SST Becomes Distributor for Synova

Single Source Technologies (SST; Auburn Hills, MI), a North American distributor of premium machinery brands, tooling and EDM supplies, has announced an exclusive agreement with Synova S.A. (Lausanne, Switzerland) to distribute their unique Laser MicroJet (LMJ) M-series of 3-axis and 5-axis machine tools through its extensive sales channel. In addition to sales distribution, the partnership also extends to technical and after-sales support. Other machine models, such as the L-Series, will also be offered.

LMJ technology enables substantial reduction of total cost of ownership in high-precision material processing. The unique water-guided laser beam cuts and drills perfectly parallel and clean kerfs or holes with virtually no heat impact. As a consequence, production yields are greatly improved. Post-laser process steps are frequently eliminated, translating into parts produced at a level of quality and reliability that cannot be achieved by other manufacturing techniques.

The 5-axis MCS 500 system offers unique benefits to hole drillers, as well as shops that micro-machine metals, ceramics and composite materials with high precision. Applications cut across a wide range of market segments, including aerospace, energy (industrial gas turbines), defense, medical, automotive, hard material tool making, and general metal micro-Machining. Using water to guide the laser to a given workpiece has the following advantages:

Water Guides the Laser.The application becomes insensitive to the focal plane of the laser. A cylindrical laser beam is created resulting in perfectly parallel walls, tight kerf widths and enabling the user to cut thick or non-flat parts, without having to worry about being in focus.

Water Cools the Material. Heat is generated during laser ablation. When using a conventional laser system, a significant amount of the laser energy is absorbed by the surrounding material, creating an unwanted heat-affected zone. With an LMJ, much of the energy dissipates into the water and not in the material. There is very little heat-affected zone. Stress-induced conditions such as micro-cracking, thermal damage or deformation are greatly reduced.

Water Cleans the Surface. When using a conventional laser, a portion of a laser-ablated material tends to redeposit and solidify, creating an unwanted slag condition. With the LMJ, the water displaces that material before it solidifies, translating into a much cleaner entrance, wall and exit surfaces without particle deposition or burrs.

The base MCS platform is manufactured by Makino, which has currently developed two sizes of the MCS platform: the MCS 300 and the MCS 500. Other sizes for larger work pieces will be considered in the future. The new distribution agreement will expand presence of water jet guided laser cutting systems in the North American market. “Our collaboration with them started in 2009 and has evolved ever since. We are very energized by this extension now to sales, distribution and after-sales services,” noted Dr. Bernold Richerzhagen, the founder and chief executive officer of Synova.

“The Laser MicroJet offers unique laser cutting capabilities that very well complement our extensive machining and engineering portfolios,” added Mark Logan, the director of Makino/SST. “For example, coupling it with our EDBV series of EDM machines enable users to drill a complete blade with optimum output, including the drilling of non-line-of-sight holes. We look forward to the opportunity to introduce this technology to our customers.”

SST provides leading machine tool technology such as Makino, related consumables, tooling and EDM supplies. Through their pursuit of excellence, they support shops with industry leading service and applications expertise that helps businesses grow and thrive. They have convenient locations throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

www.singlesourcetech.com,  www.synova.ch