Laser wire marking now available on the Optima line
Technology & Innovation
The machines in the Optima product line stand for sophisticated manufacturing flexibility and are suitable for high-volume-, serial- and high-mix-low-volume-production. Designed for the aerospace and industrial sectors, the automation solutions ensure better productivity and quality and replace repetitive, manual activities within the manufacturing process. To complement the product line, the Komax France development team has now added a laser wire marking module, thereby creating the Optima laser wire marking series. Stéphane Rougier, R&D Director at Komax France, explains the advantages it offers to customers.
At the WirePro Expo 2022 in Switzerland, Komax France presented the Optima 600. This model of the Optima line was developed to automate various tasks, including wire cutting, sleeve marking, shrinking, labeling, wire coiling and storage at the machine's output. The Optima line has a modular design and can therefore be perfectly adapted to customer needs. And because flexibility is crucial for an automated solution that meets a wide range of requirements, the Komax France team has made further developments and added the laser wire marking module to the product line.
Laser wire marking for greater reliability
UV laser marking has been the standard for cable and wire marking in the aerospace industry for decades. The identification of wires and cables is crucial for safety, maintenance and repair and was developed in 1987 as a safer and more reliable alternative to hot stamping and inkjet printing. Marking is achieved directly onto the wire insulation without compromising the integrity of sensitive materials. Laser wire marking enables safe, permanent and high-contrast marking on all cables that are classified by cable manufacturers as “UV-markable”, such as single-, multi-wire jacketed twisted cables.
Reduced maintenance and operating costs
“Our laser wire markers meet all the requirements of manufacturers, subcontractors and maintenance centers in the aeronautics, space and ground vehicle sectors,” says Stéphane Rougier, R&D Director at Komax France. “And as regulations evolve and become more demanding, laser wire marking offers a future-proof solution that can be adapted to new standards.”
With the laser marker module, the Optima, referenced 4XX in its starting configuration, is ideal for medium and high production volumes. It offers a combination of scalability, modularity, and performance at a competitive price. “All models are equipped with a diode-pumped UV laser that uses vector marking technology which eliminates the need for laser consumables, resulting in reduced machine maintenance and operating costs” explains Stephane Rougier. “The productivity gains achieved are not only related to high marking speeds, but also to production optimization of both hardware and software. A multispool dereeler and automatic feeding system (AFS) will limit the operator's tasks to loading the spools, selecting the production file and collecting the marked cables from the coiling pan.”
Scalability and flexibility are a crucial aspect of modern manufacturing, especially for high-mix, low-volume production. Each machine can be upgraded by raising the level of automation towards higher models in the series, such as 5XX, 6XX and future series, according to customer requirements.
The Optima, which will be exhibited together with other innovations from the Komax Group at the upcoming WirePro Expo in Lucerne (Switzerland) from November 19 to 21, 2024, will be presented in the configuration of an Optima 474 with a 16 spool dereeler, automatic feeding system and laser vector marker. Tickets for the WirePro Expo are available here.
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Stéphane Rougier is Technical and R&D Director at Komax Laselec and mainly responsible for the development of new products. He has a degree in electrical engineering and system automation and was one of the co-founders of Laselec in 2001.
