Before You Spend Money on a Waterjet, Laser or Plasma Cutter, Here Is What You Need to Know!
This session will review each of these machines and discuss which is best for specific types of cutting needs. We will discuss what to look for when specifying the equipment and what questions you should ask regarding infrastructure requirements each option may need. We will review employee and equipment safety concerns and provide you with solution options. We will discuss both preventative and predictive maintenance requirements and the pros and cons for each style of machine. Finally, we will end with a discussion on the potential for new business that each machine can bring to your fab shop.
Michael Schlagenhaufer and Gwendolyn Arps – Acuity
How to Mitigate the Risks of Dust Collector Fires from Spark Generating Metal Processes
Laser cutting, plasma cutting, welding, grinding and other metal fabrication processes all create metal dust particles and sparks. These sparks and other metal dust particles are conveyed from the process point to the dust collector. With most applications, the majority of sparks will be extinguished by the time they reach the dust collector. But, what happens when sparks are not extinguished and are conveyed into the dust collector? Equipment damage, filter replacement costs and downtime, as well as worker safety are all costs of a potential fire in a dust collector. This presentation will provide insight into the combustibility of the metal dust, the risks of the sparks entering the dust collector from fiber laser and other spark generating processes and potential preventative measures to reduce the risks.
Paul Johnson - Blender Products and Karen Wear - Donaldson Company, Inc.