Coherent Laser Machining Tool Lowers Sheet Metal Cutting Costs

    SANTA CLARA, CA, November 23, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Coherent, Inc. (Santa Clara, CA) (Nasdaq: COHR) last week presented the METABEAM 1000, a turnkey, laser-based machining tool that enables cost effective laser cutting of sheet metal including stainless steel, mild steel, aluminum and brass, at FABTECH 2011 exposition. The METABEAM 1000 uses a 1000W CO2 laser, Coherent's Diamond E 1000, which is the world's only completely sealed-off kilowatt CO2 laser that has a peak power greater than 2500W, an M2 less than 1.2, and is completely maintenance-free for the entire lifetime. The METABEAM tool will offer substantially lower acquisition and operational costs when compared to legacy systems based on fast flow CO2 lasers. The long wavelength infrared CO2 laser output and added power enables the system to cut a wide range of metals as well as organic materials such as wood and plastic. "In general, our customers are looking for a cutting tool with high performance and low cost of ownership but with the flexibility to meet the changing material demands in their facilities," said Stephen Lee of Coherent.

The METABEAM 1000 will be available with either a 50" x 50" (1.27m x 1.27m) or 50" x 100" (1.27m x 2.54m) cutting table, and will offer a cutting accuracy of 0.001" (25um) over its entire range. The system is a full feature machine tool that includes a capacitive height sensor to maintain constant spacing between the cutting nozzle and metal surface, and comes standard with auto focus to deliver consistent clean cuts. Additionally, the system has two independent, high pressure gas supplies to rapidly switch between assist gasses, thus enabling cutting of a variety of materials with minimal setup time. Various automation enhancement tools, such as pallet shuttles, are available to facilitate integration into a production environment and increase productivity.

The METABEAM 1000 will offer cost effective processing of a wide range of metals and other materials for job shops, metal service centers and sheet metal fabrication shops. Its ease of use and automation capabilities will also make it attractive for in-house sheet metal cutting for manufacturers in a broad range of industries including white goods (appliances), automobiles, aerospace and contract manufacturing.

About Coherent, Inc.
Founded in 1966, Coherent, Inc. is a Russell 2000 Index company and a world leader in providing laser solutions, including laser measurement and laser cutting tools, to the commercial and scientific research markets. Please direct any questions to Stephen Lee, product line manager, at (408) 764-4663. For more information about Coherent, including product and financial updates, visit our website at http://www.Coherent.com.

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