Page 42 - MetalForming May 2009

NewProducts
Simple Maintenance and Belt Changing with New Conveyor Line
The new Automation series of low-profile belt conveyors from QC Industries, Cincin- nati, OH, features the Tension Release Tail that allows for quick and simple belt changes and under-belt cleaning. It operates at the push of a button to relieve tension on the belt by quickly flip- ping up and out of the way. The tail reseats, and reapplies tension,
with a gentle push.
Also, in many cases the belt
can be removed and replaced
without tools. The Tension Release Tail retains all tension and tracking adjustments when tension is relieved and reapplied, unlike competing conveyors, according to company officials. It is standard on all Automation-series conveyors, including AS40 end-drive and AS65 center-drive units, and is compatible with all standard QC Industries side rails and guides with
flat and v-guided belts.
QC Industries: 513/753-6000; www.qcindustries.com
Digital Flow Control for Plasma Cutting
Thermal Dynamics, St. Louis, MO, now offers the automatic DFC-3000 digital flow control, which functions as the central manifold for all incoming gases in automat- ed plasma cutting. The DFC-3000 works with the company’s 100-, 200- and 300- A Ultra-Cut plasma-cutting systems. The digital flow-
control system improves efficiency by allowing rapid changeovers between cutting and marking oper- ations by recalling presaved programs. Using an automated gas device such as this also can improve parts life as optimum plasma-cutting parameters are maintained without setup errors.
The control consists of three independent modules. The
first, the
TSC-3000,
reportedly
offers the
only touchscreen controller available in the
plasma industry, allowing operators to quickly choose one of potentially thousands of stored programs and start cutting by touching the Go button.
The DMC-3000 functions as the central manifold for all incoming gases. With seven inputs and five outputs, this unit facilitates which gas will be used according to the program selected. A small footprint enables the module to be placed on top of the power supply or mounted to a gantry.
The third module, the Digital Pressure Control (DPC-3000), controls gas flow and pressure to optimize cutting. The unit normally ismounted within 4 ft. of the cutting torch to minimize switching time between processes.
Thermal Dynamics: 866/279-2628; www.thermadyne.com
Planisher Flattens Coil-End Welds to Allow Continuous Metalforming
Kent Corp., North Royalton, OH, has developed a new coil-end weld planish- er, which has a fixed upper planisher roll that is hydraulically driven on two linear bearings. The lower anvil adjusts up and down via a precision screw-and- wedge assembly, and a machine-mount- ed dial indicator allows the anvil to be positioned to precisely match material thickness. This prevents over-planishing and eliminates the need to adjust pres- sure for each sheetmetal thickness. The planisher will flatten gas-tungsten-arc welds back to original sheetmetal thick- ness to allow the welds to easily pass through rollform, tube and progressive- die lines. This also allows for strip processors to sell the weld in their final product.
Kent Corp.: 440/237-9286; www.continuouscoil.com
Dampening Reduces Wear on Tooling and Pneumatic Press
Airam Press Co. Ltd., Covington, OH, a pneumatic press manufacturer, has developed a special dampening materi- al for its presses that reportedly will help stampers improve parts produc- tion and reduce tool and press wear by nearly 30 percent. The dampening mate- rial is available as an option on Airam B-, P- and G-series pneumatic presses, in capacities from 3 to 210 tons.
Conventional presses typically contain areas where steel touches steel. The dampening material is placed in these areas, such as the space between the bed and the stand. During a part run, as the bed deflects the dampening material absorbs energy. Because energy no longer is absorbed through steel, the material reduces vibration by as much as 80 percent, according to company officials. Airam Press Co. Ltd.: 937/473-5672; www.airam.com
40 METALFORMING / MAY 2009
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