INNOVATIVE PLASMA CUTTING MACHINE FOR FLUE PIPES

The NextMove controller is particularly cost-effective for applications such as this. It provides all the control functions for the machine’s five servo and stepper motion control axes, with even the base model capable of accommodating a further two axes if required for future machine variants. The controller also features extensive built-in I/O capabilities, again with expansion options, to provide an economic machine control platform.

According to Techserv technical director Mike Cowley, “The high-level Mint programming language helps us to develop motion control programs for custom applications like this very quickly. Integrating the NextMove controller with our front-end CNC system was also straightforward because it uses the same API naming conventions as ActiveX commands. As we need to change the scaling and speed of the machine’s servo axes on-the-fly in order to maintain a constant cutting rate, the controller’s fast interpolation capabilities provide an important advantage.”

Cowley continues, “And as with many of our plasma cutting machines, we find that Mint’s ‘Hold-To-Analog’ command is especially useful, since it allows us to handle real-time control of the plasma arc entirely within the NextMove controller. We continuously monitor the arc voltage and the software interprets this analog value to automatically adjust the distance between the torch and the tube wall, thereby maintaining the constant plasma characteristics needed to ensure optimum cutting performance.”

A video of Techserv’s plasma tube cutter can be viewed by clicking here.

The new plasma cutter was developed for Flues & Flashings (Kidderminster, England), a company that specializes in the production of ducting products for the domestic and commercial heating markets. According to Gary Watkins, the works manager at Flues & Flashings, “The performance of the plasma tube cutter is superb. Changing the process so that we are pre-forming the tubes before cutting them, instead of cutting complex shapes from flat metal sheets, has enabled us to virtually quadruple manufacturing throughput. In fact, we were able to produce six months stock during the first two weeks of machine operation.”

Techserv Cutting Systems Ltd., Pepperoyd Mills, Battye Street, Dewsbury, WF13 1PA, England, 01924 460456, Fax: 01924 458630, www.techserv.co.uk.

Baldor Electric Company, PO Box 2400, Fort Smith, AR 72901, 479-646-4711; Fax: 479-648-5792; [email protected], www.baldor.com.

NextMove is a trademark of Baldor Electric. Any other trade marks used are recognized and are the property of their respective owners.