November 2013 - For the first time in the metal fabrication industry, ENSIS provides the flexibility to cut both thick and thin metals simply by changing the beam configuration electronically, dramatically saving time, costs and increasing productivity for metal manufacturers. With previous cutting systems, a condenser lens had to be manually changed in order to adjust the beam configuration to cut different types of metals. This versatility is the result of the advanced fiber laser design co-developed by JDSU and Amada.

New fiber lasers continue to gain momentum for metal processing over the use of CO2-based cutting systems because of their high performance and ability to cut metal at speeds 2.5 to 3 times faster than traditional systems.

According to analyst firm Strategies Unlimited, kilowatt-class fiber lasers are growing rapidly to replace traditional C02 lasers and are projected to represent almost a third of all kilowatt class lasers by 2015.

At a press conference at FABTECH, the two companies went over the unique and groundbreaking aspects of ENSIS that includes the new fiber laser. Benefits include:

Flexibility to cut both thick and thin metals. Enhancements co-designed by JDSU and Amada allow operators of Amada cutting systems such as ENSIS to quickly modify beam quality electronically to cut a variety of thick and thin metals of up to 25 millimeters in thickness.

Optimized performance and enhanced beam quality. The new fiber laser provides the ability to cut metals that used to require 4kW of power to now use only 2kW of power to achieve the same cutting performance with high beam quality.

Reduced size and power. The new fiber laser engine is highly integrated and takes up 50 percent less space in Amada sheet metal systems such as ENSIS. It is also a greener solution that requires less power.

“Around-the-clock productivity is extremely important to Amada’s metal manufacturing customers,” said Mitsuo Okamoto, president and CEO of Amada. “Our newest fiber laser innovation with JDSU provides our customers with a major advantage because the flexibility of ENISIS allows for virtually no down time during the manufacturing process, regardless of what type of metal needs to be cut.”

“For more than six years, JDSU and Amada have collaborated to design the industry’s most innovative fiber laser solutions,” said Tom Waechter, president and CEO of JDSU. ”Our combined efforts on this second-generation fiber laser provides a highly differentiated solution and we look forward to continue transforming the fiber laser market with Amada for years to come.”

Metal manufacturers use high power fiber laser cutting systems to quickly and efficiently create metal parts that go into a wide variety of products. Examples include cutting thin sheets of metal for automobiles or refrigerators or cutting thick metal for structures such as beams used in construction.