F064: Can Laser Blanking Match the Rates of Traditional Blanking? The Answer is Yes

The development of coil fed laser blanking technology has offered an alternative method of blanking as compared to cutting blanks with traditional mechanical stamping with dies. High volume automotive applications have welcomed the technology due to the elimination of blanking dies, as well as the higher material utilization the technology provides. The one disadvantage of laser blanking in the automotive industry has always been and has remained the production rates. That has now changed. Cutting speeds have greatly increased, not only for thinner gauge materials, but the fiber laser cutting speeds have increased into heavier gauge ranges with the ability to utilize 20KW and above lasers in coil fed laser blanking applications. We will explore the new technology that has allowed the laser blanking production rates to approach the rates of traditional mechanical blanking.