HC6012 Fiber Laser Tube Cutting Machine

A laser tube cutting machine is, for most fabricators, the single fastest way to move pipe and profile work from a labor-intensive operation to a one-step automated process. The HC6012 is a fiber laser tube cutting machine built around a 6-metre working range and a 120 mm effective cutting envelope, which means round tube, square tube, rectangular tube and light profiles can be cut, bevelled, slotted and notched without tooling changes. Where a traditional saw or drill line needs a separate machine for every diameter and every angle, this tube laser cutting machine handles them all in the same program, holding positioning accuracy of ±0.05 mm and repeatability of ±0.02 mm.

The biggest cost advantage of the fiber laser tube cutting machine is speed combined with edge quality. Because the fiber beam cuts with a narrow kerf, there is no blade wear, no burr to remove and no secondary deburring station. Minimum line width is 0.1 mm, so intricate cut-outs, logos and ventilation patterns can be machined directly on the tube wall, and even the smallest details stay clean. With a maximum acceleration of 1 G and a high-speed servo feed system, the machine keeps the tube moving almost continuously, which is why it consistently outperforms sawing and mechanical punching on high-volume orders.

For the shop floor, the practical benefits are equally important. The all-welded, annealed frame holds the beam and chucks rigidly, so long pipes stay straight and accurate over the full 6 m stroke. The automatic clamping system grips the tube securely while the tail-end clamping option allows the last piece of every bar to be used — a real saving on a busy month. Because the control system is a bus-based industrial CNC running on a dedicated industrial PC, programs transfer quickly, nesting is automatic and operator training stays short. In short, a laser pipe cutting machine like the HC6012 pays for itself by replacing multiple older processes with one accurate, low-labour workstation.

Mechanical structure

Every part of the HC6012 structure is chosen for rigidity, so that accuracy at the cutting head is the same at the beginning and the end of a 6-metre tube. The machine bed is a one-piece high-strength steel-plate welded structure, fully welded and then aged by annealing to release residual stress. This is the foundation that keeps the X and Y axes stable for years of continuous operation, and it is the reason the machine can hold ±0.05 mm positioning accuracy across the full travel.

The beam and the head are both one-piece cast aluminium. Cast aluminium gives a high stiffness-to-weight ratio, so the gantry moves fast without flexing, and the mass is low enough for the servo system to accelerate the head quickly without wasting energy. The head carries the fibre delivery, the focusing optics and the capacitive height sensor, and its low weight means less inertia for the servo loop to manage at high feed rates.

Workholding is handled by the Runyuan 120 dual chucks. The two-chuck design clamps the tube at both the front and the rear, keeping long bars straight and preventing vibration while cutting. With the zero-tail-end function, the rear chuck moves forward with the tube as it shortens, so the very last piece of every bar can be cut and used instead of being thrown away. The loading rack is semi-automatic: the operator loads a bundle, the machine feeds one tube at a time into the chucks, and the cycle runs unattended through the full program list.

Motion is delivered by a matched transmission package. High-precision ball screws and HIWIN linear guides carry the axes, while YYC rack-and-pinion drive is used on the long-travel axis for smooth, backlash-controlled movement over 6 metres. A MOTOVARIO reducer between the servo motor and the drive train smooths torque and protects the mechanics from shock loads. The complete assembly — bed, beam, head, chucks, guides and rack — works together so that cutting accuracy depends on the machine structure, not on the skill of the operator.

Servo system

The HC6012 is controlled by a BOCHU bus-based CNC system, one of the most widely used laser cutting control platforms in the industry. Because the control communicates with every drive and the cutting head over a field-bus network instead of dozens of discrete cables, the wiring is simpler, the signals are cleaner and the system is easier to maintain. The bus architecture also makes it straightforward to add options such as automatic loading or a second chuck axis, because the control already knows how to talk to them.

The software side is built for production, not just for programming. Import a DXF or solid model of the part, define the cuts, and the system nests and sequences the program automatically. Tube-specific features are included: rotation of the chuck for cuts on different faces, chamfer and bevel cutting for weld preparation, and fly-cutting at speed for long rows of holes. Because the nesting is automatic, the machine packs more parts into every bar, and because the programs are stored digitally, repeating an order tomorrow is a matter of calling up the file and pressing start — no manual setup, no re-measuring.

The operating software runs on a dedicated industrial PC with a Windows-based interface. Operators familiar with any modern CNC pick it up quickly: the screen shows the current cut position, the remaining program time and the list of loaded jobs, and alarms are displayed in clear language with a suggested action. The S9 servo drives supplied by BOCHU close the loop between the control and the motors, giving the 1 G acceleration and the tight, repeatable positioning that the machine’s mechanical build makes possible. In daily operation this means first-shift accuracy at the end of a double shift, and a machine that any trained operator can run without special programming skills.

Optional Equipment

The HC6012 is supplied as a complete working machine, but every production line grows, and the options below let the machine grow with it. Because the control system is bus-based and the mechanics are designed for modular expansion, each option is a clean add-on rather than a rebuild.

· Automatic load / unload: upgrade the semi-automatic rack to a fully automatic bundle loader and finished-part separator, allowing lights-out running on high-volume orders.

· Higher laser power: the standard Raycus 2000 W source cuts up to 3 mm in air; a higher-power fiber laser can be specified where thicker-wall pipe or faster cutting on stainless is the priority.

· Additional pipe support: auxiliary roller supports for long, thin or oval tubes keep the workpiece stable between the chucks and reduce vibration on slender sections.

· Enhanced tail-end handling: for shops that routinely process the last scrap of every bar, the zero-tail-end chuck package can be extended with a dedicated short-tail support.

· Dust and fume extraction: a fume extraction duct connection is reserved as standard, and an active extraction unit can be fitted where the machine runs in an enclosed line.

The ventilation duct is pre-reserved on the machine, so fitting extraction later does not require any modification to the frame or covers. Talk to us about your part mix and shift pattern, and we will specify the option package that pays back fastest on your line.

Technical Specifications

Equipment Configuration