Page 10 - Metalforming Magazine April 2022

Tech Update
New Fanuc Robot Designed to Handle Heavy Products
Fanuc America, Rochester Hills, MI, has introduced the M-1000iA robot, capable of handling heavy products including automotive components, con- struction materials and battery packs for electric vehicles. The robot’s serial- link construction gives it a wide range of motion in every direction. It can extend its arm upright or rotate it backward, not possible for typical heavy-payload robots with a parallel-link mechanism. Key specs: 1000-kg payload, 3253-mm horizontal reach and 4297-mm vertical reach.
Powered by the R-30iB Plus controller, the M-1000iA also includes the Fanuc IRVision integrated visual-detection system, force sensing and Zero Down Time pre- dictive analytics. Other features:
• Smooth serial-link design, which allows back-flip operation on the J3 axis. • Dual motors on J2/J3 axis to support heavy payloads at large offsets from wrist
and at full extension.
• Clean design with internal cables,
to minimize interference with peripheral devices.
Fanuc America: www.fanucamerica.com
Spin-Pull Technology Enables Automated Clinch-Nut Installation on Closed Profiles
Spin-pull technology from
MDS | Autoriv, reportedly in
use at several OEMs, enables
automated installation of clinch
and rivet nuts in one-sided sheet metal-joining positions, such
as with closed profiles. In addition, metal formers can use the process with thicker metal sheets by combining the clinch nut with a washer or spacer, reportedly a superior process to using blind rivet nuts, say company officials, who note that joints created with the spin-pull process can withstand higher forces from any load direction. The technology offers a new approach for handling closed profiles without opening them and affecting the stability of the workpiece.
With blind rivet nuts, the joint only hangs on the rivet bulge and the counter sheet screws against the head of the nut; there is no preload between the connected sheets and the connection cannot withstand
high forces. By contrast, the larger diameter and height of a clinch or rivet nut exceeds the size of the bulge on a blind rivet nut, allowing the fasteners to withstand higher forces from
any load direction, even in applications with high side loads. A preload builds up between the connected sheets to ensure high-strength structural connections.
The four-step spin-pull process:
• A sliding unit carries the clinch nut to the pilot hole inside of the profile, posi- tioning the nut under the pilot hole.
• The assembly unit moves into the pilot hole and spins into the nut beneath. As an option, it also can carry a spacer.
• The unit applies an axial pulling to the joint to create a form-fit connection between the nut, metal sheet and spacer.
• The pulling mandrel spins out.
MDS: www.autoriv.com/en
8 MetalForming/April 2022
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Case Study: Efficient Coil and Die Storage Leads to Increased Throughput
Safely storing and accessing heavy metal coils and stamping dies can be chal- lenging. Recently, NHI Mechanical Motion, Claremont, NH, a manufacturer of mechan- ical power-transfer products, sought a solu- tion for better organizing its coil and die storage areas. Its new 140,000-sq.-ft. facility includes 87,000 sq. ft. of manu- facturing space (stamping, machining, welding, etc.) and 42,000 sq. ft. of inventory and shipping. Until recently, the firm had been storing sheet metal coils and stamping dies on the floor, consuming valuable pro- duction space and creating safety hazards. While coils in some cases were stacked on top of each other to free some floor space, that practice created difficulties in locating and accessing the correct coils and transferring them to the stamping presses in a timely fashion. On average, company officials say, locating the correct coils required approximately 30 min., while finding dies could take as long as 1 hr.
When NHI moved into the facility, it looked to take advantage of its vertical space, as well as reduce material-handling and manufacturing setup times. That’s what it gained by investing in new verti- cal-rack storage units—Dexco racks from Ross—and locating them near its presses.
After a bit of discussion, NHI’s Erik Minske, quality and environmental health and safety manager, working with Ross sales engineer Tracy Buck, determined that Ross’s Dexco wide-span and die-rack systems would best address the facility’s storage challenges. The heavy-duty, wide- span racking minimizes the number of columns required to support the shelves, and optimizes flexibility in material storage.
“The project also made die traceability a reality,” says Buck.
As a result of the project, coil-changeout time has dropped to as little as 5 min., and die-change time to 10 min.
Ross: www.rosstechnology.com