A user report with the Gravura Kunstpräge GmbH in Rothenburg near Lucerne in Switzerland.
Gravura Kunstpräge GmbH is an art engraving factory in Rothenburg near Luzern in Switzerland. Gravura was founded in 1996 and offers various embossing, engraving and print technologies for a wide variety of materials in all colors and shapes. An ACSYS Lasertechnik GmbH high-precision laser system has also been in use since 2011.
The story begins in 1966 with the Gravura AG company. In 1996, the current managing director and owner of Gravura Kunstpräge GmbH, Christoph Sapper, bought the operative part and took over the staff. “We had to modernize the company. Up to then we had only produced carnival badges, signs and simple medals” according to Christoph Sapper. Up to this time there was no CNC milling machine and no automation in the company. Work was carried out traditionally with plaster models and conventional reducing machines.
A new era began in the following three years. The computer industry and the manufacturers of picture processing software took advantage of the new 32-bit technology. Gravura began to produce digital grayscale master illustrations which make implementation possible on a CNC engraving machine. “Type3 produced a ready-to-use 3D processing program for us to our specifications. At this time, we already really wanted to work with the laser, but the technology was still too expensive and too time-consuming” explains Sapper. Initially, Gravura therefore acquired a tailor-made CNC milling machine which made it possible to implement the digital templates.
One drawback of the CNC technology is, however, the relatively low output resolution of the embossing die. Only larger templates can be milled which subsequently have to be reworked and laboriously reduced with reducing machines. Besides, Gravura was observing the laser market in parallel. “The development of industrial lasers in the last ten years progressed rapidly. We gathered information at trade exhibitions, which is how we became aware of ACSYS. The ACSYS PIRANHAμ at the World Money Fair 2011 in Berlin finally convinced us”, explains Sapper.
The ACSYS PIRANHAμ at the World Money Fair 2011 in Berlin finally convinced us.
The compact layout of the laser system, with the multitude of technical details, starting from 3D laser engraving to precise surface structuring and the integrated laser digitalization module, fits the company philosophy. Moreover, the digital 3D templates used up to now could still be used fully. A benefit, as Sapper reports. Compared to CNC milling technology, the laser system engraves faster with a great deal more detail and requires less energy. The subsequent reduction with the pantograph and the reworking stage are no longer needed. Gravura’s application range is extended accordingly in subsequent years.
“The machine is an absolute dream!” gushes Christoph Sapper. “We experimented and researched a great deal. The details are extremely fine. We achieved high-resolution engraving depths of more than 1 mm with relatively short runtimes without problems, thanks to the dynamic focus control”. Gravura produces a wide variety of embossing tools on the system. Whilst flexible in shape and size of application, Sapper sees the greatest benefit in the time saved and the energy efficiency of the laser system. At peak times, Gravura produces up to 60 embossing stamps per week just with the laser. The system runs almost 24 hours non-stop.
Gravura currently works on the laser system up to an engraving size of 100mm in diameter. “With the system, we are extremely flexible and can react very quickly to customer wishes” explains Sapper. “Almost 100% of hardened embossing tools currently come from PIRANHA”, explains Sapper.
A unified work of art made of 15 individual parts for the World Money Fair 2014.
One of Gravura’s customers has dreamed up something really special for the upcoming World Money Fair 2014. The picture of the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris will be on show as a DIN-A4-size unified work of art made of 15 individual coins. The individual coins are 68.5 mm x 52.5 mm and 50.0 mm x 52.5 mm. the embossing tools for this were engraved entirely on the PIRANHAμ. The resolution is extremely precise and detailed. “The challenge with this project was the fine transitions between the individual coins”, Christoph Sapper clarifies. “The finest differences in height are immediately visible to the human eye“. Notre-Dame fits together like a puzzle made of the finest engraved silver parts.
This work of art can be admired at the World Money Fair in Berlin –
Venue:
Estrel Convention Center,
Sonnenallee 225, 12057 Berlin
Opening times:
Friday 07/02/2014 10.00 to 18.00
Saturday 08/02/2014 10.00 to 18.00
Sunday 09/02/2014 10.00 to 16.00
ACSYS Lasertechnik GmbH: Stand C19
Gravura Kunstpräge GmbH: Stand E27
At a glance:
PIRANHA μ
- Maintenance-free fiber laser technology
- Dimensions W/H/D (mm): 950 x 2200 x 1350
- Travel distances x/y/z (mm): 390 x 390 x 160
- Usable range with lens with 110 x 110 mm² processing field x/y/z (mm): 510 x 400 x 165
- ODC – Online Depth Control
- Eagle Eye – digitalizing module
- DFC – Dynamic focus control
- Additional precision plane field lens
- Self-calibrating galvo head
- Granite portal embedded in polymer concrete
- Burnished steel T-grooved plate
- Precision package with glass measuring rods and LAS – Live Adjust System Pro with a positioning precision of up to 15μm
- AC-LASER Software Suite with 3D assistant
- NC-controlled precision part device
- Ball-bearing mounted tailstock with pneumatic clamp feed
GRAVURA Kunstpräge GmbH
Buzibachring 8
Postfach
6023 Rothenburg
Switzerland
Tel: +41 41 349 20 10
Fax: +41 41 349 20 18
E-Mail: info@gravura.ch
www.gravura.ch
ACSYS Lasertechnik GmbH
Leibnizstraße 11
70806 Kornwestheim
Germany
Tel +49 7154 807 100
Fax: +49 7154 807 119
E-Mail: info@acsys.de
www.acsys.de