Automating a laser machine, even one you already own: our technician Matteo explains
Automating a laser machine means handing sheet loading and unloading over to it, and running programmed job cycles even when nobody is in the shop.
At Cutlite Penta, automation is a department that has grown fast over the past few years. We talked it through with Matteo Alfaroli, field service technician: he handles installations and special machines, automation systems, training for our customers' and dealers' operators, and technical support in the field.
Matteo, what do you work on, and why does automation matter so much?
I have been with Cutlite Penta for over five years, working on installations and special machines, on automation, on training courses for our customers' and dealers' operators, and on technical support in the automation field.
Cutlite Penta started moving into automation three years ago. Since then, thanks to our research and development department, we have built an automation range that we now install all over the world.
Having automation on a Cutlite Penta machine means you can manage sheet metal processing, from raw material to finished part, with far more autonomy.
What exactly is automation, and which machines can it be integrated on?
“In plain words? You press a button and forget about the machine.”
Automation means bringing every function together into a single panel. That is how you program complete job cycles, running for a night, for days or for weeks, without constant supervision.
Our automation systems can be integrated on the FAST, LME and XME models and on the PLUS system.
What is new about the automation Cutlite Penta develops?
We are adding a lot of functions, and some are already installed on the latest models. For example sensors that detect whether two sheets have been picked up together from the stack, or the thickness check, which compares the actual thickness with the one entered by the operator so the wrong program never starts.
On the most complex systems, the start can be given straight from the office, at the press of a button.
How much does the investment weigh for the customer, and how are orders going?
It depends on the type of automation and the type of machine, but the reasoning is always the same: faster processes and a lower operating cost over the long term.
Our machines are designed to be flexible and adaptable to each customer's needs, so we can build tailored solutions. And there is one advantage not everyone expects: you do not have to decide right away.
We have often fitted automation to machines that are more than ten years old. The job takes a little longer, but it is absolutely doable.
Orders are growing, above all from abroad: Sweden, the United States and Canada in particular.
Do customers already know what automation gives them?
It depends. Those who already run one or more Cutlite Penta machines with our automation know what to buy and how to get the most out of it. Others decide to invest and do not expect to find systems this developed. For instance:
- Job lists with different materials and formats, running one after the other.
- Automatic Nozzle Change, to move from one job to the next with no operator intervention.
- A loader that handles up to 50 sheets of different thicknesses and adapts to the sheet format.
- An automatic unloader that stacks the parts neatly.
- A laser scanner dedicated to unloading only, which maps the area and recalibrates every time a sheet is stacked, checking the height at which the next one can be unloaded.
These machines are very intelligent, but extremely simple to use: they have to repeat a given action, and they repeat it.
What do you like most about this job, and what do you see ahead?
Cutlite Penta invests in its people, young people in particular. The work is varied, it takes me to new places and new faces, and it lets me grow personally and professionally. And working in a young, dynamic environment where colleagues back each other up is very rewarding.
My hope is that the company keeps developing technology that is more and more advanced and, at the same time, simple. There are interesting roads ahead, such as using robotics for automation.
We are growing a lot and opening new offices around the world: every different culture brings fresh ideas that converge on the same goals. We are a team, and we are building new solutions in both laser cutting and automation.
Frequently asked questions
What does it mean to automate a laser machine?
It means bringing loading, cutting and unloading together into a single control panel, so you can program complete job cycles that the machine runs without constant supervision.
Which Cutlite Penta machines can automation be integrated on?
On the FAST, LME and XME models and on the PLUS system. Machines that are already installed can be equipped too, including those more than ten years old.
Can automation be added to a machine that is already in production?
Yes. Fitting it to an existing machine takes longer than on a new one, but it is doable: you do not have to decide on automation at the time of purchase.
How many sheets can the automatic loader handle?
Up to 50 sheets, even of different thicknesses, with the loader adapting to the sheet format.
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