Coil cutting: how it works, advantages and related lines - Produtech

• Coil cutting: a brief description
• How the process takes place
• The pros and cons of coil cutting
• Insights and techniques of coil cutting
• Coil laser cutting
• The related coil cutting lines
  • EFFICOIL
  • ISEO
• Is it possible to cut steel from the coil?

Coil cutting: a brief explanation

Coil cutting is a metal cutting process that consists of feeding the machine from the coiland not from metal sheets. Processing from the coil requires specially designed machines, an investment that leads to substantial time and money savings in the medium to long term: by feeding from the coil, the machine works without interruption for several days. In coil cutting, the coil-fed machine unrolls the coil and performs the cutting in the same process, producing the semi-finished or finished part, ready to move to the next step in the assembly line.

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How coil cutting process takes place

Coil cutting occurs in several stages:

1. First, the coil roll is placed into the machine entry opening;
   
   
2. The interpolation with the transverse axis of the cutting head makes possible the progression of the sheet metal inside the machine;
   
   
3. At this point, coil cutting is done by bands of varying lengths, usually in 500-mm bands;
   
   
4. Within these bands, all necessary cuts are carried out without interferences, even in the case of details with a pronounced length. 
   
   
5. Eventually, the machine outputs the semi-finished or finished item.

The process of cutting itself works by passing a targeted and precise laser beam through the material to be processed. Laser optics and CNC (computer numerical control) are used to address the laser beam generated.

A material-cutting laser uses a motion control system to follow a CNCcodeof the model to be cut on the material. The laser basically melts the material on which it is directed, so the concept is more similar to fusion than to the actual cutting in a traditional way. This means that the cut can be easily done from lightweight materials such as fabrics, to stronger metals and precious stones such as diamonds.

As the machine is equipped with a laser, the working area is fully enclosed, according to current safety regulations. Coil cutting improves sheet metal processing by cutting faster than punching machines and with significant production autonomydue to continuous feeding, reduced maintenance requirements, and optimized unloading of cut parts.
 

The pros and cons of coil cutting

Cutting from the coil does have numerous advantages. Even if the purchase of a coil cutting machine requires a greater investment, this is widely paid off in the medium to long term. It may be seen as an initial disadvantage; actually, we know that without investment in new technology, companies would not grow. 

Here is a list of pros why you should choose coil cutting technology:

• Metal sheet feeding takes place constantly andautomatically, no need to recharge the metal sheet fold.
  
  
• Optimal and flexible managementof sheet metal loading and unloading - you decide when the machine should stop working, not the lack of metal sheets.
  
  
• Increased production speed - due to the automatic feed, the production doesn’t have to be stopped from time to time.
  
  
• Work time-saving and consequently less manpower.
  
  
• Less clutter - one machine can do the work of two or more machines.
  
  
• Coilcosts definitely less than precut metal sheets.

Insights and techniques of optical-fiber laser coil cutting

Produtech’s coil cutting process uses optical fiber laser technology to cut. Compared to the CO2 laser, optical fiber has many pros. In particular, fiber lasers require less maintenance and produce more precise outputs. 

How does laser cutting work? In fiber laser cutting machines, cutting is done by transmitting the energy beam directly from the diodes and fiber cables. Due to its reduced wavelength, it has better beam absorption of the cut material, allowing the cutting of metals such as brass and copper.

With a wavelength of just 1,064 micrometers, fiber laser cutting machines produce an extremely low cutting point (up to 100 times smaller than CO2) making it ideal for cutting reflective metal material. This is one of the main advantages of fiber over CO, along with reduced processing time, minimal maintenance, and increased productivity at equal cost.

Coil processing has a long list of advantages that make this kind of supply much more convenient than the traditional sheet metal processing, specifically from two main standpoints: higher saving of raw material and higher production speed.

On this page:

• What is coil processing?
• Coil processing 
  • How are steel coils processed?
  • Coil processing lines 
• Produtech coil processing solutions
• Coil processing equipment manufacturers
• Coil processing services
   

What is coil processing?

Coil processing machines allow cutting on raw material, optimizing its use: thanks to the nesting of the figures on coils without a length limit, we can produce a higher number of pieces than if we were working with previously cut metal sheets, reducing waste by 20-30%. Less waste and more pieces produced: with the same surface area, the coil nesting allows to make better use of the raw material available.

This implies two great advantages:

• The first is to be intended in terms oftime saved, considering that you don’t need any extra time to cut the metal coil into sheets;
• The second one is in regard tohow much money is saved, considering that coils have a lower cost than metal sheets.

Therefore, coil processing allows to reduce waste material and purchase costs, while increasing productivity in terms of the number of pieces produced.
 

Link to YouYi Precision

Coil processing

Thanks to the automatic feeding system, coil processing allows a highly increased production speed. Coil processing doesn’t require constant loading and unloading operations of metal sheets into the machine, which causes a great cut in regards to the time needed to load and unload raw material.

Besides being extremely more effective, coil processing is also more sustainable than the traditional sheet metal processing, because it allows to use less raw material and it requires to change wearable pieces with a lower frequency, thanks to direct-drive engines.
 

How are steel coils processed?

Steel coils must undergo a multi-step procedure to ensure the quality and polyvalence of their intended applications. 

• Firstly, raw steel is purified, melted, and alloyed to achieve the desired properties. 
• Then, is the turn of thehot rolling processwhere molten steel is formed into a continuous slab and rolled into thin sheets exposed at high temperatures. 
• Theserolled sheets can undergo further processing, such as cold-rollingto achieve tighter tolerances and better finishes. In order to shield the sheets and enhance their corrosion resistance, it is possible tocoatthem with zinc.
• After rolling and finishing, thesheets are coiled up. 

Throughout the entire coil processing procedure, quality checks are carried outto ensure the steel meets specific industry standards.
 

Coil processing lines

Produtech’s coil processing lines work automatically on the entire productive cycle, from raw material to the finished piece, without the constant supervision of an operator or the need to manually reposition the pieces from a machine to another.

This implies a higher level of automation and performance of the productive processes, with less need for either economic or manpower resources in order to carry on with production.

Also, coil processing implies a reduction in terms of hazardous emissions: Produtech’s coil processing lines do not emit CO2 and operate in almost complete absence of fumes generated by liquid lubricants.
 

Do you want to know more about coil processing? Read more here
 

Produtech coil processing solutions

Produtech, thanks to its knowledge and exclusive technological know-how, was able to perceive the great potential of coil processing, which is exactly why it chose to make this kind of processing the number one peculiarity of its machines.

All of Produtech’s machines are manufactured with the specific trait of processing coil, and not metal sheets. A characteristic that makes them unique and very competitive on the market.

Coil processing equipment manufacturers

Specifically, Produtech manufactures:

• Punching machines
• Laser cutting machines
• A combined line with both a punching and a laser cutting unit

Each one of these machines can be completely customized, according to the client’s specific production needs, and it’s perfectly equipped to allow the automatic production of pieces through coil processing.

Coil processing services

Produtech is a leading company in the coil processingsector. We offer a broad range of customized services that can meet the most demanding requests of our customers. We are not just counselors, but we provide advanced equipment to reach high precision cuts and intricate designswith various materials. 

Produtech’s machinery can deal with different types of coil thicknesses and widths, ensuring the utmost versatility.But Produtech is also Customer Support, training, maintenance, and consulting services to ensure the best possible approach to every single project.

For more information, please visit Coil Processing Equipment Supplier.