The ByTrans automatically loads raw sheets onto the laser cutting table and removes the cut skeleton — no manual sheet handling between jobs. The BySort add-on goes further: gripper heads pick individual cut parts off the table and sort them by order onto designated unloading positions. The laser cuts. The automation handles the rest.
The ByTrans and BySort work in a coordinated sequence integrated directly with the laser cutting program. Each step happens automatically — triggered by the ByVision Cutting control — with no operator action required between sheets.
The ByTrans retrieves a raw sheet from the material cassette and loads it onto the laser's shuttle table automatically. A full load/unload cycle completes in approximately 60 seconds — keeping the laser running rather than waiting for manual handling.
ByTransThe fiber laser executes the cutting program. All parts on the nested sheet are cut — each part tagged in the program to a specific order. The ByVision Cutting control tracks which parts belong to which job throughout the cut.
Fiber LaserBySort's gripper heads — equipped automatically with vacuum or magnetic modules from the gripper magazine — pick individual cut parts off the shuttle table and deposit them on designated unloading positions sorted by order. Multiple sorting positions can be active simultaneously.
BySortAfter BySort finishes picking parts, the ByTrans unloads the residual skeleton sheet on a separate path — so the sorting and skeleton removal happen in parallel, not in sequence. The shuttle table is freed faster for the next sheet, maximizing laser uptime.
ByTransThe ByTrans is the material handling backbone of the laser cutting cell. It bridges the gap between the raw material cassette and the laser's shuttle table — automatically, repeatedly, without operator intervention. Without it, someone has to manually carry each full sheet to the laser and manually remove the cut skeleton after every cut job.
The ByTrans picks raw sheets from the material cassette using suction cup grippers and places them precisely on the laser shuttle table. Each suction cup can be activated independently, allowing the system to handle sub-sheet formats and mixed sheet sizes.
After cutting, the ByTrans removes the residual skeleton from the shuttle table on a separate return path from the BySort's part-picking route. This parallel handling is the key to the 60-second cycle time — the table is cleared faster so the laser can be reloaded sooner.
Partial sheets — remnant material with usable area remaining — can be returned to the cassette rather than sent to scrap. The ByTrans handles residual sheet storage, allowing Lasertech to recover and reuse partial sheets on future jobs that fit within the remaining blank area.
Plastic protective interleaf sheets can be automatically placed between cut stainless steel or aluminum sheets during stacking — preventing surface-to-surface contact and protecting cosmetic finishes on parts that will be visible after powder coating or as bare metal.
The ByTrans is controlled from the same ByVision Cutting touchscreen as the laser itself. There is no separate control terminal. The loading schedule, sheet assignment, and residual sheet routing are all managed through the cutting program interface.
BySort is the extension that turns automated cutting into automated sorting. Without BySort, all parts from a cut sheet land on a single unloading pallet in the arrangement they were nested — mixed across jobs. BySort's gripper heads identify each part by its position on the cut sheet and deposit it to its assigned order position. Parts arrive at forming sorted and ready.
An additional bridge is installed on the ByTrans system, carrying up to two sorting heads. Each head is automatically equipped with the appropriate gripper module from the gripper magazine — vacuum grippers for most parts, magnetic grippers for specific geometries or orientations.
The gripper magazine stores a range of standard vacuum and magnetic gripper modules. BySort automatically selects and installs the correct gripper for each part being picked — no manual tooling change between parts or between jobs.
Parts are deposited to designated positions — trolleys, pallets, or conveyor belts — next to the laser cutting system. Multiple positions can be active at once, allowing parts from several concurrent orders to be sorted simultaneously rather than sequentially.
BySort picks parts on one route while the ByTrans removes the skeleton on a separate route. Both operations happen in parallel — so the shuttle table is cleared in less time than if sorting and skeleton removal happened sequentially. This directly reduces the time between cuts.
BySort can be added to an existing ByTrans system at any time — it is not required at the time of ByTrans installation. Lasertech can expand the automation capability of the laser cell by adding BySort without replacing the ByTrans or the laser itself.
The ByTrans/BySort system isn't just about how Lasertech runs the laser internally. The downstream effects — faster throughput, pre-sorted parts, higher machine utilization — translate directly into better outcomes for customers.
A complete load/cut/unload cycle — including BySort picking and skeleton removal — takes approximately 60 seconds for the handling portion. The laser is reloaded and ready for the next sheet in about a minute, not five.
Without BySort, every sheet's parts land in a mixed pile and someone has to manually sort them by order before forming can begin. With BySort, parts arrive at the forming cell already separated by job — sorted while they were being cut, not after.
The laser's most productive state is cutting. The ByTrans/BySort keeps the laser in that state — minimizing idle time between sheets and eliminating the wait for manual handling. Higher laser utilization means more throughput on the same machine.
With the cassette loaded and programs queued, the laser cell can run large batches of parts with minimal staffing. Repeat production programs — same parts, same material, recurring orders — are ideal candidates for lights-out runs overnight or on weekends.
BySort's controlled gripper handling is gentler and more consistent than manual part removal — especially for thin stainless or aluminum parts where dragging or dropping risks surface damage before powder coating. Parts arrive at forming without handling marks.
The ByTrans, BySort, and laser cutting system are all controlled from one screen — the ByVision Cutting touchscreen. The cutting program, loading schedule, and sorting assignments are all managed together. No separate terminal, no separate software, no separate operator.
A side-by-side comparison of the laser cutting cell with and without ByTrans/BySort automation — in terms of what matters most to throughput, quality, and operations.
The ByTrans/BySort system operates at the laser cutting stage — the very first step in the fabrication sequence. By automating loading, unloading, and sorting at this stage, every downstream operation receives parts faster and pre-organized.
Auto-loaded, auto-unloaded, parts sorted by order
PEM fasteners into flat panels
Press brake bending
Welding and post-weld machining
Deburr, blast, powder coat
Kit, assemble, and deliver
When cut parts arrive at forming already sorted by order — no mixed pallet, no manual re-sort — the forming cell can start bending immediately. When the laser runs at maximum utilization, parts move through the entire sequence faster. The ByTrans/BySort investment at the front of the line pays dividends all the way to shipping.
Common questions about the Bystronic ByTrans / BySort automation system at Lasertech Metal Works.
The Bystronic ByTrans is an automated loading and unloading system connected directly to a Bystronic fiber laser cutting machine. It automatically feeds raw sheets from a material cassette onto the laser's shuttle table, and removes the cut sheet — complete with all cut parts and the residual skeleton — after cutting is complete. This eliminates manual sheet handling between cutting jobs and allows the laser to run continuously with minimal operator intervention. A full load/unload cycle completes in approximately 60 seconds.
BySort is the parts-sorting add-on module for the ByTrans system. After the laser finishes cutting a sheet, BySort's automated gripper heads pick individual cut parts off the shuttle table and deposit them sorted by job onto designated unloading positions — trolleys, pallets, or conveyor belts. Without BySort, all cut parts from a sheet land on a single unloading pallet in whatever arrangement they were nested, requiring manual sorting before forming can begin. With BySort, parts arrive at the forming cell pre-sorted by order.
For customers, the practical impact is faster turnaround and more consistent delivery. The ByTrans/BySort system allows Lasertech's fiber laser to run with minimal downtime between sheets — keeping the laser cutting rather than waiting for manual loading. BySort means your parts arrive at the next operation (forming, welding, or hardware insertion) already separated by order, with no manual sorting step between cutting and forming. For large orders or repeat production parts, this automation significantly compresses the overall lead time.
Yes. With the ByTrans/BySort system, the laser cutting cell can run in a lights-out or lightly-manned mode for extended periods. The ByTrans feeds raw sheets from the material cassette automatically and the BySort sorts parts without operator intervention. This is particularly useful for large runs of repeat parts — programs can be queued, the cassette loaded with raw material, and the cell can cut and sort through the queue with minimal staffing. Overnight runs on production programs are well suited to this capability.
BySort uses a range of standard vacuum and magnetic gripper modules stored in an onboard gripper magazine. The correct gripper is selected and installed automatically on the sorting head based on the part being picked — no manual tooling change is required between parts or jobs. Vacuum grippers handle the large majority of flat sheet metal parts. Magnetic grippers cover parts or orientations where vacuum gripping is not effective. Custom grippers can also be configured for specific part geometries when standard modules are not sufficient.
Both the ByTrans and BySort are controlled from the same touchscreen as the laser cutting system — the Bystronic ByVision Cutting interface. There is no separate control pendant or separate software to operate. The cutting program, loading schedule, and sorting instructions are all managed from a single interface. The ByVision Cutting software coordinates the loading, cutting, and sorting sequence automatically — maximizing laser uptime and minimizing the time the shuttle table is unavailable for the next sheet.