Page 36 - MetalForming August 2012

Coilers,
Payoffs
...and the proper methods of installing and maintaining them.
BY ROBERT KOTYNSKI
To ensure proper coil gripping, segments should be straight, free of damage and, when a dial indicator is placed on any part of the OD, should not exhibit excessive runout. Out-of-flat segments that exceed 0.015 in. of bend from end to end should be repaired or replaced. Also check segments with an indicator to look for loose fit. If clearance exceeds 0.020 in., immediately repair or replace the segment.
the inner diameter of the coil. Each leaf is precision machined and cen- tered onto the shaft via some form of expansion device, also precisely machined. This allows for concentric running of the coil to the shafting that supports it, as well as smooth operation and alignment with little or no delay to the metalforming process.
The nature of the installation deter- mines how productive a mandrel will be, as well as the longevity of not only the mandrels but also of the coil pay- off and uptake equipment. Several fac- tors must be addressed during instal- lation to ensure that the setup provides the required stability and alignment accuracy.
Although lighter units are self-con- tained and do not require separate foundations, a mandrel often is sub- jected to high vibrations during use. Grommets are used to floor-mount and level smaller cradles and reels. When a separate foundation is not planned, the metalformer should consider use of isolation mounts. A carefully planned and engineered foundation should be sought out when installing mandrels handling 10,000 lb. or more. Whenever possible, consult the OEM for installa- tion assistance and recommendations.
On the Level
The leveling process must be exact and repeatable in order to avoid dam- age to the material and equipment. Installation of the mandrel is as precise an operation as the setting of the press. As such, take care to ensure that the mandrel is set in three-dimensional alignment with the press and with the
Most stamping and forming operations begin with coiled material that must be fed into either a shear or stamping press. The decoiler, payoff reel, recoiler, tension- er and other coil-handling equipment require constant maintenance.
When one looks at coiling and payoff equipment in the metalforming field, there is little mention of the care and methods of proper maintenance. Often the maintenance department is focused
Robert Kotynski is president of United Machine Corp., Valparaiso, IN, a machine service center that special- izes in building and rebuilding metal- forming equipment: 219/548-8050; www.unitedmachinecorp.com.
on keeping the stamping presses or shears running, while throwing the coil- er/payoff machinery “under the bus.”
Mandrel Installation
a Critical Success Factor
Mandrels are used by metalform- ers to either unload or feed the material into the machine, or to take-up or rewind either the end product or the scrap material after forming. Mandrels are in constant use, and therefore can cause either extreme satisfaction or pounding headaches to production and maintenance personnel.
Originally, coil stock was fed into a machine based on crude shafting sup- ported by bearings. Now, precision bearings hold expanding leafs that grip
34 MetalForming/August 2012
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