Fagor Automation has been designing and manufacturing high performance automation equipment for almost 50 years. Our wide selection of products include: CNC Systems, drives, motors, and high accuracy linear and angular encoders (which are available in both absolute and incremental signals). Much of the development of these CNC systems have been optimized for metal cutting. With the introduction of the recent 8060L and 8070L models, these controls have been specially made to suit sheet metal laser cutting machines as well.
Performance
To maximize machine efficiency, the development of Fagor CNC Systems has been focused on high-performance metrics. To improve cutting speed, our control system optimizes the path of cutting program points.In fact, the axes movement is designed to execute smoothly at fast cutting speeds without sudden acceleration or braking. In addition to positively affecting speed, the exclusive HSSA (High Speed Surface Accuracy) machining system reduces mechanical stress on the machine, therefore increasing the life of its components.
Before executing the program, Fagor controls evaluate the variations of the programmed route, which allows more dynamic motion of the axes, resulting in reduced machine stress and less vibrations. Thanks to the reduced vibrations, the movements are more natural resulting with a higher quality of cut.
Hardware
The new 8060L and 8070 control systems are available with the new hardware platform Q7-A. The Q7 platform is a new CPU design that unifies the size of all models, doubles the CPU cores, and does not require a fan or battery. This platform has a uniform compact design regardless of the different number of processing core options or model. These new CPUs also support the EtherCAT bus for remote IOs, and will soon support EtherCAT drives.
Specific functions
The Fagor CNC System sets itself apart from other laser controls by a series of specific functions designed to further increase the processing efficiency. One of the most important features being N Axis GAP control, which ensures a specific set distance is maintained between the laser nozzle and the sheet surface (GAP), regardless of any variation of the thickness of the sheet. This feature is available both for flat laser cutting (2D) and for 4/5 axis machines (3D and tube cutting).
The Leap Frog (frog jump) function has also been implemented on Fagor laser controls during motion in the XY plane between different cutting positions that provide an obstacle jump. The CNC calculates optimized movement for the Z axis and generates a special path that ensures the maximum possible speed depending on the acceleration and the axes involved.
Synchronized switching, or grid/matrix cutting, allows the user to control the status of a digital output to turn the laser on and off depending on the program path without having to add separate instructions (programming G1 / G2 / G3 = laser on / cutting and G0 = laser off / no cut). This makes it possible to control the fast activation/deactivation of the laser cutting beam to generate parallel cutting patterns like a grid or matrix.
Pulse-Width modification, known as PWM, is used to control a duty cycle of the Laser Signal, therefore modifying the power of the Laser. One of the applications of the PWM is using the Laser like a drill by applying and removing power very fast. Laser power can be controlled through the PWM Duty Cycle, or an analog output, depending on the speed of the laser nozzle path. This allows the user to maintain a consistent and uniform cut. While the previous platform offered a frequency of 5khz, the new Q7 platform can reach frequencies up to 50khz and will be improved even further in future software versions.
Integration of LANTEK Inside Software
Fagor’s 8070 and 8060 Laser CNCs are now equipped with fully integrated Lantek Inside Software. This laser programming software is a specially designed CAD/CAM solution that automates programming for sheet metal cutting machines. Regular production demands of the user are optimized for tasks such as repeating single parts, redoing damaged or missing parts, or reusing any scrap piece without the need of any intermediate procedures. This software is integrated into the control, maximizing the use of materials and optimizing execution times, as well as faster production processes with automatic and manual nesting of parts.