Laser Marking Technologies is introducing the Fusion XL, a laser welding and cutting machine built on FANUC's 0i-LF Plus CNC. According to FANUC America, operators can build laser programs through a "conversational" drag-and-drop workflow instead of writing G-code.
Programming a weld starts with the machine's built-in camera. An operator positions the machine with a handheld or on-screen MPG, then selects the "Teach" function to record and save a linear or curved laser-welding path in seconds. Experienced programmers can switch to G-code, so one machine serves both groups. For a manufacturing engineer short on CNC-trained staff, that means routine weld paths no longer have to wait on a programmer. FANUC America presents the design as a response to the skilled labor shortage and says the visual interface reduces training time.
The Fusion XL pairs the 0i-LF Plus with an integrated iPC running FANUC's iHMI. The rest of the control stack is also FANUC hardware: servos, a Machine Operator Panel, a keyboard, a Laser Interface Unit and an MPG for handheld jog movements. FANUC America says this single-source arrangement reduces system complexity across motion control, machine operation and process management.
The iPC is the part FANUC America singles out. Machine builders have historically used third-party industrial computers or commercial PC front ends, which the company says caused problems with operating system updates, hardware lifecycle management and startup reliability. FANUC America lists improved startup consistency, less disruption from OS updates and longer lifecycle support as the gains from its own unit. The iPC runs Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2024.
