What exactly are profiles and what can they be used for?

Profiles made of steel, aluminum and stainless steel have become an integral part of the modern world. There is no branch of industry in which their diversity is not used. The production plants supply profiles in various lengths, widths and wall thicknesses. The profiles can be square, rectangular or round. They are used for various types of constructions, e.g. for a load-bearing structure, railings, fences or parts of a crane or machine. As the design and appearance of the profiles are of paramount importance, the cutting and processing of the profiles should result in products of the highest quality.

Which cutting techniques are used in profile processing?

Traditionally, the cutting and production of profiles was carried out using machines that required many additional operations, which significantly increased processing time and costs. The introduction of CNC cutting machines was the first step towards changing the face of profiles being machined. Gradually, new technologies have emerged that have made the processing of workpieces more manageable. The most common processes for cutting materials are currently laser cutting and plasma cutting. The former offers exceptional precision and the absence of possible material deformation. Unfortunately, laser cutting is a high-end technology. A much better alternative is a plasma cutter, whose parameters and cutting results are comparable to those of the laser, but which is more economical. Plasma cutting uses a highly concentrated plasma arc to cut the material. The main advantages include cutting speed, a wide range of cutting thicknesses and a narrow heat-affected zone, making it an excellent process for cutting and machining profiles.

ESP - the convenient system for cutting and processing profiles

Due to technical and technological developments, the processes for cutting and editing profiles have undergone a series of metamorphoses and improvements. A number of additional functions have also been introduced. One such development is the ESP profile cutting system, in which the rotator is located outside the worktable. This is an excellent solution for processing long workpieces in particular. The gantry is fitted with a special extension that allows the pusher to move freely via the swivel joint that controls the rotation of the profile. Long or heavy workpieces can be easily stabilized and adjusted in height using several or even more supports. The entire system is positioned away from the roadway, making it easy to load and unload the profiles with a crane or forklift truck. This also ensures operator safety and minimizes machine damage.

The perfect solution: the function for measuring the profile tolerance

The production of a profile does not always end with cutting out the profile. Additional processing is often required. One of the most common changes made to the profile is the addition of through-holes. This profile can then be used to create a complex support structure or a tubular tower, for example. Such a structure requires precision at the highest level.

Companies are striving to optimize their production processes. To meet the expectations of our customers, we have introduced an innovative function for measuring profile tolerances - Smart Profile Adaptation (SPA). It is a perfect solution that eliminates deviations caused by distorted profiles. The most common deformations of this component include concavity/convexity, misalignment, twisting in the longitudinal direction and curvature at the corners. In order to obtain the best possible quality when cutting through holes, the SPA function analyzes the quality of the profile for deviations. The number of tolerance measurements to be performed is determined as required. Full automation eliminates possible errors in the positioning of the profile. In the event of deviations, SPA adapts the program to the curvature of the profile. Finally, thanks to SPA, the machining process is optimized, errors are reduced, costs and production waste are lowered. This is a completely new era of profile cutting. Watch this video for a detailed presentation of our new feature!