NUM AG

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 Press Releases

• High speed laser cutting machine uses novel CNC techniques to accelerate th (Jun 04, 2025)
  CNC specialist NUM is helping Grupo Plasma Automation – one of Latin America’s top fabrication equipment manufacturers – to develop an innovative high speed laser cutting machine that uses real-time adaptive height control to accelerate throughput.
  
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  Grupo Plasma Automation comprises eight companies that specialize in the design and manufacture of fabrication automation. The group produces a broad range of plasma, laser and water jet cutting machines. Founded in 1991, GPA has grown steadily over the years and has built up a large and prestigious customer base; it has more than 700 cutting systems installed at companies in Mexico alone, and nowadays serves both the domestic and international markets.

  

  

  GPA’s latest CNC laser cutting machine is designed to provide sheet metal fabricators with an ultra-flexible precision cutting solution. Branded SPEED CUT, the machine is capable of cutting a wide variety of metals with different densities, including galvanized iron, aluminum, brass, stainless and carbon steel. It has a work area of 1.5 x 3 meters and a maximum cutting speed of 120 meters per minute, with 40 microns positioning accuracy. The system delivers extremely smooth operation even at high speeds. 

  To help maximize performance and reliability, GPA’s new cutting machine is based entirely on industry-leading laser and control technology. The laser source is a 2 kW IPG Photonics’ solid state ytterbium fiber system, with a wavelength of 1.07 micrometers, while the cutting head is a Precitec LightCutter 2.0 unit. This particular cutting head is renowned for its dynamic performance – it features automated motor-driven adjustment of the axial focus position, can handle acceleration rates as high as 3 g, and covers a large focus position range of 23 mm.
   

  All cutting head positioning functions on the machine are controlled by a NUM Flexium+ 8 CNC system. According to Omar Sandoval, Owner and CEO of GPA, “We chose to partner with NUM mainly because of its open architecture CNC platform and NUM’s willingness to actively participate in joint development projects such as this.”

  All four machine axes are driven by NUM high torque BPX servomotors controlled by NUMDrive X digital servo drives; the Y1 and Y2 gantry axes are equipped with powerful 9.8 Nm motors, while the X and Z axes have smaller 2.7 Nm and 1.4 Nm motors, respectively. NUM’s Flexium Tool commissioning software allows the Y1/Y2 axes to be tuned while the synchronization is active, which provides a very powerful means of maximizing performance and precision. 

  

  

  

  The Z axis controls the vertical height of the laser cutting head above the sheet of metal that is being cut. By capitalizing on the unique ‘Dynamic Operator’ (DO) function in NUM’s Flexium software – which enables event-driven machine cycles to be integrated into the real-time CNC kernel – the user of the speed cut machine benefits from an automated dynamic height control system that accommodates extremely fast cutting speeds. The system interprets data from the machine’s cutting head height sensor and uses it to very quickly adjust proportional-integral-derivative (PID) loop parameters in the Z axis servo. The height sensor is also employed to facilitate an automatic sheet detection routine: this determines the workpiece’s dimensions, zero, and angular offset, further simplifying the machine’s operation. 

  Steven Schilling, Managing Director of NUM Corporation in Naperville, Illinois, points out, “We are delighted to be collaborating with GPA in the development of this new machine. In addition to the real-time adaptive height control and sheet detection systems, the customized version of NUMcut software that we are providing features a user library of material cutting conditions. It is preloaded by GPA with the optimal laser power levels, cutting speeds, etc., as a function of material type and thickness. The provision of this library will further add to the machine’s productivity and cutting accuracy.”

• NUM AG Partners with Lone Star Cutting Solutions and PypeServer to Enhance (Jul 01, 2025)

  
  07/01/2025 – Teufen, CH

  NUM AG, a leading provider of advanced CNC control solutions, is proud to announce its latest collaboration with Lone Star Cutting Solutions, a premier manufacturer of cutting machines, to enhance the capabilities of the Magnum pipe cutting machine. This partnership, supported by software from PypeServer, underscores the companies’ commitment to innovation and precision in the field of industrial cutting.

  About Lone Star Cutting Solutions

  Based in the heart of Texas, Lone Star Cutting Solutions has established itself as a leader in the manufacturing of high-performance cutting machines. The company is renowned for its robust and reliable machinery, tailored to meet the needs of various industries, including construction, oil and gas, and manufacturing. The six-axis Magnum pipe cutting machine, one of Lone Star’s flagship products, exemplifies the company’s dedication to delivering state-of-the-art solutions that combine durability with precision.
  
  
  
  

  NUM’s Cutting-Edge CNC Controls

  NUM brings its industry-leading expertise in CNC control systems to the Magnum pipe cutting machine, providing advanced controls that significantly enhance its performance. Central to this collaboration is the integration of NUM’s sophisticated height control interface for cutting systems, ensuring precise and consistent cutting depths. This feature is particularly critical for maintaining the high-quality standards that Lone Star Cutting Solutions is known for, especially when working with complex pipe geometries and cutting angles.

  In addition to height control, the Magnum machine now benefits from NUM’s advanced RTCP (Rotation Tool Center Point) function, which is specifically designed for multi-axis machining applications. The RTCP function allows for precise control of the tool tip in relation to the workpiece, ensuring that the desired bevel angle is maintained consistently, even when the orientation of the A/B bevel head changes. This is crucial for applications requiring high-precision beveling, such as those found in pipe cutting, where the accuracy of the cut can have significant implications for subsequent welding processes.

  The RTCP function, combined with NUM’s intuitive CNC interface, empowers operators to achieve complex bevel cuts with ease and precision, minimizing manual adjustments and reducing the risk of errors.

  Moreover, the Magnum pipe cutting machine now benefits from NUM’s capability to connect seamlessly with the machine’s plasma power module directly over EtherCAT. This advanced connectivity not only simplifies integration but also ensures real-time communication and control, leading to improved efficiency and reduced downtime due to the enhanced diagnostics it provides. The EtherCAT interface allows for high-speed, deterministic communication, which is essential to achieve the precise cut process control required in demanding cutting applications. NUM’s data transfer over EtherCAT is compatible with a variety of plasma cutting systems, giving the OEM flexibility to quickly adapt to any customer’s preferred power source.
  
  

  Seamless Integration with PypeServer for Enhanced Cutting Cycle Programming

  To further elevate the capabilities of the Magnum pipe cutting machine, NUM and Lone Star worked closely with PypeServer, the leader in pipe profiling software. PypeServer can bring in pipe designs from a wide variety of software, including Autodesk Revit, AutoCAD (Plant 3D, CADmep, Advance Steel), Inventor, SDS2, Tekla, and any software package that can export STEP, PCF, PCD, CSV, FIX, and other industry standard formats. PypeServer also includes its own easy to use part designer, a powerful nesting feature that saves time and material, and flexible label printing capabilities for parts and drops. As parts are cut, PypeServer automatically updates their status to the PypeServer Cloud service that’s included with the software.

  In conjunction with NUM’s Flexium 3D simulation software, PypeServer provides an intuitive and efficient workflow that optimizes material usage, reduces labor, and consistently achieves high-quality cuts, making the Magnum pipe cutting machine an even more valuable asset in commercial construction and industrial applications.
  
  
   

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