PTCS-1  (Precision Tube Cutting System)

 Our unique tooling system completely encapsulates the tubing, helping to control thermal distortion. Completely enclosing the tubing also controls the water flow, containing and filtering the fluid before recirculation back to the tube. 

 The VascuLathe® represents a revolutionary approach to satisfying the demanding  requirements of stent manufacturing applications. The fully integrated motion  system couples automated material handling functionality with high performance  direct-drive linear and rotary motion capability. The integral linear-rotary design  increases throughput by 2 to 5 times when compared to traditional screw-based or  other manufacturing approaches, while still maintaining submicron tolerances on  tight part geometries.

 The increased throughput gives much needed flexibility in the extremely competitive  stent-manufacturing environment. The higher throughput of the VascuLathe® implies that fewer machines are required to produce an equivalent number of stents  .  

The PALS user interface is user frendly and allows full motion and laser control it is a 100% digital system with high performance FireWire^® networked drives. With this fully digital architecture, it is possible to optimize the current, velocity, and position servo loops for maximum performance. Advanced trajectory generation capabilities such as multi-block look ahead minimize geometry errors in tight profiles by transparently regulating cutting speed. While our Position Synchronized Laser Firing Output (PSO) functionality automatically adjusts the laser pulse frequency to match the current cutting speed to maintain optimal laser power coupling.

The PALS user control software with the Aerotech advanced control architecture has special path planning functionality that automatically adjusts the cutting speed to minimize path errors in tight stent geometry, maintaining form quality throughout the part. Sophisticated laser control functions automatically adjust the laser power and rep rate to minimize the heat affected zone of the material as a function of the cutting speed. Specialized drive electronics are optimized for the frequent direction reversals encountered in a typical stent profile and help to further minimize following error. Advanced plotting and diagnostic tools display axis performance in real time and process monitoring functions report peak position error, path cut length, and stent cut time at the completion of each part, providing an instantaneous measure of part quality on a piece-by-piece basis.

Our axis, beam delivery system and laser head are mounted on individual composite, vibration dampening granite bases. This separate mounting system provides a virtually vibration free operation of the system; enabling a stable and consistent accuracy in the manufacturing environment.

Utilizing the LASAG kls246fc or GSI Fiberlaser technology the PTCS-1 has the best cut quality available in the industry.