S1313 Fibre Laser Cutting Machine: Why Granite?
A new approach to machine bed design for high-speed fibre laser cutting
Laser cutting machines are constantly evolving, with manufacturers looking for new ways to improve speed, stability and precision. Our latest addition to the Laser Machines range takes a slightly different approach to one of the most fundamental parts of the machine: the machine bed.
Introducing the S1313 Fibre Laser Cutting Machine, featuring a high-rigidity granite machine bed designed to provide a stable foundation for high-speed, precision laser cutting.
But why granite?
It might seem like an unusual material for a laser cutting machine, so let's take a closer look at what the granite bed brings to the S1313 and why it is an interesting approach to machine design.
Why Does the Machine Bed Matter?
The machine bed is the foundation of a fibre laser cutting machine. It supports the moving components of the machine and provides the structure from which the cutting head performs its movements.
During high-speed cutting, the cutting head is constantly accelerating, decelerating and changing direction. This means the machine structure needs to provide a stable platform for those movements.
The S1313 has been designed around this principle, combining a high-rigidity granite bed with a high-speed motion system capable of speeds of up to 120 m/min and acceleration of up to 1.5G.
The goal is to provide a stable foundation that supports the machine's high-speed operation.
What Makes Granite Different?
Granite offers several characteristics that make it well suited to applications where rigidity, stability and vibration control are important.
High Rigidity
The granite used in the S1313 machine bed has approximately three times the hardness of cast iron, providing a rigid and robust foundation for the machine.
Its compressive, tensile and bending strengths are also approximately three times greater than cast iron, contributing to the structural stability of the machine bed.
Vibration Damping
One of the key characteristics of the granite bed is its ability to damp vibration.
The S1313 granite machine bed has a resonant vibration damping coefficient approximately three times that of cast iron. This helps absorb and damp vibration generated during rapid machine movement, providing a stable foundation for high-speed operation.
Thermal Stability
Temperature changes can cause materials to expand and contract. In precision machinery, minimising these dimensional changes can help maintain consistency.
Granite has a low thermal expansion coefficient, helping minimise dimensional changes caused by temperature fluctuations. The S1313 granite bed also offers heat resistance above 1000°C.
Together, these characteristics make granite a well-suited material for a machine bed designed around high-speed, precision laser cutting.
High-Speed Cutting, Built on a Stable Foundation
The benefits of the granite bed become particularly relevant when combined with the S1313's high-speed motion capabilities.
The S1313 configuration has a maximum speed of 120 m/min and maximum acceleration of 1.5G, allowing the cutting head to move rapidly between cutting paths.
The machine is specified with positioning accuracy of ±0.05mm and repeat positioning accuracy of ±0.02mm.
Rather than focusing solely on speed, the S1313 has been designed around the combination of speed and structural stability.
Designed for Practical Workshop Operation
The granite machine bed is the feature that sets the S1313 apart, but it isn't the only consideration in its design.
The machine incorporates a range of features intended to make everyday operation and maintenance straightforward.
Modular Cutting Table
The S1313 uses a modular shark-fin/slat cutting table, allowing table components to be replaced and maintained as required.
Fast Electric Lift Door
The electric lift door provides convenient access to the cutting area for loading and unloading material.
Efficient Dust Collection
A high-efficiency dust collection design helps remove cutting dust from the working area and contributes to a cleaner workshop environment.
Compact Design
The S1313 has been designed with a space-conscious footprint, making it suitable for workshops where available floor space is an important consideration.
A Different Foundation for Fibre Laser Cutting
The S1313 takes a different approach to the foundation of a fibre laser cutting machine.
By combining a high-rigidity granite machine bed with high-speed motion and precision positioning, it has been designed to provide a stable platform for demanding laser cutting applications.
For manufacturers looking for high-speed fibre laser cutting technology - and a machine built around a different approach to structural design - the S1313 offers an interesting alternative.
