To achieve annual production target and improve quality of KrAZ vehicles, “AutoKrAZ” has purchased state-of-the art high-precision plasma cutting machine   PlazMax CNC-2060. The company has invested almost UAH 1m in new equipment. Ukrainian manufacturer does not expect that new plasma cutting equipment will pay for itself in the near future, with operation at reduced capacity.  But this meaningful action has been taken for quality improvement over the long term.  

The machine is used for cutting parts and workpieces of different shape and size from flat steel stock.  NC code entered in machine CNC is created for each part.

New plasma cutting machine is provided with new power and efficient air plasma cutting system Hypertherm Powermax 125. This system provides high quality of cutting 25 mm thick steel sheet and severing with maximum thickness of up to 57 mm.

100% working cycle and reliability of the Powermax system enable to cope with the most complicated metal cutting tasks. The Duramax Hyamp 180 cutter included in the system efficiently tackles this job.

When choosing model of new machine for plasma cutting or workpieces and parts from flat steel stock, maximum size of parts cut at the Cristal PМplКP-2,5 plasma cutting machine was taken into account as well as gage of flat steel stock machined in chassis and body workshop. By the way, new equipment was purchased also because the Cristal PМplКP-2,5 plasma cutting machine after over 12 years of intensive operation in chassis and body workshop does not meet requirements to cutting precision and quality. Over 1700 NC codes have been created for the period of use of this machine.  As much as 100 parts for all the vehicle models and versions are made by plasma cutting machine within one month. Unique parts are needed because of engineering changes made to vehicle models and versions, for this reason, new part are continuously added to range of parts made by plasma cutting. Average number of NC codes created within one month is 10.

New CNC plasma cutting machine has been tested at the facilities of its manufacturer, PlazmaTekhService – Ukraine with participation of “AutoKrAZ” representatives. It has been put into operation after installation in a specially prepared area of chassis and body workshop, commissioning and training for operators.