Buying a tube laser? These five questions determine whether you will still be satisfied in three years

A tube or sheet laser is an investment you want to rely on for years. On paper, the specifications of different brands often look very similar. Yet you only really notice the differences once the machine is running: a profile that does not quite fit, a visible side that turns out to be distorted after coating, or a power connection that cannot handle the load.

Asking the right questions before you buy prevents those surprises. Based on our experience, we have listed the five most important ones.

The five questions to ask in advance

1. What is the largest profile you will ever want to process?

Do not just look at your standard products, but especially at the exceptions. At Trahecon, a manufacturer of balcony railings and staircases, a laser with a capacity of 160 mm initially seemed sufficient.

During the conversation, it turned out that larger profiles are sometimes needed for staircases, for example for stringers. That is why a model with a capacity of 240 mm was ultimately chosen.

2. Which loading magazine suits your product mix?

The magazine determines how much you can have processed automatically. Broadly speaking, there are two options:

• Bundle loader, ideal for large series of the same round or rectangular tube. You load a complete bundle, and the machine separates the profiles and processes them automatically one by one.
• Flat loader, the better choice if you also process angles or U-profiles. You place different profiles side by side, and here too a considerable amount of material fits in.

At Trahecon, a bundle loader initially seemed the obvious choice. However, because angles and U-profiles are also processed from time to time, the choice ultimately fell on a flat loader.

3. How does the laser handle thin profiles with a visible side?

With flat rectangular tubes, for example 50 by 10 mm for balustrades with balusters, you laser a cut-out on one side while the other side is the visible side.

If the focal distance is not set correctly, too much heat ends up on the other side. This causes a slight distortion that you only see after the product has been powder coated, and by then it is too late.

4. Is your power connection sufficient?

A fibre laser consumes less than the old CO₂ lasers, but the laser source, fume extraction and peripheral equipment together still require considerable power. With the current grid congestion in the Netherlands, this is one of the first questions to answer, even before you choose a model.

At Trahecon this was not a problem, because the machines are located in Poland, right next to a heavy-duty transformer station. But do not simply count on that in the Netherlands.

5. Who stands behind the machine?

A laser is only as good as the organisation around it. GWEIKE, which Van Dulst represents, is one of the top five tube and sheet laser manufacturers and has more than twenty years of experience. The machines are solidly built, with many standard components that make maintenance easier. The heart of every machine is built and assembled at the main site.

Just as important is who you call when you have a question. Trahecon chose Van Dulst because it gives the company a single point of contact for all its machines, from the GWEIKE lasers to the specially developed drilling-tapping-sawing-deburring machine.

How to get the most out of installation and training

Plan the installation in phases

At Trahecon, the tube laser was installed first and the sheet laser a few weeks later. We expected the most questions with the tube laser. By scheduling the second installation later, questions that arise in the first weeks can be addressed straight away. By then the operators have already gained experience and know exactly where they still need additional knowledge.

Involve your operator from the start

For the acceptance of the machines in China, not only the management travelled along, but also the operations manager and the operator. That operator already took on responsibility there. An operator who feels ownership of the machine ensures that it is accepted more quickly and lasts longer.

Curious how the complete project at Trahecon went? Read the full case: https://vandulst.nl/nl/kennis/cases/vier-bewerkingen-in-een-lijn-samengebracht-voor-trahecon/

Your checklist at a glance

Before you purchase a tube or sheet laser, it pays to go through these points:

• The largest profile you will ever want to process, not just your standard size.
• The type of magazine that suits the variety in your profiles.
• The heat input on thin profiles with a visible side.
• The capacity of your power connection.
• The support and point of contact behind the machine.

Are you considering a tube or sheet laser? Van Dulst will be happy to help you choose the right model and configuration.