The Melbourne School of Design at University of Melbourne initiative for 2018 was to expose students to relative industry machinery and processes that they would potentially use as designers and architects after graduation. A complete laser cutting and engraving system that was safe to use in the classroom as well as flexible enough to have all the features needed inside a workshop meant the LaserCELL by Kern Laser Systems was the perfect solution.
Australia’s leading university, The University of Melbourne, is known to help graduates become thoughtful and skilled professionals. With their distinctive curriculum, the Melbourne Model, The University of Melbourne continues to seek ways to give students a wider understanding of the world beyond their degree.
Dr Jas Johnston, Manager of the Fabrication Workshop at the Melbourne School of Design, University of Melbourne, explained that the university wanted to expose students to relative industry machinery and processes that they would potentially use as designers and architects. “Industrial laser scale equipment was part of that initiative, to get the students hands-on in the industrial design field”.
Whilst their existing range of lasers allowed students to create projects made of plywood, MDF and acrylic, Dr Johnston and the University were looking for a solution that would allow students to cut and work with metal. “We find that once the students have access to the machinery and its capabilities, it opens up their creativity,” says Johnston.
The University required a laser system that was capable of cutting stainless steel, aluminium and other metals whilst still offer the ability to engrave and cut acrylic, plywood, MDF materials and also pipe/tube. This eliminated many vendors, especially when combined with the need for expert local support. “We felt confident with Kern and Alfex CNC Australia because of their commitment to supporting Australian customers. We got to speak with not only several members of the local team, but also Kern Laser Systems CEO Derek Kern, which you just don’t get with other companies.”
Issues with equipment usually stem from incorrect setup, which can lead to students to lack confidence in using the machinery again. “Having the Kern engineers come in from the USA and the local Alfex CNC engineers to set up the LaserCELL really boosted our confidence in knowing that the LaserCELL would be set up properly from the get-go and we would have expert support here in Melbourne.”
Another reason why we went with the Kern LaserCELL over other systems, is that it will still process all the other materials our students use. We needed the variety of materials as well as metals.”
The LaserCELL is perfect for educational settings due to the blend of performance and safety. The fully enclosed (Class 1) design is devised for high traffic areas such as University workshops and classrooms where safety is of the utmost importance”, said Christian Buhagiar, Business Development Manager of Alfex CNC Australia.
Now that students have access to industry machinery, Dr Johnston says their first project with the LaserCELL is an augmented reality workshop. The workshop will see students use the LaserCELL to cut flat sheets of metal to create hologram instructions. The LaserCELL will also be heavily used for Furniture Design projects.
The LaserCELL is Kern’s fastest and most productive machine to date and is compatible with Pipe Rotary, K-Vision Camera Registration and Metal Cutting options.
Our goal was to get students more access to machinery in the industry. With the Kern LaserCELL we’re confident that we’ll see new and innovative ideas in the classroom” said Dr Johnston.
We’re very proud of the relationship that Alfex and the team at Melbourne University have built over the years. It’s always a pleasure working with Jas, Sean and the guys, and we’re really excited to see them put the Kern LaserCELL to good work. There will no doubt be many impressive projects come from this new installation”, said Buhagiar.
For more information on the Kern LaserCELL and how you can use it in your organisation, call or email the team on 1300 20 15 10 or sales@alfexcnc.com.au today.
