Damei Europe presented a new development based on laser technology and with a wide range of industrial applications. This is a 100% Spanish development resulting from research work carried out by the company and making use of the latest technological advances.
Damei Europe, with headquarters in Mataró (Barcelona) is the distributor of ZGM embroidery machines in Europe and Northern Africa, though initially the development addresses cutting and engraving in embroidery machines with a wide range of applications in all engraving, cutting, and puncturing for fabrics, leather, metal, wood, etc.
One major novelty is the functionality and mobility due to the use of the aluminum structure which considerably reduces weight and makes it easy to transport the machine, an advantage in small workshops and processes requiring frequent displacements.
Galvo-metric laser head
Technically, hi-tech laser originated in North America. Iberláser uses a 3-axis galvo-metric laser head with Dynamic Beam Expander technology for improved focusing.
This is achieved by means of a lens located prior to the galvo-metrical mirrors. The lens moves at high speed according to the place where the cutting area is and even if it is on the edge or in the middle of the piece, the laser beam will be in line and accurately focused.
Most of the industrial applications use heads with 2-axis. However, the definition of fabric thickness is achieved with the Z motor that moves the head up and down.
The special F Theta lens located behind galvo-metrical mirrors allows for a distorsion that will make up for the distance between the head and cutting area, depending on its location – in the middle or the edges. The Dynamic Beam Expander has a superior focalization capacity in comparison to the F Theta corrective lens.
Among the many advantages of more accurate focusing we should mention:
- increased control to calibrate “half cuts”, which means cutting fabrics placed on other fabrics without cutting the one below.
- Increased linear accuracy.
Laser cutting spot
Iberláser uses galvo-metrical and special optics lenses, so that the laser cutting spot is smaller even in larger fields of work. Some examples of the benefits of using this technology include:
- Work field: 250 x 250. Spot: 170 micrometers (0.17 mm).
- Work field: 300 x 300. Spot: 200 micrometers (0.20 mm).
- Work field: 400 x 400. Spot: 270 micrometers (0.27 mm).
According to Damei Europe no 2-axis galvo-metric head will yield such superior performance on equivalent work field areas.
In addition, a more reduced spot will offer:
- Increased speed at equivalent source power (or the same speed when using reduced power source) because the energy generated by the laser source is distributed over a smaller area (spot), thus destroying less material in the cutting process.
- Decreased burned material with equivalent material cut, for two reasons: firstly because the spot works as a funnel and the cut will always leave burned edges. So a smaller spot means less burned material, which is not as visible and much easier to clean. And secondly because the smaller spot means less spoilt material and less smoke.
- Increased angle definition even for small details, finer cut because the effect of heat on fibers and materials is reduced.
Field changes and vertical cut
Iberláser also enables users to make changes and variations to work with the ideal area depending on the type of material. Iberláser may set fields ranging from 200 mm x 200 mm up to 600 mm x 600mm, 400mm x 400 mm being the most usual size for embroidery purposes.
In a field of 600 x 600 (galvo-metric head in its highest position), performance is better than in traditional 300 x 300. These may be also cut but the laser beam will work vertically, which improves the quality and accuracy of results for embroidery purposes.
Brushless motors in Iberláser result in increased speed by 60% - 1.6 m /sec. – as compared to traditional motors.
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