It is hard to imagine many cutting and welding operations in industrial applications today that do not use lasers. In production processes, lasers are the solution for rapid, accurate machining of various kinds of materials and shapes. With the help of item, Precitec, a German based company has become one the world’s leading specialists in the production of complex systems for processing materials with lasers.

Laser cutting and welding heads with integrated process controls and data backups are the company’s main line of business and Precitec is now considered to be the world leader in this field. The company aims for 100% process dependability and this is achieved with the aid of cameras and temperature sensors.



For example, with welding operations the geometry of the piece to be welded is checked and recorded not only from the front, but also from the rear. To insure the highest degree of process dependability, it is necessary to monitor any interference between the object and its immediate surroundings. Precitec has set a new milestone in process monitoring by launching its multidimensional laser welding system with its MPM (Melt Pool Monitor) system family. Up to this point, it has only been possible to record the strength of the beam in the welding process in a single dimension using opto-electronic sensors and to use the information to evaluate the process. The new system is based on the physical principle by which electromagnetic waves at the infrared end of the spectrum are generated with the molten metal, and these waves are then detected and recorded by the camera both, spatially and against a time scale. The data collected are evaluated by the typical method of comparing process references. This involves extracting data from the current production process and comparing them with reference data in real time.

Precitec felt that during the development stage of new products availability of flexible laboratory equipment was essential. That is why Precitec had teamed with item International to develop a two-axis handling system in their new laser testing laboratory.

item immediately impressed Precitec with the successful use of the building system in a number of smaller projects. Mr. Bock, a project leader responsible for laser technology within Precitec was also impressed with item’s support provided on site, the first class project engineering, and finally the unbeatable value for the money. He was later quoted as saying, "We provided item with just a sketch showing the rough dimensions and our basic concept. item did all the rest - from design and engineering to personal support on site."

The completed system provided for Precitec was attached to a support construction made out of Line 8 profile. There are also two independent linear slides, which guide the laser head along the Z-axis, in a way that is virtually free of deflection and torsion. A smart feature of this construction involved exploiting the inner cavity of one of the more rigid profiles to protect the laser tube. A counterbalance weight was also fitted to enable manual adjustment of the 45 kg (100 lb) Z-axis. The steel counterweights are completely enclosed within the conduit elements from the item system and are attached to chains for maximum safety and dependability. This is a prime example of item’s modularity because the above process is that is often used when building lifting door applications.

Precitec felt there were many benefits to using the item system, but most importantly the entire system was scalable and various pieces can be used alongside one another. Also important was the rapid delivery from permanent stock and the fact that a custom machine made from welded steel offered no economic advantages.