Page 20 - MetalForming July 2014

Advances in Die Protection and In-Die Sensing
By strategically placing an RFID tag on a die, mounting a reader on the press and integrating a bit of control, stampers can reliably match a recipe for a particular shut height on the control to a die that has been pre- sented to the press, preventing a potential crash.
will generally suffice, we often hear stories of fork trucks or cranes ripping out the umbilical and all the associated cables during die changes. This happens because an operator fails to disconnect the umbilical. The carnage can be breathtaking, leading to thousands to tens of thousands of dollars spent on repairs and, depending on tool usage, interrupting production.
For a better solution, stampers can integrate inductively coupled wireless-connector systems, to enable rapid die change; for use in joining die segments; to ease changeout of transfer arms; and for communication during transfer func- tions. This noncontact technology employs inductive cou- pling to send power across a small air gap and communicate sensor signals, without any mechanical junction connection between components. As a replacement to spring pins, com- mutator brushes and slip-rings, inductive coupler devices typically are resistant to coolants and lubricants and are IP67 rated. These units are as easy to use as proximity sensors and will operate maintenance-free—no mechanical wear.
Pay Attention—Sensors Tell a Story
Have you ever tried to diagnose an intermittent problem on a sensor, or tried to integrate an analog signal from a pres- sure sensor? Sometimes it would be easier if the sensor told us what was wrong or gave us the measurement value already calculated into the engineering units.
Time is a valuable resource. Maintenance crews and oper- ators must quickly find solutions to problems and keep equipment running. When using analog devices on a machine, it can be difficult to find a path for the shielded cable that does not incur noise from motors or other complications.
A new technology, similar to USB but for industrial automation, is quickly gaining ground globally across automation control platforms: IO-Link (www.io-link.com, IEC 61131-9). This universal, smart and easy sensor/actuator interface allows a sensor to communicate like never before. Operating with a standard four-wire M12 tool cord, IO-Link devices can report diagnostics, provide measurement values digitally, and can be remotely programmed. IO-Link puts unprecedented data into the hands of operators, techni- cians, engineers and management.
Manufacturing Intelligence and Traceability
Manufacturing intelligence and cloud manufacturing are concepts that rely on every process and piece of equipment to report data. This can be a daunting task for those working with equipment that has been in place since before discos. In press shops, data flows from the dies/tools as well as from the movement of material through the facility. Tech- nologies available to track important data include:
• Paper tags: Believe it or not, hand-written paper tags wired to containers or taped to bins still find use. The least desirable means of tracking data, tags can fall off, become soiled, or the information written on the tag can be inaccu- rate to begin with. But, it’s an inexpensive option.
• Barcodes: 1D and 2D barcode tags prove ideal for non- robust, clean and dry manufacturing environments. However, they require a centralized database and depend on line-of- sight. The chief complaint about bar codes: If the tag becomes scratched or soiled, it becomes difficult if not impossible to read. And, barcode tags can only be read, not written to.
• Industrial RFID: This technology is robust and well- suited to harsh industrial processes. These systems can be serial, parallel or bus networked. The read/write of data is a proven technology that’s been used for decades. A disad- vantage to RFID over the years has been the limited (<2 in.) read/write distance. However, recent developments in ultra- high-frequency (UHF) systems allow the reader and tag to be separated by as much as 20 ft.
Finally, here are two breakthrough applications metal- formers should be considering:
Shut-Height Validation
By strategically placing an RFID tag on a die, mounting a reader on the press and integrating a bit of control, stampers can reliably match a recipe for a particular shut height on the control to a die that has been presented to the press, pre- venting a potential crash.
UHF Tags for Tracking Material Containers
Carts and totes that move material within a plant or from a manufacturing facility to a customer often are expensive, intricate structures. This is especially true for containers used to transport critical components such car doors, hoods and truck decks. These high-value containers, often padded and secured with locking devices to prevent vibration in transit, seem to frequently become misplaced.
By integrating a UHF tag on these assets and strategi- cally placing antennas at the loading dock, metalformers can know exactly what parts went where and account for parts and totes. UHF antennas also can be installed at the customer’s loading dock to help register when and where the parts arrived, for just-in-time tracking. These sys- tems can pay for themselves in just a few recovered trans- port containers. MF
18 MetalForming/July 2014
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