Arizona
MetalWorker 2001 September/October issue;
When we analyze what Desert Metal
Works has done in the last couple of months to blow away the competition;
we realize what a significant step it was. Combining high-speed punch
technology with state-of-the art laser cutting results in higher quality
parts at lower costs. The punch quickly adds standard holes and pierce
holes; then the work is passed to the laser for special holes and outside
contouring. By using both processes, the speed and cost efficiency of
punching is combined with the flatness and edge quality of laser cutting
to yield exciting results. Even this writer can understand a deal like
that.
"Now there are many parts in the 14 gauge to
5/16" range that nobody can beat us on," say David McHugh the
President of Desert Metal Works. "Many stainless steel products have
extraordinary potential for cost savings since laser pierce times in
stainless are long."
A recent large quotation in 5/16" stainless
steel was so low that the customer called Desert Metal Works to ask if a
mistake had been made. DMW assured the customer that the savings were
correct. The economy came from substituting punched holes at less than one
second each for laser holes at over ten seconds each.
Desert Metal Works purchased a Trumpf TC
500 R punch in March of this year. The new punch can perforate, form,
countersink, tap and louver through most metal up to 5/16" in
thickness. Full four-foot by eight-foot sheets can be processed and larger
sheets can be repositioned. All tools have 360-degree rotation and the
tools are very easy to set up and change. These features keep set-up times
very low. This punch has hit rates of up to 900 hits per minute.
Moving work between the punch and the lasers
requires special software and hardware. "To combine these
technologies I knew we needed Trumpfs' TOPS software to program all the
equipment," remarked Norm Hipple the VP of Production. "I had
promoted the advantages of upgrading our software for some time, but
moving work between the punch and laser required the upgrade." A
complete plate is punched with holes, pierce points, and two registry
holes, and then the plate is taken to the laser. An optical probe on the
laser locates the registry holes in the plate and the laser program is
automatically adjusted for alignment. The alignment guarantees that the
accuracy of the final parts is of the same quality as if the work were all
done on one machine. Finally, the laser cuts all the special holes and the
outside contours of the individual parts.
Desert Metal Works acquired their first 2600-watt
laser in 1995 and the second laser was installed in 1997. Both lasers are
dedicated to job shop work for manufacturers, machine shops, industry and
other fabricators. The acquisition of laser has facilitated DMW's growth
from 7,000 square feet in 1995 to 40,000 square feet today. They are
working to complete their new office, which will have a factory-outlet
showroom for their proprietary lighting and furniture products.
To be sure, any company can acquire equipment;
yet one produces better results than others. We see it every day. Desert
Metal Works has put together the right combination of three requirements:
the right equipment and software, experienced and talented operators and
programmers, and in-house maintenance. "We regularly produce better
edge quality than our competition - with no tricks. It's a simple matter
of commitment," says Paul Hall, V.P. of Technology.
