Author(s)

Emmanuel Afrane Gyasi¹, Arttu Antila², Prince Owusu-Ansah¹, Paul Kah³, Antti Salminen⁴

¹Department of Automotive and Agricultural Mechanization Engineering, Kumasi Technical University, Kumasi, Ghana.
²Suomen Vesileikkaus Oy, Keuruu, Finland.
³Division of Welding Technology, University West, Trollhättan, Sweden.
⁴Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.

Laser cutting is a non-contact thermal cutting process and an integral part of manufacturing. In metal processing, laser cutting is at the forefront of the manufacturing chain followed by joining and manufacturing processes like welding. The future of metal manufacturing processes like laser cutting shall rely on intelligent systems such as automation and robotics based on the advancement of technology and digital transformation spearheaded by Industry 4.0. Moreover, the digital transition where robots and automated systems are key drivers creates a broader platform to utilize energy-efficiency materials. Such energy-efficient materials include high-strength steels (HSS) for structural applications (e.g. bio-energy structures, wind turbines, ice-going vessels) onshore, offshore and in the Arctic region. The aim of this paper is to elucidate the prospects of robot laser cutting systems in the framework of integrated metal manufacturing in future factories. Previous studies on laser cutting technologies are examined based on scientific and industrial perspectives. Robot laser cutting system is compared with the well-known flat-bed laser cutting CNC machine in several aspects including flexibility in manufacturing, ease for digitalization, off-line capabilities and investment analysis. The findings shall help to determine the competitiveness of robot laser cutting systems with flat-bed laser cutting CNC machines, especially when considering metal manufacturing in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The outcome of this study is to stir up experimental and computational research on robot laser cutting systems of metals, and help companies in their decision-making process when deciding which laser cutting system will best suit their manufacturing operations in the future.

Laser Cutting, Robots, Automation, Integrated Manufacturing, Digitalization, Metals

Gyasi, E. , Antila, A. , Owusu-Ansah, P. , Kah, P. and Salminen, A. (2022) Prospects of Robot Laser Cutting in the Era of Industry 4.0. World Journal of Engineering and Technology, 10, 639-655. doi: 10.4236/wjet.2022.103042.