The Mitsubishi GX-F Advanced fiber laser has consistent beam quality and high processing stability.

‘Mind-blowing machine’

Fiber laser installation changes fabricator’s views about the technology

iber laser technology isn’t just for thin-gauge material anymore. The technology has grown and evolved to be useful in a diverse range of industries—even replacing conventional lasers or non-laser technologies. Combined with intuitive, easy-to-use, high-speed CNC control units that help operators make short work of any task, fiber lasers are a good choice for companies that want to achieve cost-effective, high-accuracy processing.

One of Southern California’s premier laser shops for the automotive industry, Lasernut, is known for fast turnaround times. The Norco, California-based company was backlogged and even turning away jobs before installing a Mitsubishi GX-F Advanced fiber laser in June 2021. The new machine replaced four existing lasers in the shop. Within two weeks of installation, it was operating at full capacity, the backlog was eliminated and lead times were reduced, says Lasernut President Cody Waggoner. In addition, cutting time has increased up to tenfold and costs associated with labor, gas and electricity have decreased.

The GX-F has burr reduction technology that makes burr nonexistent.

Cody waggoner, lasernut

Maximizing productivity

With the manufacturing industry suffering from a shortage of experienced workers, Mitsubishi designed its new generation of fiber lasers to minimize the need for operator input while increasing productivity. Waggoner saw increases across the board in overall capacity, productivity and profitability. “It’s already made a measurable impact on our business,” he says. 

Lasernut offers a wide range of fabrication services to large and small customers at its 40,000-square-foot facility, including laser cutting, bending, welding, grinding, sanding, drilling, tapping, counter sinking, PEM nut installation, tumbling, shearing, design and prototyping.

Lasernut averages 16 to 18 hours of production per day, five days a week on its fiber laser.

Since mid-June through the first week of December, Lasernut has run the GX-F Advanced over 2,000 hours, averaging 16 to 18 hours of production per day, five days a week, Waggoner says, adding, “It is just a mind-blowing, amazing machine.”

As may be the case for many fabricators, moving to fiber from tried-and-true technology was a leap for the company. “I had never been sold on fiber lasers because of micro-burr and concerns about edge quality, but the GX-F has burr reduction technology that makes burr nonexistent.”

The fiber laser’s smartphone-like control panel is easy to use.

Lasernut is no longer having to pay up to 1,000 hours a week on overtime trying to keep up with demand, and the labor needed for machine maintenance has decreased. 

The GX-F Advanced Series also has Mitsubishi gas-reduction technology that allows the laser to deliver more power while using up to 77 percent less nitrogen—and, says Waggoner, is already saving significant money.

AI enabled

The “brains” behind the GX-F Advanced Series is the proprietary Mitsubishi Electric artificial neural network technology Maisart, which imitates neurons in the human brain. The machine itself can learn from data and adjust performance without operator intervention. It uses audio and light sensors to monitor the cutting process in real time, adjusting parameters to optimize cutting performance for nonstop processing, and performs real-time electrical and assist gas consumption monitoring.

The GX-F Advanced offers reduced piercing time and does not scratch the material’s surface.

Operators needed very little training because AI does so much of the work and the smartphone-like control panel is easy to use, Waggoner says. 

Other key features of the GX-F Advanced Series include augmented reality with drop and cut, part rotation, and rectangular nesting; real-time on-site and remote monitoring of the cutting process; remote diagnostics and predictive maintenance; and an automated nozzle changer that supports continuous processing.

Built with all major Mitsubishi components, the GX-F Advanced Series is one of the only laser systems in the industry with a single source for service and support. MC Machinery, Elk Grove Village, Illinois, is a subsidiary of the Mitsubishi Corp. that supplies and services Mitsubishi Electric lasers, press brakes and automation systems. It deploys a network of technicians and applications support specialists across North America.

The GX-F Advanced Series itself comes with two years of remote360 production monitoring and support, which provides data that showcases companies’ real-time productivity, efficiency and downtime.

According to Waggoner, the ROI is swift. “The GX-F Advanced pays for itself in the energy savings alone. When you look at the numbers, it’s a no-brainer. It’s an unreal machine, just an amazing piece of equipment.”