Page 29 - MetalForming July 2015

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An existing die at Larsen & Shaw has been retrofitted with a feed sensor using best practices, including placement of a steel block to protect the sensor, robust conduit to shield the cabling from damage and a quick-die-change connector.
Therefore, it behooves us to take a more proactive approach to developing the skills required for the ongoing success of the company.”
Training, Commitment Drive Die-Sensing Success
Readers of my past columns and articles in MetalForming are quite familiar with the concepts behind and justifications of having a dedicated person to research and properly imple- ment electronic sensors within dies and assembly machines. This individ- ual has the title of sensor applications specialist, and at his or her disposal is a sensor laboratory − a special room for experimentation to ensure that a given sensor performs on the shop floor. Larsen & Shaw has such a program in place, achieving a level of excellence due in great measure to the compa- ny’s superb abilities to carefully per- form experiments on the proper selec- tion and implementation of sensors within its dies.
Over the years, Larsen & Shaw had sensors on some dies, but did not institute a formal die-sensing program. After read-
ing articles and columns in MetalForming discussing the benefits of in-die sensing and witnessing first-hand the damage and productivity losses resulting from misfeeds, the company took advantage of a complementary consultation visit to learn more, and has been on the error- proofing road ever since.
The biggest hurdle, according to the sensor applications specialist I talked to at Larsen & Shaw, was arriving at the conviction that results will be there if you spend the money and time to pur- sue it. The first several months of the program, he explained, are going to be the most difficult in that you will not see many productivity gains. But if you hold course, make good judgments and implement and adapt to the technolo- gy as you learn it, you will eventually see and experience mounting program success. The program has truly arrived when the press operators no longer want to run any dies not equipped with sensor technology.
Surely one can learn from Larsen & Shaw and walk away quite impressed with its managerial commitment to skills training and technology. MF
Check Out the Die-Protection Session at FABTECH
Providing more on the topics discussed in this article, George Keremedjiev will present “Advanced Die Protection & Error Proofing with Case Studies” at FABTECH in Chicago, IL, on Tuesday, November 10, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
www.metalformingmagazine.com
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