Page 24 - MetalForming November 2015

Miniature Parts
be assembled from MIM or machined parts that now are stamped on Meier’s Yamada Dobby presses. The firm runs several different dies to stamp millions of parts per year. The parts are as miniature as miniature can be—as tiny as 1 by 5 mm, “with a lot of geometry packed into that tiny space,” says Van- Danacker. Such tiny, precise work com-
prises about half of the firm’s medical business, and that percentage grows as Meier becomes more focused than ever on pushing its quality system upstream. That means being more demanding on areas like die design and build, says VanDanacker, to help ensure that the quality of its high- speed-stamped parts stays where it
needs to. “Here, quality starts early in the process,” he insists.
More PM Tool Steels, and Adjustable Tooling
Among efforts to improve its die- making capabilities, and develop more reliable and consistent dies, is growing use of PM tool steels (Bohler Uddeholm is the supplier of choice). It also strives to develop new dies with adjustable tool sections. “This allows our press technicians (Meier calls its press oper- ators technicians, since they’re respon- sible for their processes from start to finish) to dial in the process at the press. This proves much more efficient than having to remove tools from the press
Meier designs and builds one or two new progressive dies per month, which can comprise six to 35 working stations
and as many as 1000 components. This die, 22 by 12 in. and with 25 working stations, stamps parts for biopsy forceps from 0.007-in.-thick 300-series stainless steel. Running at
150-250 strokes/min., it makes about 500,000 hits between maintenance cycles.
Don’t let the precision die components be the piece in your manufacturing puzzle that prevents you from keeping your lines
up and running.
Automation Details Ball Lock Buttons
a
B
B
all Lock Retainers • Blade Punches Cut-off Dies • Die Inserts
Die Components Headed Punch Retainers Headed and Ball Lock Punches
Headed and Headless Die Buttons
H
C
ustom Details • Roll Form Details
C
u
Contact us today for all your precision tooling for stamping, roll forming and metalforming.
800.243.1492
www.AmericanPunchCo.com • info@AmericanPunchCo.com
www.staubli.us
The Stäubli MPS 630 is an ideal solution for automotive body shops. Thanks to its modular design, this extremely flexible tool changer can be configured for just about any application. Modules with couplings for compressed
air, liquid coolant, high pressure hydraulics, power, data, fiber optics and more are positioned around a robust locking unit.
Payload up to 630 kg
Bending moments up to 5,000 Nm
Torsion moments up to 5,000 Nm
DIN EN ISO 9409/1/A-125, A-160, A-200 mounting flange
For more information call 1 864 486-5455
22 MetalForming/November 2015
www.metalformingmagazine.com