The Guidolin Girotto Laser Cutting & Converting System offers innovative and cost-effective solutions for processing simple and complex geometries without the use of traditional hard tooling – superior part quality that cannot be replicated in the traditional die cutting process.  This technology increases design flexibility, is cost efficient with high quality through-put, minimizes material waste with very low maintenance.

Laser Technology is the ideal dieless cutting & converting solution for just-in-time manufacturing & short-medium runs and is well suited for converting high accuracy components from flexible materials including label stock & PSA, double sided adhesives, gaskets, plastics, textiles, difficult abrasive materials & even aggressive adhesive materials like VHB that typically adhere to the cutting blade.

Laser Cutting Technology Overview

Laser cutting is a technology that uses a laser to total cut, kiss cut and engrave materials. Laser cutting works by directing the output of a high-power laser through optics. The laser optics and CNC (computer numerical control) are used to direct the laser beam.  Laser Cutting is a dieless process, meaning no hard tools are needed, and use a vector based digital image imported by the control software to direct the laser beam.  The focused laser beam is directed at the material, which then vaporizes the material in the beam path leaving an edge with a high-quality surface finish & eliminating hand labor & other complex extraction methods for small piece or scrap removal.

Guidolin Girotto manufactures two popular styles of laser systems; flatbed (plotter) and galvanometer, both technologies integrated into their Flat Bed Die Cutting Press (PLAS Series – Flatbed) or Rotary Converting Platform (RO Series – Galvo).

Flatbed Plotter Style Laser – PLAS Series

The NEW, patented, PLAS Series is an innovative technology which combines plotter laser strategies with flat-bed die cutting solutions.  This new cutting system consists of our traditional Flat Bed Cutting Press, equipped with a variety of systems, with a plotter laser installed just after the cutting platen area.

The flatbed laser is more commonly used laser for cutting a wider variety of materials and thicknesses when compared to a galvanometric solution.  It is engineered with a laser tube that generates the laser beam and the beam is then transmitted through a series of mirrors perpendicular to the material on a machine controlled by a gantry system.  The gantry allows the beam to move at the X/Y coordinates on the laser cutting area & Z axe for depth control.

Galvanometer CO2 Laser – RO Series

The GD RO Laser Series combines die cutting rotary tools, modular stations and a laser cutting station to perform complex processing while maintaining high quality & precision – one converting platform with multiple solutions.  The RO Laser offers the ability to total cut, kiss-cut, score cut, perforate & slit the web in continuous, start-stop and tracking (cut parts longer than cutting area) modes with cut speeds up to 5080 mm/sec and web speeds up to 100 M/Min.

A Galvanometer Laser is typically used for cutting thinner substrates; under 3mm in thickness.  The laser beam is delivered by two rotating mirrors instead of a gantry system.  This allows the galvanometer laser to be ten times faster than a flatbed laser, but it also has a smaller working area.  With a CO2 laser, the beam is created in CO2 filled tube.  The wavelength of CO2 lasers is between 0.20 to 0.25 depending on the wattage of the laser source.

Advantages of Laser Processing

Laser cutting systems are valuable processing solutions for converters and produce excellent cutting quality for adhesive based materials that are traditionally difficult to die cut.  Laser systems also bring the added benefit for engraving or marking as well as cutting.

• 100% Savings in Tooling Costs – Design to Finished Part w/o Tooling
• 40% Increase in Material Yields
• 40% Reduction in Job Changeovers
• Increased Flexibility in Part Designs and Cut Geometries
• Increased Precision Levels & Edge Quality
• Depth of Cut Control – Total Cut, Kisscut & Engrave on Same Layout
• Ideal Solution for both Short and Long Runs
• Ease of Use and Increased Throughput

Today, a great deal of converting is for custom or semi-custom components. These parts need to be produced quickly, and accurately, to meet tight schedules & just-in-time manufacturing.  These requests do not allow for tool design and fabrication thus making laser cutting a versatile solution for fast and flexible manufacturing.

Guidolin Girotto – Synonymous for Precision Cutting & Converting Solutions.

View a video of Digital Laser Die Cutting Systems: