LASER CUTTING IN THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY

WHICH ARE THE BENEFITS OF LASER CUTTING FROM PRODUCTION POINT OF VIEW?

Fagor Arrasate laser blanking line can do in a single run operations that using traditional methods would require several production steps and machines, for example, cutting, shearing and punching. This means that we minimize processes in the production, resulting in in great savings in space, stock, and labor. The fact that our laser cutting. Lines support feeding directly from the coil improves even more the production flow from raw material to finished parts, minimizing material load-unload operations.

WHY ARE LASER CUTTING MACHINES BETTER FOR QUICKLY EVOLVING MANUFACTURING REQUIREMENTS?

Although press stamping provides high productivity, and reliability, it’s limited to the dies already available, and changing the produced part requires manufacturing a new die, which is generally an expensive and slow operation. In a continuously evolving environment such as the electric car manufacturing industry, adaptability and rapid manufacturing changes are key. Quickly iterating new parts as the technology advances is a must, in order to prototype different solutions, and mass manufacturing in a very short time. Laser blanking machines don’t require any type of tooling to produce parts, thus allowing rapid adjustments to the produced parts, or even complete different shapes, for a quick design-to-production cycle.

ARE LASER-PRODUCED PARTS HIGHER QUALITY THAN USING TRADITIONAL METHODS?

With its lack of moving parts and tool wear, laser cutting has a high and continuous quality, that doesn’t deteriorate over time. This means producing correct parts every time, reducing waste and cost due to rejected parts.

Also, laser cutting can produce complex parts that are not possible to produce with traditional cutting tools, with very clean edges, and without blurs or inconsistencies, requiring less post-processing after cutting.

HOW ARE LASER MACHINE MAINTENANCE COSTS COMPARED TO TRADITIONAL METHODS? 

Also because of the lack of moving parts, laser cutting machines require less maintenance, which translates to less stop time, and thus, higher yields, requiring also less workers to operate and maintain. The number of consumable parts in our fiber laser blanking lines is minimum, so they have low maintenance costs and long life spans.

ARE LASER CUTTING MACHINES SUITABLE FOR THE WIDE RANGE OF MATERIALS REQUIRED BY THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY?

Fagor Arrasate laser blanking line is not only suitable for normal steel operation, but it also supports a wide range of materials that are required for automobile manufacturing. For example, high-strength steel is one of the most important materials in the automotive industry, being up to 60% of the weight of a vehicle. It’s a difficult material to process with traditional processes, but Fagor Arrasate laser blanking machines provide an advantage, being able to cut it with high reliability. Electrical steel is also an important material for the electric car industry. It’s widely used in the manufacturing of electric motors and transformers. This material is better suited to cutting with laser blanking machines, as using pressing methods can cause stresses that alter the magnetic properties of the material. Laser blanking machines deliver perfect cuts without stress or altering magnetic properties. Related to electrical steel cutting, we at Fagor Arrasate also have specialized machines for e-steel slitting which also keep the magnetic properties of the material.

Let us know your specific case and we’ll help you find the solution that best suits your needs.