Exploring Low-Cost Die Protection at the 2009 METALFORM Exhibition

“There is no money.” How many of you have heard this sentence whenever you request funding for sensors and controls for die protection? It is a reality in most metalforming shops as we continue to grind our through the this economic malaise. But perhaps there is a silver lining to it all. Maybe, this is a good time for all of us to revisit the topic of die protection, put on our learning hats and attend the 2009 METALFORM Exhibition, November 15-18, at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL, with a new set of purchasing glasses.

“Find low-cost die protection,” rolls out of the mouths of much of our metalforming management as it tries to justify new investments to prevent die crashes and minimize scrapped parts. With this in mind, I suggest that the visitors to the show explore, as never before, all equipment options available from the various vendors of sensors and controls at the show. They, like you, have been hit very hard by the economic slump and are revisiting their offerings in this new economic light. Ask as many questions of the vendors as your patience permits regarding the various pricing options available.

Volume purchases of sensors are generally well discounted as are volume acquisitions of die-protection controls. Furthermore, ask about all of the various sensor types and see if any particular ones are over-stocked and available for further discounts. You may have to be flexible in your die designs to accommodate a sensor that may be a little larger than you planned yet just as effective, but heavily discounted. Used sensors are not my cup of tea as you never know just what use (or abuse) the sensor and cabling may have experienced, and testing them for robustness is very difficult under true die-protection conditions. Perhaps the used sensor’s cable has a tiny pinhole in it that will aspirate (suck-in) fluid, including oil into itself and shortly thereafter short circuit the sensor as the insulation is compromised. I als advocate that sensors be purchased new whenever possible to avoid any unpleasant surprises. The Internet is full of used equipment, so keeping the above in mind one needs to be careful when it comes to used sensors—bought singly or in large lots.

Die-protection controls should likewise be explored carefully from the perspective of price. As with sensors, I advocate the purchase of new equipment for the same reasons. However, as there are numerous auctions going on of presses and die-protection controls, I urge the visitors to also explore what factory reconditioning options may be available for those who cannot afford new equipment. For example, you purchased a used press at auction and it has what appears to be a good die-protection control system on it. Is the original manufacturer of the controller available to go through this used unit and certify its good health?