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Tube Laser Cutter Technology for Square Tube Cutting
Tube Laser Cutter Technology for Square Tube Cutting
Cutting square, rectangular or elliptical metal tubing can be a complicated and time-consuming process.square tube cutting In the past, workers had to manually cut these special-shaped tubes by hand and wait hours for the finished product. Today, there are tube laser cutters that can cut these shapes and many others with great precision, allowing shops to increase productivity and quality. These tube lasers are also a great way to cut holes and angles on structural extrusions such as angle iron, channel stock, and beams.
Before you begin your cut, it’s important to understand the geometry of the part and tube so that you can make accurate measurements.square tube cutting Measure the length of your tube using a tape measure and mark the point where you want to make a cut. Secure the tube with a vise, clamp, miter box or even duct tape to prevent it from shifting during the cut. You should also make sure that the tube is clean and dry before you start cutting it.
When a piece of tube is bent or welded, it becomes subject to tensile and compressive stresses at the most stressed points.square tube cutting If these stresses are not released, distortion can occur. This is especially true with square tubing, because the entire tube wall is parallel to the plane of highest stress. To reduce the risk of distortion, tube laser cutters can be used to precut bend lines and implement male and female tabs for weld fixturing.
Tube lasers can also perform other operations that cannot be done on traditional tube cutting machines, such as coping, mitering, angling cuts, slots and holes.square tube cutting Additionally, these systems can cut parts with tight tolerances and finish them to a customer’s specifications. These tube lasers can be integrated with other secondary operations such as wire-brush deburring to enable automatic production of a finished part.
Another technology that can greatly improve the efficiency of tube cutting is dual-blade shear cutting. This is an improvement on single-blade shear cutting because it eliminates the dimple that is produced on a tube end when it is cut with a single blade. When this method is used, the tubing is held in clamping dies and a horizontal blade makes an initial scarfing cut through a portion of the tube. This notch allows the vertical blade to penetrate the tube wall with less resistance, eliminating the dimple and reducing the amount of material lost.
Another method of cutting round tubing is rotary tube cutting. With this technology, the tube is held in position on backup rollers while a rotary cutting blade (wheel) rotates around the tubing’s diameter. Unlike conventional lathe cutting methods, this method does not produce a significant amount of chips. It is possible to achieve distortion-free cuts with this method and overall length tolerances up to 0.010 in. Depending on the wall thickness of the tube, this method may leave burrs or sharp edges. This article is courtesy of Metal Supermarkets, your trusted source for all your metal cutting needs. To learn more, contact your local store or visit us online!
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