XXFast in XXL The TruLaser Tube 7000 laser-based tube cutting machine paves the way to new fields of application

A tube inside a tube. That might be your initial reaction when you first see the new TruLaser Tube 7000 in action. This laser cutting system processes tubes inside a tunnel-like safety enclosure and then – depending on the size – either moves it forward to the brush table or ejects it to a parts container behind the machine. With this high-end modern designed machine, TRUMPF offers a laser cutting system featuring heavy-duty drives engineered for heavy tubes, a broad chucking range and a high degree of flexibility.

This new machine can cut tubes and profiles with large diameters and wall thicknesses without sacrificing productivity. The system’s clamping range of from 15 to 200 millimeters opens up new application possibilities. Permissible workpiece weight in the six-meter format has risen to 150 kilograms, and with optional features it is even possible to process tubes up to 250 millimeters in diameter, weighing as much as 225 kilograms. The new tube cutting system can be equipped with up to 3.6 kilowatts of laser output power, making it suitable for a wide variety of applications. Maximum profile wall thickness is eight millimeters.

Superb performance thanks to automation
When compared with conventional processes like sawing, drilling or milling, selecting a TruLaser Tube 7000 machine can result in a significant boost in productivity. One example of productivity enhancement is the short set-up time when changing programs. Nearly all the adjustments depend on profile specifics. Values that have to be entered at the machine and loading unit can be easily administered with the parts program. The self-centering chucking jaws do not need to be exchanged. And, the stepped rollers that provide support and lateral guidance for the tubing automatically adjust to the diameter. Even the large, integrated scrap container in the feed station is emptied without operator intervention.

The FocusLine function automatically adapts the laser beam focal position to suit the nature and thickness of the material. The machine’s software independently adjusts to the focus parameters given in the technology table, eliminating any set-up effort. Also new is the extremely slender cutting head with a 155 millimeter lens and safety solenoid clutch, designed for flexibility.

When combined with the LoadMaster Tube, featuring a tube magazine that can hold up to 4 tons of raw material, the TruLaser Tube 7000 can be fully automated. Its swiveling feed support holds a number of tubes and keeps them at constant orientation. The loading unit employs a feasibility test to compare the tube geometry with the parts program. Special profiles and small batches can be fed by a conveyor section that is swung into position. The LoadMaster Tube measures the length of the pipe and adjusts the position of the grippers accordingly.

User-friendly features
In order to create ergonomically correct working conditions, the new machine has a swivel control panel that is mounted on the machine and can be shifted along the X axis to whatever position the operator desires. Another convenient feature is the interactive control concept which uses a touch screen to show machine status in graphic form and gives the operator a quick and comprehensive view of the situation.

The TruLaser Tube 7000 works with a new version of the TruTops Tube software to make sophisticated machining strategies available. This software is built around a database that contains all of the technical knowledge that TRUMPF has developed, accumulated and continuously refined over the years. With this new software, complex tube designs can be fabricated more easily, precisely and reliably. It is now possible, for example, to position one 3-D tube on another instead of designing and programming individual tubes. This saves time since parameters such as length, width, height, wall thickness and spacing between cut-outs can readily be modified to generate any number of variations.

TRUMPF Group (www.trumpf.com)
With sales totaling € 1.94 billion for the 2006/07 fiscal year and more than 7,800 employees, the TRUMPF Group ranks among the leading manufacturing companies worldwide. The three following business divisions are combined under the umbrella of a holding company: Machine Tools/Power Tools, Laser Technology/Electronics and Medical Technology. Its core business is machine tools for flexible sheet metal processing for punching and forming, laser processing and bending. In the field of industrial lasers and laser systems, the company is the technological leader on the world market. With about 50 subsidiaries and branch offices, the Group is represented in almost every European country, in North and South America as well as in Asia. Production locations can be found in Germany, France, Austria, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Poland, China, Taiwan, Mexico and the USA.