Randy Paura, P. Eng., CLSO, Consultant-Laser Materials Processing Randy has been a Professional Engineer of Ontario, Canada since 1991. His engineering skills include practical applications of innovative solutions and providing mission critical team leadership for project execution, on time, within budget and exceeding performance objectives. He has over 30 year of experience in applications engineering, materials processing and special purpose machine design and build for industrial automation. His expertise in this field has grown into macro-laser materials processing and safety consulting. He is currently serving as Vice-Chair on the ANSI Z136.9 "Safe Use of Lasers in Manufacturing Environments" and is a member of the American Welding Society, Subcommittee on Laser Welding (AWS C7C). Randy graduated with First Class Honours in May 1989, University of Waterloo, B.A.Sc. in Civil Engineering with a minor in Management Science. He is also a lifetime member of the Laser Institute of America (LIA) and a former member of the Board of Directors for the LIA.

Two of those key players, Dennis Nadeau, Rumble's sales manager, and Randy Paura, the company's laser division manager, saw the project through from conception to production. Paura explains some of the challenges the project presented. * The lubricant used in the hydroforming process affected the cutting process. "The fluid partially vaporizes or atomizes from the focused laser beam and does create contamination problems for the optics arrangement," notes Paura. "There is a 'cover slide' or protective lens on the laser that is a consumable, and as such, it does see greater wear than in other operations where hydroform lubrication is not present. "This problem was minimized by optimizing the cutting parameters (pierce process, laser power, assist gas pressure, cut speed and focal position), Paura explained. * The focal position of the laser beam relative to the part was one of the most crucial aspects of the project. "Initial factory settings were not the 'most correct' for this project," Paura explains diplomatically. "Rumble invested in diagnostic equipment that allowed us to precisely measure and calibrate the laser equipment for the appropriate focal position with respect to the part surface. Once the optimal focal position was accomplished, we were able to increase cut speed, cut quality and more importantly, provide process tolerance," he said.

Two of those key players, Dennis Nadeau, Rumble's sales manager, and Randy Paura, the company's laser division manager, saw the project through from conception to production.Paura explains some of the challenges the project presented. * The lubricant used in the hydroforming process affected the cutting process. "The fluid partially vaporizes or atomizes from the focused laser beam and does create contamination problems for the optics arrangement," notes Paura."There is a 'cover slide' or protective lens on the laser that is a consumable, and as such, it does see greater wear than in other operations where hydroform lubrication is not present. "This problem was minimized by optimizing the cutting parameters (pierce process, laser power, assist gas pressure, cut speed and focal position), Paura explained. * The focal position of the laser beam relative to the part was one of the most crucial aspects of the project."Initial factory settings were not the 'most correct' for this project," Paura explains diplomatically. "Rumble invested in diagnostic equipment that allowed us to precisely measure and calibrate the laser equipment for the appropriate focal position with respect to the part surface.Once the optimal focal position was accomplished, we were able to increase cut speed, cut quality and more importantly, provide process tolerance," he said. * Fume extraction for laser material processing is opening a new realm for the filtration companies.