Page 20 - MetalForming November 2015

Reach Your CNC Punch-Press Potential
$30,000, for bringing in this more-effi- cient equipment.”
All of that said, mechanical and hydraulic punch presses still find wide use, and if users stay up on mainte- nance, these machines can continue to perform, though access to replacement parts may be limited.
Maintain, Maintain, Maintain
Maintenance for punch presses begins with common sense. Keep up on standard periodic maintenance.
“That doesn’t always happen,” says Brady. “Some users don’t even think about basic maintenance, like people who buy a car and don’t change the oil.”
Just see how long your vehicle lasts without an oil change.
Many machines feature mainte- nance-schedule warning systems that automatically alert operators.
“They’ll warn for monthly lubrica- tion checks, for example,” says Brady, “These warnings only work if you turn them on, so make sure that all auto-
A tool undergoes sharpening in a machine designed specifically for turret- press tooling. Sharp tools will last longer
(as a tool wears, the wear rate will speed up), protect against machine damage, and help ensure part quality and repeata- bility, so check for tool wear regularly after a predetermined number of hits. The latest turret punch presses help by providing tool hit counts.
matic reminders are active.”
Critical is tool maintenance. Prop-
erly maintained tooling not only opti- mizes productivity and part quality, but also affects machine performance.
“For example, we have air-blow oil- mist tooling, which is self-lubricating,” Brady explains. “That greatly extends tool life. Whether using this or other tooling, the point is to be pro-active with tool lubrication.”
Also key is keeping punches sharp- ened. Machines today can track tooling hit counts, helping users monitor and address tool wear.
“When a tool becomes worn, wear
speeds up,” says Brady, citing a little- recognized fact. “At that point, tool wear accelerates almost exponentially.”
NORTH AMERICA
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November 9-12, 2015 Booth #S4770
JIER SERVO TECHNOLOGY
14975 Cleat St., Plymouth, MI 48170 • 734.404.6683
18 MetalForming/November 2015
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