Machining components using CNC laser profiling Machines

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This standard identifies the competences you need to carry out cutting and profiling operations using CNC laser profiling machines, in accordance with approved procedures. You will take charge of the prepared machine and check that it is ready for the machining operations to be performed. This will involve checking that all the required materials and consumables are present, and that the machine has been approved for the production. In operating the machine, you will be expected to follow the correct procedures for calling up the machine-operating program, dealing with any error messages, and executing the program activities safely and correctly.

The components produced will have a number of different features, including square and rectangular profiles, angular profiles, curved profiles, circles, holes linearly positioned, holes radially positioned, slots and grooves. You will be required to continuously monitor the machining operations, making any necessary adjustments to machine parameters, in line with your permitted authority. Meeting production targets will be an important issue, and your production records must show consistent and satisfactory performance.

Your responsibilities will require you to comply with organisational policy and procedures for the activities undertaken, and to report any problems with the equipment, program or materials that you cannot personally resolve, or are outside your permitted authority, to the relevant people. You will be expected to work with a minimum of supervision, taking personal responsibility for your own actions and for the quality and accuracy of the work that you produce.

Your underpinning knowledge will provide a good understanding of your work, and will provide an informed approach to applying CNC laser profiling procedures. You will understand the CNC profiling process, and its application, and will know about the equipment, materials and consumables, in adequate depth to provide a sound basis for carrying out the activities to the required specification.

You will understand the safety precautions required when working with the laser profiling machine and its associated equipment. You will be required to demonstrate safe working practices throughout, and will understand the responsibility you owe to yourself and others in the workplace.

Setting up the machine, its tooling, workholding devices and associated equipment, are the subjects of other standards.

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1. work safely at all times, complying with health and safety and other relevant regulations, directives and guidelines
2. confirm that the equipment is set up and ready for operation
3. follow the defined procedures for starting and running the operating system
4. deal promptly and effectively with error messages or equipment faults that are within your control and report those that cannot be solved
5. monitor the computer process and ensure that the production output is to the required specification
6. produce machined components
7. complete the required production documentation
8. shut down the equipment to a safe condition on conclusion of the activities

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1. how to work safely at all times, complying with health and safety and other relevant regulations, directives and guidelines
2. how to start and stop the machine in normal and emergency situations, and how to close the machine down on completion of activities
3. the importance of ensuring that the machine is isolated from the power supply before working with machinery; and the care needed, particularly when working with high power laser beams
4. the importance of wearing the appropriate protective clothing (PPE) and equipment, and of keeping the work area clean and tidy
5. the hazards associated with laser profiling machines and how to minimise them and reduce any risks
6. principles and operation of lasers; laser machines; terminology used
7. the key components and features of the equipment
8. how to extract and use information from engineering drawings or data and related specifications (to include symbols and conventions to appropriate standards) in relation to work undertaken
9. how to interpret first and third angle drawings, imperial and metric systems of measurement, workpiece reference points and system of tolerancing
10. how to interpret the visual display and understand the various messages displayed
11. the function of error messages, and what to do when an error message is displayed
12. how to find the correct restart point in the program when the machine has been stopped before completion of the program
13. the operation of the various hand and automatic modes of machine control
14. how to operate the machine using single block run, full program run and speed override controls
15. why you would conduct a full dry run and single block run
16. how to make adjustments to machine operating programs to take account of out-of-specification components
17. how to set and secure the workpiece to the work holding device; the effects of clamping the workpiece; and how material removal can cause distortion in the finished component
18. extracting information required from drawings and component specifications
19. care of equipment and operating programs, including safe storage of material away from electromagnetic forces
20. monitoring the machine during the cutting process; recognition of problems and action to be taken
21. problems that can occur during the laser cutting activities, and how to prevent them
22. organisational quality systems the extent of your responsibility and to whom you should report if you have problems that you cannot resolve

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1. Carry out all of the following during the laser profiling activities:
   1. obtain and use the appropriate documentation
   2. adhere to procedures or systems in place for risk assessment,  personal protective equipment and other relevant safety regulations and procedures to realise a safe system of work
   3. check that the operating program is at the correct start point
   4. ensure that all safety equipment and guards are in place and functioning correctly
   5. ensure that materials/components are correctly positioned and held securely without distortion
   6. check that the laser lens is clean and in a suitable condition
   7. use safe working practices and start up procedures at all times
   8. adjust machine settings, as required, to maintain the required accuracy
   9. leave the work area and machine in a safe and appropriate condition on completion of the activities
2. Produce laser machined components which cover six of the following features:
   1. square/rectangular profiles
   2. holes linearly positioned
   3. angular profiles
   4. holes radially positioned
   5. curved profiles
   6. slots and apertures
   7. circles
   8. ellipses
   9. other specific features
3. Machine one of the following types of material:
   1. ferrous
   2. non-ferrous
   3. non-metallic
4. Carry out the necessary checks during production for accuracy of four of the following:
   1. dimensions
   2. angles
   3. position of features
   4. profiles
   5. holes positioned linearly
   6. flatness / freedom from distortion
   7. holes positioned radially
5. Produce components within all of the following quality and accuracy standards, as applicable to the operations performed:
   1. dimensional tolerance as identified in relevant standard
   2. angles within +/- 0.25 degree
   3. surface texture within 63µin or 1.6µm

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3

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31 Mar 2028

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Current

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Original

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Enginuity

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SEMMME3041

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Engineering, Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies, Engineering Technicians

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3113

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Engineering; manufacturing; mechanical; machining; components; CNC; laser profiling; square cuts; angular profile; circles; holes; slots

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