Page 30 - MetalForming June 2012

Innovative Conveying Solutions
...help this welding-equipment manufacturer effectively move parts and scrap away from a new progressive-die mechanical press, helping to avoid bottlenecks as press speed increases by more than 300 percent compared to running production on aging hydraulic presses.
BY BRAD F. KUVIN, EDITOR
Every new-press launch faces this basic challenge: How to effec- tively and reliably convey parts and scrap out of the press at maximum possible press speed without inhibiting the ability to execute quick changeovers and without compromising safety. Within the confines of the sheetmetal division at Miller Electric Mfg. Co., Appleton, WI, engineers planning installation of a new 400-ton mechan- ical press faced this challenge head- on. With the help of stamping-system integrator TCR, Wisconsin Rapids, WI, the firm has specified and engineered a unique part- and scrap-out solution for a new press line slated to enter pro- duction in early July 2012.
The impetus for the mechanical- press project comes from the desire within the Miller Electric sheetmetal shop to add capacity while also allow the shop to satisfy from its internal customers—some 20 welding-machine assembly-lines. “Our customers are always looking for us to provide more frequent deliveries of smaller part batches. It’s all part of a longer-term lean strategy,” says Miller Electric man- ufacturing engineer Adam Utecht.
The goal with the new mechanical- press line is to boost press speed from a maximum of 17 strokes/min. capable when running progressive dies on the shop’s existing 440-ton hydraulic press, to as much as 60 strokes/min. on small- er bracketry with the new mechanical press, a 400-ton Aida straightside. Other than a smaller 175-ton hydraulic press also capable of running progressive dies, the rest of the stampings coming
Miller Electric’s new press line features innovative scrap and part-out conveying solu- tions. Scrap will be funneled off the rear of the press (left) through a trap door in the floor, where a steel hinged-belt cleated conveyor awaits to move scrap away from the press and then up and out of the floor to a bin. The job of moving stamped parts out of the press will fall to a belted conveyor (right) that includes imbedded magnets in the drop area to avoid part slippage and allow rapid conveyor acceleration. To allow quick changeovers, the conveyor can slide in and out to accommodate a range of die sizes, and its tail pulley can easily (and tool-free) be raised and lowered to match die height.
28 MetalForming/June 2012
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