser cutting system.

Bystronic, in cooperation with Tomologic, provides the necessary processing power for creating optimised cutting plans. ByOptimizer sends a query to the Tomologic server center for each cutting job, where the incoming job specifications are processed and sent back to ByOptimizer via a secure network. In just minutes, an optimised cutting plan is ready to go.