Mazak Tech Tips

Mazak's Tech Tips are here to help laser-cutting customers with quick reference sheets on ways to maximize laser performance.

Maintenance Recommendations for Fiber Lasers

Fabricators invest significant time and resources into purchasing equipment for their business. Like most major equipment investments, regular maintenance is key for improving machine longevity. Here are a few things fabricators can do to keep their laser-cutting machine running smoothly.

Preview 3 and Preview G Battery Replacement

There are two different types of batteries—backup batteries for encoders and relocation batteries—that need to be replaced every 2,000 hours or when warning alarms appear. Follow the instructions to successfully change these batteries.

Orange Support App Puts Service at Your Fingertips

Mazak Optonics strives to provide customers the highest level of service and support in a timely manner. The Orange Support app was developed for that reason—to simplify and streamline customer support. Download the Orange Support app to submit service requests, live stream support, access service history, view training resources, and more.

How to Program Jobs Using Scheduler

Sometimes automation is not a realistic option for companies due to budgetary concerns, lack of space, or simply because the company is “not quite there yet”. For customers who wish to keep up their high production volume with limited resources, Scheduler is a great addition when planning a more effective production.

Pre-Installation Checklist

The key to a successful installation is preparation. While the specifics will vary based on the machine being installed, this pre-installation checklist serves as a guide to help ensure that individuals are prepared for the installation of their new Mazak laser-cutting machine.

Optimize Secondary Processes with 3D Programming

As with 2D laser processing, enhancements in 3D tube processing for machine tools continues as well. Machines are no longer just cutting tube or structural material, but they are now capable of handling additional processes such as tapping, thermal drilling, and ergonomic features such as assisting in part sorting for the machine operator on the unload side. All making the machine a more capable and efficient instrument for fabricators.

Implementing Flash Cutting

Flash Cutting is a technique that can be used to process particular patterns more efficiently. Any time there is a pattern where the straight lines of different features line up, Flash Cutting can be used. Flash Cutting results in greatly reduced processing times while still maintaining cut quality and accuracy.

Cutting Corners and Small Features

While lasers are known for high speed and high accuracy cutting, they spend a fair amount of time cutting at less than top speed. Sharp corners, holes, and other features require the laser to slow down to process. There are two machine functions we can control in order to process these features efficiently and accurately, the cutting head and power.

How To Use the Nozzle Centering Camera

Since the introduction of laser-cutting machines in the 80’s, the advancements in technology, machine capabilities, and available options have been increasing by leaps and bounds. But one task that has remained unchanged over the years is the need to manually center the beam within the nozzle tip. Recently, Mazak has introduced an innovative option for vastly improving the speed and consistency of the nozzle centering process using a special camera.

Setup for Non-Metal and Expanded Metal

When laser-cutting, there are certain applications we cannot rely on the height sensor to control the position of the torch above the material. One of the more common examples of this is expanded metal. However, the same techniques used to cut expanded metal can also be used to cut non-metallic materials like certain plastics, rubbers, or organic materials. Learn how to configure your laser machine's torch height by adjusting the tech tables.

Understanding Nitrogen Cutting on Fiber Lasers

Due to their small beam size and high wattage capabilities, fiber laser systems excel at cutting with nitrogen. As with all laser cutting, this requires the correct combination of settings in order to get the cleanest cut possible. This is especially important if you want to take advantage of the cutting speeds that fiber lasers can achieve. Learn how to adjust the focal point position and feedrate for high quality cutting on your fiber laser.

Maximize Laser Processing with 2D Programming

Software is often an overlooked and underutilized tool for helping the laser machine achieve increased utilization and efficiency. Mazak Smart System offers a variety of functions that assist with maximizing flat sheet processing. Three software techniques to increase your laser-cutting efficiency include heat avoidance for thicker material, programming to cut parts with open profile geometry, and automatically applying different cutting conditions and speeds for different materials.

Cutting Success for Mild Steel Plate

Successfully processing thicker mild steel plate (3/16” and thicker) with oxygen on fiber lasers can be challenging at times due to variations in plate composition, rust and scales issues, and difficulties managing heat buildup in the plate. Fortunately, Mazak laser-cutting machine tools come stocked full of options for combating the challenges associated with thick mild steel cutting. Following these different strategies will shed some light onto the mysteries surrounding mild steel plate cutting.

Applying Lights Out Operation

Mazak laser-cutting machines can easily be setup to run two additional sheets of material on its own, after hours. Simply load each pallet on the machine with fresh material, tell the machine which job to run, and setup up the machine to run the job twice with a pallet change. The machine will run the two sheets of material, then shut the machine down for the night once the job is finished. When you arrive in the morning, both sheets will be cut and ready to unload.

Preventing Fiber Window Spotting

All fiber laser systems contain a protective window located between the nozzle tip and the focus lens. This window is a sacrificial barrier which prevents sparks and cutting debris from depositing itself on the bottom of the focus lens. It is important that this window remains clean to maintain optimal cutting performance. Learn more about the several techniques to reduce unwanted spots on the protective window.

Three Methods for Restarting Programs

During laser-cutting operations, laser users may run into a scenario when a program needs to be restarted. Depending on the situation there are multiple ways operators can efficiently resume a program on a Mazak laser. The three most effective methods laser operators can utilize to perform a program restart are through the FEED HOLD, RESTART function, or the GOTO method.