26 Issue 250 - December 2023 / January 2024 www.signlink.co.uk UNDER THE HOOD / TROTEC SPEEDY 400 There are a large number of developments in the printing industry and some of them seem like natural progressions of traditional equipment. Technologies which would normally be considered to be outside the range of the graphics industry are now also comfortably sat alongside lithographic and digital printing equipment as if they have always had a place there. One of these technologies is laser cutting and engraving and one of the key suppliers of this equipment is Trotec. The manufacturer has several laser machines which can cut and engrave a wide scope of materials, and the largest of the selection is the Speedy 400. Ceramic Core Technology At the heart of the Speedy 400 sits what Trotec states is one of the best options for a laser engraving machine. Known as CeramiCore and supplied by American company Iradion Laser, this technology is not commonplace, so to understand why Trotec believes this is the best option for its equipment, a look into the construction of the laser device is needed. A large majority of lasers are produced via the use of all metal or glass bodies which contain the electrodes on the inside of the resonator (the device producing the laser light). This throws up a number of issues which can affect the power of the laser and the longevity of the device itself. The construction of the CeramiCore resonator is, as the name suggests, made wholly of a ceramic material. It is constructed in two halves which are bonded together and fired at 800°C. The electrodes are then placed on the outside rather than on the inside of the body itself. This brings a number of advantages. Firstly, the fact that the material is ceramic means it is stable and does not suffer from changes with increased heat, and welds or other joints do not need to be sealed which in turn can fail in service. With the electrodes placed on the outside of the resonator, there is no need for seals around wires and cables to contain the gases which can also be problematic. Finally, ceramic lasers can be operated at much higher pressures due to the nature of the design. This means quicker production, typically at a lower power demand. In Iradion Laser, Trotec feels it has a supplier that provides leading laser technology and the benefits of this are directly passed to the user through a laser machine with a very long and reliable life. In a number of machines, the strength and longevity of the laser can be the achilles heel. Apply the Technology So, how does all this clever technology apply itself beneficially to the needs of a printer? The Speedy 400 uses both CO2 and Fibre lasers to cover a large number of materials to be cut or engraved. With a very broad explanation, the use of CO2 lasers allows the cutting and engraving of materials such as glass, natural fibres, wood, paper, and a wide range of plastics. Fibre lasers are best suited to engraving but mainly on metals such as aluminium, brass, copper, and steel whereas coated metals, anodised aluminium, and stainless steel would use CO2. The obvious question is which of these technologies do you use? Well, Trotec has Cutting and engraving are now commonplace in print and the application of laser technology is matching this with a number of clever machines. Brian Sims explores the Trotec Speedy 400 which stands out as one of these Full Speed Ahead ▲ At the heart of the Speedy 400 sits the CeramiCore resonator, supplied by American company Iradion Laser Production speed 4.3m/s Working area (W x D) 1016 x 610mm Max. height1 of workpiece 283mm Max. acceleration 50m/s2 Overall dimensions (W x D x H 1428 x 952 x 1050mm Statistics
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