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Laser cuts turnaround time at Tobyhanna

Sep 22, 2010

By Anthony J. Ricchiazzi (Tobyhanna Army Depot)

TOBYHANNA ARMY DEPOT, Pa. (Sept. 22, 2010) -- A laser now dramatically cuts turnaround time for metal work at Tobyhanna Army Depot.

An AXEL Linear 4020 S laser has passed testing and been accepted by Tobyhanna Army Depot for cutting aluminum, steel, stainless steel and brass. Stationed in the Sheet Metal Fabrication Branch, the nitrogen-gas laser cutter is state-of-the-art, requires only one operator and is capable of running 24 hours a day, seven days a week, said Bob Aten, branch chief.

"The machine reduces our turnaround time by three or four days for any of our missions," Aten said. "We purchased it to address increased workload for several depot missions, including Blue Force Tracking, Firefinder and CREW (Counter Radio Controlled Improvised Explosive Device Electronic Warfare)."

Turnaround time is reduced by eliminating the need for finishing work.

"When we use our punch presses and plasma cutters, there is post-cut processing to deburr (smooth), the edges," Aten said. "With this machine, the quality of the cut is near machine finish. We can send product straight from the cutter to the next process, such as welding, skipping the finishing altogether."

Also, an automatic loading procedure was set up so that sheet metal could be delivered and positioned automatically by ASRS personnel.

"The laser's workload schedule is managed by Production Management based on workload and available material," Aten said. "We don't even have to request material."

The laser, which can cut steel up to 1-1/4 inches thick and aluminum up to 3/8-inch thick, can handle sheet metal up to 80 x 160 inches. It measures 46 x 23 x 7 feet and weighs 39,600 pounds. Because of its size, the area where it was stationed had to be modified. Lights were raised 12 feet and special floor pads were installed.

"Electrical work had to be done and a nitrogen farm was installed outside Building 1C, Bay 5. The tanks are large, like farm silos, and pipes were installed from the tanks to the laser," Aten said.

Sheetmetal technicians underwent three weeks of operator training and two weeks of maintenance training on-post. Production Engineering personnel, who will program the machine for specific tasks, were trained by the manufacturer off-post.

"The laser will change the way we do business; eliminating steps in the process will cut turnaround time for customers," Aten said.

Tobyhanna Army Depot is the Defense Department's largest center for the repair, overhaul and fabrication of a wide variety of electronics systems and components, from tactical field radios to the ground terminals for the defense satellite communications network. Tobyhanna's missions support all branches of the Armed Forces.

About 5,600 personnel are employed at Tobyhanna, which is located in the Pocono Mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania. Tobyhanna Army Depot is part of the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command's Life Cycle Management Command, with a mission to research, develop, acquire, field and sustain communications, command, control, computer, intelligence, electronic warfare and sensors capabilities for the armed forces.