Lantek and TCI Cutting boost automation with an advanced parts unloading system
Lantek, a world leader in software for the metal industry, and TCI Cutting, a specialist in highly autonomous industrial cutting solutions and intelligent automation through its MAS Concept® model (Machinery, Automation and Software), have jointly developed an innovative system for the automatic unloading of parts.
This breakthrough, successfully implemented at several strategic customers, optimises the management of materials after cutting, eliminating manual intervention and reducing downtime in production.
Efficient part unloading automation
The system, integrated with Lantek Expert software, takes advantage of technology developed by TCI Cutting that combines an intelligent suction cup grid with its laser cutting machine automation model, Automation Systems Load & Unload®, enabling automated and precise extraction of parts directly from the cutting table. This system detects the exact position of each workpiece, activates only the required suction cups and ensures gentle handling based on the centre of gravity and geometric characteristics of each workpiece. Thanks to this technology, unloading is carried out without risk of errors, avoiding suction of the sheet skeleton or elements not belonging to the part itself and ensuring that each part is handled according to its centre of gravity and perforations.
TCI Cutting machines equipped with its Automation Systems Load & Unload® automation system, automatically manage the loading and unloading of materials, even with an intelligent warehouse option. Once the cutting process is complete, the table moves out of the work area to allow the suction cup system to remove the processed parts without the need for manual intervention, streamlining the production flow and increasing safety and ergonomics for the operator.
‘Ensuring automated management of part unloading without interrupting the production cycle is key to improving efficiency in cutting shops. This solution offers precision, flexibility and a better use of machine time, reducing the operator’s workload and optimising the entire production process,’ explains Francisco Pérez, OEM Channel Director at Lantek.
A flexible and automated solution to optimise production
‘This system not only eliminates unloading errors, but also provides a flexible, modular solution that is fully adapted to the customer’s needs,’ says TCI Cutting. Unlike traditional systems that limit the organisation to equal parts, this solution deposits all parts at a single point, allowing the operator to organise the work according to production requirements. Suction cup control can also be adjusted manually, giving the user full flexibility to manage parts with micro grips or special geometries.
Integration with Lantek Expert provides advanced process control, allowing operators to adjust settings according to production needs and improve operational efficiency in each work cycle.
Scalable, modular, tailor-made automation for the metal industry
This technology, developed as a customised project, is already available for implementation in other customers, consolidating itself as an adaptable solution for automation in the metal sector. With this innovation, Lantek and TCI Cutting reinforce their commitment to digitalisation and the improvement of production processes, offering cutting workshops an efficient tool to optimise their performance and competitiveness.
