Beam shuttles permit rapid laser beam exchange of a single laser source between several laser-welding machines. This is the typical applied procedure for the manufacture of tailored blanks – while station 1 is busy welding, station 2, which is in parallel, can be reloaded. Hence, the beam shuttle supplies both stations with the laser as and when required.

Laser performances around or exceeding the 6 kW are typical for this kind of application. Hence, the integrated metal optics are prepared for direct water cooling.

LT Ultra has two compact beam shuttle units with clear apertures of 40 mm (BS-40) and 60 mm (BS-60) respectively with custom apertures on request. Both ‘T’ configured (2x90° bending) and ‘L’ configured (1x 90° bending and 1x through unit) devices are available.

These units have proved themselves through years of service in the harshest of environments.

The crossover time is just 0.5 seconds, and both pressurized air and a low-voltage DC voltage are all that need to be supplied.