Signlink - Decemebr 2023 / January 2024 - Issue 250

makes the most of the laser technology, but it produces the smoothest of curves and accurate profiles and drastically improves productivity. Brian Sims Principal Consultant, Metis Print Consultancy, www.metis-uk.eu this covered off with Flexx technology. Rather than force its clients into a corner with difficult choices and limiting the materials they can process, Flexx technology combines both types of lasers within the same machine. When changing the material you want to engrave or cut, the Speedy 400 switches in two mouse clicks to the correct laser process for the selected substrate. The name Speedy 400 is well assigned for this laser engraver as Trotec has taken the power of the laser from the CeramiCore technology and coupled it to a drive system it calls OptiMotion. It would have been a waste of the clever laser technology if it was not being driven around the workspace at the highest speed possible. However, the laser head flies around the cabin at 4.3m per second which Trotec claims is eight times faster than its competitors. The OptiMotion motion control not only The range of materials that can be engraved or cut on the Speedy 400 is large with all types of metals, plastics, wood, leather, paper, and so on able to be processed on it. To facilitate this, the Speedy 400 comes with several devices and features to ensure there is the highest production output possible. Shorter Focal Length The laser head itself comes with eight different focus lenses to ensure the focal length of the laser is best suited for the task it is deployed to complete. Trotec says as a rule of thumb, engraving has a shorter focal length, cutting longer. There is the ability to feed larger or bulky substrates via a pass-through hatch in the front and back of the machine. You are still safely away from the laser as you are still protected via the machine’s hinged-down cover. The holding of materials is also catered for with six different beds that can be easily interchanged to suit whatever is being processed. For cutting tasks, the aluminium grid table provides one with acrylic slats for thicker materials; a vacuum table which is best suited to engraving; an acrylic grid table for laminates and plastics as they remain flat after processing; a ferromagnetic table which can secure papers with the use of magnets; and a honeycomb cutting support which is best used in conjunction with the vacuum table. Pulling all this technology together needs something equally as clever and Trotec does this via software called Ruby. The laser graphic software is used for seamless design and application workflow and you can produce your design and prepare it within the same web-based environment. The Speedy 400 has a touchscreen panel that integrates with Ruby meaning it can be prepared by one operator and then used by another. Overall, this small red box from Trotec delivers with detail and speed. 27 Issue 250 - December 2023 / January 2024 email: news@signlink.co.uk Rather than force its clients into a corner with difficult choices and limiting the materials they can process, Flexx technology combines both types of lasers within the same machine UNDER THE HOOD / TROTEC SPEEDY 400 ▼ CO2 lasers enable the cutting and engraving of materials such as glass, natural fibres, wood, paper, and plastics ► The Speedy 400 uses both CO2 and fibre lasers to cover a large number of materials to be cut or engraved

RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjM0NDIxOA==