An increasing number of sheet metal parts required in manufacturing nowadays can benefit from combining the processes of laser cutting, punching, tapping, forming and bending. Examples include computer chassis, electronics housings, lighting equipment components, industrial machines for the food industry, HVAC components, and a wide variety of specially designed parts. An extremely flexible machine is needed for workshops to be able to serve this growing but demanding market.

How about having one machine that can do all of these operations in one process?

The ultimate value adding machine! Laser, Punch, Form, Tap and Bend in one

Meet LVD’s Strippit PX-L. It’s a Combination of all processes in one. It can laser cut, punch, form and tap sheet metal parts as well as bend them up to 75 mm high adding the most value to your parts in one process.

If you are serving this market of complex metal parts or want to enter it, Strippit PX-L is your solution of choice. Programming is easy with LVD’s CADMAN® software, which allows operators to program the machine with just a few clicks, using the part’s 3D drawing as input.

Strippit PX-L adds up to 75% more value to your parts in one machine compared to conventional processes

Our focus today is the combination of punching and laser technology. Let's start with a bit of history. In 1978, Strippit, part of the LVD group since 1998, introduced the first punch-laser combination machine in the metalworking industry. The laser tool was a groundbreaking advancement in flexibility and productivity, combining for the first time the speed of punching and the flexibility of laser cutting. Over the years, LVD has marketed different variations of the punch-laser machine to best serve the needs of combination machine customers. And that begs the question of whether a punch-laser machine is right for you and your application.

Let's take a closer look at what you need to consider. To remain competitive, companies need new opportunities to add value with shorter lead times, and more flexibility to meet client needs. Investing in advanced equipment like combination technology is one way to satisfy current market demands. 

The question is whether your application is right for a combination machine. There are four key points to determine whether a combination machine is right for you. With a combination machine, you can eliminate processes, reduce run times, optimise material handling, shift operators to other work and incorporate automation in a way that is not possible with standalone equipment. 

Understanding what parts are best suited for a combination machine will help determine if it's a good fit and whether or not you are processing enough of these types of parts to generate a good return on investment and cost per part. The return on investment relates directly to how quickly you can load the machine with the right jobs. 

Ideal parts for a combination machine take the strength of what a punch does. In terms of material forming, this is the speed of a punch combined with the advantages of a laser to cut complex profiles and special shapes. Typical applications for combination machine parts include computer chassis, electrical and electronic housings, lighting industry applications, industrial machines for the food industry, heating and ventilation, air conditioning and special designs. 

Combination machines are gaining popularity. Manufacturers are giving this technology a second look because of two key drivers. Firstly, in high mix low volume (HMLV) environments, fast turnaround and flexibility are more critical than ever. Secondly, technological advances, such as the emergence of the fibre laser and improved punch press capabilities, have widened the scope of what is possible. 

In fact, combination machines now offer more processes than ever, including punching, wheel technology for roll forming, offsetting, stiffening and deburring, high-accuracy bending up to a height of 75 mm and even tapping during the punching process, as well as laser cutting. It's surprising to see the full capability of the latest generation in punch-laser combination machines. 

Because the combination machine offers two technologies in one, the machine cost is higher than for standalone equipment. To maximise your investment, you must also consider the future. Go for a machine that allows you to meet your current needs, but also look to the future and identify where the combination process can add value and how this flexible technology can help you grow your business. When evaluating a combination machine, it is important to consider the added capability it will bring to your business, today and tomorrow. This is why these cost-saving features and the expanded capability to take on a wider range of jobs should be taken into account when evaluating the initial cost of the machine.

This extended machine scope gives you the opportunity to reimagine what you can process. So these are the four key factors to help us decide if a combination machine is for you. Let's now discover how the latest generation of punch-laser combination machines takes flexibility, productivity and value adding capability to the next level.

Ladies and gentlemen, we introduce LVD’s new Strippit PX-L punch-laser combination machine. The Strippit is based on LVD’s PX-series punching technology that allows you to punch, form, bend and tap on one machine and the combination with a 3 kW fibre laser cutting machine. The PX-L provides the ultimate flexibility, productivity and value-add for the manufacturing process. 

Let's take a look at some of the PX-L’s key features. The Strippit PL combines high-accuracy punching with the speed and versatility of fibre laser cutting for complete part processing on a single machine. The combination of technologies eliminates processes, reduces production time and material handling, providing high-quality parts.

The PX can punch, form, bend and tap forming flanges up to a height of 75 millimetres, as well as countersinking, wheeling and scribing. The single-head system has 20 indexable tool stations and holds tools as large as 90 millimetres in diameter. Set-up and tool change time is minimised with the single-head punch press, which features a circular tool magazine that allows every tool to rotate 360 degrees.

The Strippit PX-L is equipped with a 3 kW fibre laser and the latest Precitec ProCutter cutting head with crash detection. The cutting head automatically adjusts the focal point to the desired position. It also has a diameter to achieve the best possible cutting results, from simple to complex forming profiles. 

The machine cuts and punches a full size sheet without repositioning, thanks to a system with three programmable clamps, all of which can be relocated during the production process. A large part chute pivots to gentle slight laser cut parts or scrap into a bin, or opens to drop or release parts from a skeleton. The easy Touch-B controller contributes to optimum performance and flow. 

The Energy Reduction System design has been a standard feature of all our punch presses for many years. To increase productivity, our new PX-L can be equipped with several modular automated solutions. A compact auto-load or tower system, or fully automated picking and sorting connected to a warehouse.

Discover how the Strippit PX-L Combination Punch-Laser machine could create your complex parts

Look at this webinar to see how LVD’s Strippit PX-L machine combines laser cutting, punching, forming, tapping and bending functionality. The video also shows how CADMAN® software is used to program the machine to further speed up the process.