Automate the Structural Steel Fabrication Process with the FICEP RAZ Plasma Cutting Beam Line System

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Steel fabrication technology is the theme of FICEP’s innovative spirit and thermal cutting of structural shapes is just one example. Starting in the late 80’s FICEP employed robotics to thermally generate copes, mechanical opening, rat holes, weld prep, cut off and more.
Not only was FICEP the first European firm to introduce robotics for thermal cutting of structural steel shapes they quickly realized that probing of the section was a time consuming process. In view of the mill tolerance deviations of structural steel shapes the ability to find the different material surfaces and edges is critical to establish the accuracy of location and reliable torch ignition. FICEP was the first firm to develop non-contact laser probing into the thermal cutting process of structural steel.
As an alternative to integrating a band saw into the line, a robotic thermal cutting system can be implemented. The ability of the robot to use both plasma and oxy-fuel thermal cutting technologies in conjunction with an automatic torch changer greatly expands the productivity and versatility that can be achieved by placing a thermal robot in tandem with structural steel drilling.
Today the positive developments of Hypertherm’s “True Hole” cutting technology which virtually eliminates the taper of the plasma cut makes the thermal cutting of bolt holes a reality in some applications. The additional ability to use the plasma torch for marking opens up additional versatility like part marking, indicating layout locations, detail orientation and weld symbols all with the same thermal processing cell.
FICEP invented and has received numerous patents for the automatic importation of the locations of the intersecting members from the 3-D model. These innovative patents eliminate any manual programming to establish not just holes but all the required layout locations for thermal marking.