Laser Database
Clicking on the Laser icon along the left-hand side will bring up the Laser Database.
Across the left-hand side, you will see a list of all materials available, as well as the technology tables and the NC code condition name. Clicking on one of these technology names will bring up the database table for the material selected.
Along the top of the database, you will see some basic information regarding the material selected. This includes the following:
- NC Name – This is the name of the material that will be displayed inside the NC code for recognition by the machine.
- Material – This is the name of the material used.
- Thickness – This is the thickness of the material selected.
- Film – If a film has been used on the material, this will be displayed here.
- Surface – The surface type of the material will be displayed here.
- Gas – The gas type used by the machine for processing this material will be displayed here.
- Process – This is the process carried out by the machine.
- Focal Length – This is the length of the laser lens.
The database is separated into two sections; Cut Conditions and Pierce Conditions. Cut conditions control the cutting process carried out by the machine, such as the gas type and power. The Pierce conditions control the piercing process, such as the pierce time and the focal length. Inside both databases, you can click on any data inside the database to make a change.
When clicking on Restore to Defaults, any changes that have been made to the database will be removed, and it will be restored to the default shipping settings.
Technology Table Settings
When clicking on the first settings button located at the top of the technology table, you will be displayed with the Technology Table Settings.
Cutting
Inner contours in CCW direction – This option is to turn on/off inner contours to be cut in a counter-clockwise direction.
Outer contours in CCW direction – This option is to turn on/off outer contours to be cut in a counter-clockwise direction.
Choose cutting condition by – This setting is to define how the cutting condition will be selected. The options include Maximum segment length, Average segment length and Area. The area is the conventional setting deciding on the Trumpf rules, Max and average segments decide accordingly.
Laser processing sequence – Use this dropdown to select the processing order.
Stitch cutting threshold distance (0 = disable) – This option is to define the maximum distance between two cuts which will be considered for stitch cut.
Pierce Settings
Allow approach that is more than 0.5 distance to the opposite side – This option is to define whether an approach is allowed to cover more than the distance to the opposite side.
Pierce type for open contours – This drop-down is to specify the pierce type that will be used on open contours.
Corner processing
Cool at corners where rounding/looping is not possible – If at a corner, both rounding and looping is not feasible, the software can automatically include a ‘cool’ operation where the machine will dwell at the corner and cool the area with cutting gas.
Cool time – When the cooling option is selected, the time for which the machine must dwell and blow the cutting gas (in seconds).
Microjoint Settings
Length – This is the default length for the microjoint.
Other Settings
Spacing between parts – This is the minimum spacing to be kept between parts on a sheet.
Approach length for separating cuts – This is the length of the approach to be retained when separating cuts.
Max. head down traverse distance – This is the maximum distance that the laser head can remain down during traverse processing.
Laser Condition Settings
When clicking on the settings button underneath a cutting condition, you will be displayed with the Laser Condition settings. You will be shown which condition has been selected (e.g. Large).
Approach/Escape Settings
Approach Types – Enable the approach types which are desired to be used.
Tangent – A straight line touching a curve at a single point without crossing it there.
Normal with radius – Straight approach with a radius to curve into the part.
Normal – Straight approach into the part.
Corner – Straight approach into a corner of the part.
Zero – No approach is used.
Approach Length – This value is the desired approach length of the tooling towards the part. This can be between 0 > 100 millimetres.
Approach Radius – This value is the desired radius of the tooling towards the part. This can be between 0 > 25 millimetres. This setting will only apply if the value is set for the approach length.
Approach Angle – This value is the desired angle of the tooling towards the part. This can be between -90 – 90 degrees. This setting will only apply if the value is set for the approach length.
Reduced Approach Length – When creating a microjoint on a common line, Cut ensures the required portion is cut with a reduced speed after piercing on the contour. This value is the desired percentage to reduce the speed of the cut. This can be between 0 – 100 percent.
Pre-cut length (0 means no pre-cut) – Cut supports approach tooling with pre-cut. Pre-cut is enabled when the ‘Length of approach to be pre-cut’ setting is non-zero in the settings pane of a laser condition. With pre-cutting, a portion of the approach geometry is cut twice. This setting can be between 0 – 20 millimetres.
Cool after a non-tangential approach – Enable this for the machine to cool after performing a non-tangential approach.
Withdrawal Length – This value is the desired withdrawal length of the tooling away from the part once the cutting is complete. This can be between 0 > 100 millimetres.
Withdrawal Radius – This value is the desired radius of the tooling away from the part. This can be between 0 > 25 millimetres. This setting will only apply if the value is set for the withdrawal length.
Withdrawal Angle – This value is the desired angle of the tooling away from the part. This can be between -90 – 90 degrees. This setting will only apply if the value is set for the withdrawal length.
Pierce Settings
Pierce type – This drop-down is to specify the Pierce type used.
Min. distance: pierce point to polyline – This value is to define the minimum distance from the pierce point to the polyline. This setting can be between 0 – 100 millimetres.
Min. distance: base of approach to corner – This value is to define the minimum distance from the base of the approach to the corner. This setting can be between 0 – 100 millimetres.
Corner Processing
No processing is required for turn angles less than – This option is to define the minimum turn angle, where special corner treatments such as rounding or looping become necessary. For corners where the change in direction is less than this value, it is assumed that no special action is required. This setting can be between 0 – 180 degrees.
Corner processing – This option is to select the preferred type of corner treatment. Possible values are None, Round, Loop, Round Loop and Loop Round. If Round Loop is selected, this implies that rounding over looping is preferred. In this instance, looping will be used for very acute corners where a feasible rounding radius could not be found but a feasible looping radius is found. Conversely, if Loop Round is selected, looping is applied to corners where it is feasible and rounding where it is not. For example, it will not be possible to loop at an internal angle, where rounding will be applied automatically.
Minimum and ideal rounding radius – This option is to define the minimum rounding radius possible by the machine with current cutting conditions and the ideal rounding radius which would usually be slightly higher than minimum for quality reasons. When automatically applying rounding for a corner, the software will never select a radius lesser than the minimum value defined.
Minimum and ideal looping radius – This option is to define the minimum looping radius possible by the machine with current cutting conditions and the ideal looping radius which would usually be slightly higher than minimum for quality reasons. When automatically applying a loop for a corner, the software will never select a loop lesser than the minimum value defined.
Clone Page
Clicking on the Clone Page button at the lower left of the technology table allows you to make a copy of the selected material database and transfer all information to a new material setup.
NC Name – This is the name of the material that will be displayed inside the NC code for recognition by the machine.
Material – This is the name of the material used.
Thickness – This is the thickness of the material selected.
Treatment – Use this dropdown to specify the treatment used for the material.
Film – If a film has been used on the material, this will be displayed here.
Gas – The gas type used by the machine for processing this material will be displayed here.
Process type – This is the process carried out by the machine.
Focal Length – This is the length of the laser lens.
Lense – Use this dropdown to specify the lens to use for processing this material.
Process Options – Use these checkboxes to specify any extra processing options to use for cutting.
- None – No extra processing options will be used.
- Flyline / Red flyline – Use these options to increase the cutting speed and reduce the cutting time. This option is best used when a high number of identical holes/shapes are being processed.
- CoolLine – This function will spray water onto the processing point via a special nozzle to help cool the cut.
- Bevel Cut – This option is used for precision bevel cut processes.
Nanojoints – Use this option to create smaller microjoints when processing scrap material.