Page 12 - MetalForming September 2010

The Pulser double-sheet detector comprises a sensor probe and a control unit. Four models, with different diam- eters and magnet strengths, can detect sheetmetal thickness from 0.01 to 0.25 in. The sensor probes, ruggedly con- structed of stainless steel, have a built- in metal proximity detector, which allows the detector to turn off after thickness measurement, count sheets and detect that the last sheet has advanced.
The DS200 control unit features sim- ple one-button calibration that auto- matically measures the thickness of a sample sheet, calculates the double thickness value and sets the reject threshold. An optional two-sample cali- bration process allows the control unit to detect and respond to variations in sheetmetal thickness as small as five percent.
Prime Controls, Inc.: 866/435-8659; www.primecontrols.com
Robotic Blank and Parts Handling
German handling-equipment manu- facturer Strothmann (Marietta, GA) has extended its range of blank feeders by introducing the Feederplus8, an eight-axis linear robot that can transport and orient parts in numerous directions. The addi-
tional degrees of freedom pro- vide for max- imum flexi- bility in the feeding of blanks into complex dies, as well as for remov- ing parts.
Says Strothmann CEO Derek Clark: “The feeder can be installed in existing press applications with a small opening stroke, because at about 250 mm, the ori- entation axis is lean and can access all dies horizontally. One feeder per press gap is sufficient to remove the parts from the press, orient them and feed them into the following press.”
Payload capacity is 120 kg, including blank, tooling and tooling adapter. It can optionally be equipped with an automatic tool changer, which attaches to a cross- bar by means of a saddle or an adapter for the robot tooling.
Strothmann (North America Division): 770/424-4141; www.strothmann.com
installed in small press
minimum distance of 6,500 mm between press tables. The coordinated move- ment of the axes allows for processing speeds of 10 to 12 large parts/min.
“The Perfect Press For You” www.beckwoodpress.com
St. Louis, MO, USA| 800-737-0111 info@beckwoodpress.com
www.metalformingmagazine.com
METALFORMING / SEPTEMBER 2010 9
The new feeder can be gaps with a
Demonstrating Precision Parallelism Control and Sheet Hydroforming at IMTS
Active Leveling Control

Triform Sheet Hydroforming