About one year ago, Lasit (Torre Annunziata, Italy) started a technical project to produce a laser marker able to mark turbocharger volutes and carry out the Leakage Test on components.
Lasit, which designs and manufactures standard and customized laser marking machines, to laser-mark turbocharger volutes and carry out the leakage test on components. Volutes are integral to most radial turbomachines, converting exhaust gas pressure into kinetic energy to drive the impeller.
The laser marking machine had to fit into a production line and one of the main requirements was the development of customized software that interfaced with the company's database.
Lasit developed the Flypress laser marking machine, which is equipped with an ATEQ leakage test system, a 30 W fiber laser, YZ motion axes, and a Cognex vision system. The machine has a steel structure and the marking cabin has an automatic front door, equipped with optical barriers that protect the operator when loading the component.
The volute of the turbocharger is inserted into the machine on a processing template, which was implemented based on the Poka-yoke logic, to avoid any possible error.
The Flypress system is also suitable for the laser marking of volutes featuring different heights, which is made possible by replacing the spacer and changing the position of the laser head. The strong point of this laser marker is that it integrates two fundamental steps of industrial automation: the leakage test and the laser marking.
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There are two pistons that close the volute chamber to carry out the leakage test in the cabin. The machine is interfaced with an ATEQ to verify the test result on both outputs--based on the surface, the air pressure is automatically regulated by a solenoid valve.
If the result of the leakage test is negative, the component will be rejected. If the result is positive, the Flypress will proceed with the laser marking. Once the quality of the marking has been verified, the camera will return to position and the pistons will release the components.
A major feature of the machine is the ability to integrate management software with additional functions according to the customer's specific technical needs. From direct access to the company's database, to the data exchange with remote systems such as programmable logic controllers and robots, the user is able to manage marking data according to Industry 4.0.
For more information, please visit lasitlaser.com.