Page 21 - MetalForming September 2015

a huge savings. With the old machine it would have taken at least 24 hr. and required two employees.” The job includ- ed perforation after decoiling, straight- ening and cutting to length.
strong coupling device,” adds ATI CEO Robert Little, “which could handle the stress of the rail and die set during the exchange.” The simplicity of the tool- changer design also provides clear ben- efits over the hydraulic system previous- ly used, which required a lot of preventive maintenance, according to product spokes- people.
ATI worked closely with Güdel to ensure it designed a tool changer with an appro- priate locking mechanism, alignment pins and sensors, all contained in a package that met the required space constraints while meeting the loading requirements.
Güdel, Inc.: www.gudel.com/us
ATI Industrial Automation: www.ati-ia.com
The Powerline S includes automatic loading and rewinding of the coil, coil-edge regulation, and functions such as straight- ening, perforating, punching, notching, embossing, part marking and cutting.
As the new system does away with heavy physical work, it has quickly found favor with the operators. Moreover, staff were involved from an early stage in the decision-making process.
“Although they had to adapt initially,” says Roth, “they enjoy working on such a modern machine.”
Schuler: www.schulergroup.com
New Coupling
Technology for
Three-Axis
Transfer System
Güdel, Inc. and ATI Industrial Automa- tion have collaborated to develop trans- fer-press systems using exchangeable transfer rails secured by specially engi- neered couplers. The coupler upgrade mitigates common issues that cause other exchangeable rails to become stuck between die changes. With numerous production runs and die changes per day, the coupler promises to enhance productivity.
“Typically, a stamper runs one batch of parts while another is loaded for a die change,” says Güdel vice president Joe Campbell. “If the rails fail to decouple prop- erly then the machine goes down. These new couplers, designed to withstand the high- speed, high-inertia loading environment, will make changeovers quick and reliable.”
“What was needed was an extremely
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MetalForming/September 2015 19
Tech Update
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Wirth GmbH ultimately realized the need to invest in advanced technology when it added purlins and crossbars to its range of edge profiles, which typically require perforating. Its old machine lacked an automatic punch unit.