Page 26 - MetalForming-Jan-2018-issue

FABRICATION
Welcome to the new Fabrication section of MetalForming magazine —a reader-friendly way of packaging our fabrication-technology editorial content. With each issue of MetalForming, our editorial team is committed to providing the information metalformers need to keep up with the increasingly demanding requirements for tighter lead times and improved quality, while also focusing on improving productivity, often in the face of reduced lot sizes and greater scheduling complexity. This section continues that commitment.
Included here is our new Welding Well monthly column, which will alternate between arc and resistance welding. This month we kick off by exploring the meaning of duty cycles for arc-welding power supplies and also discuss electrode capacity and work flow. Other features in this section include a look at the latest laser-cutting technology; a case study extolling the virtues of state-of-the-art CAD software for machine programming; and design-for- manufacturability tips for fabricators.
Comments? Please e-mail me: bkuvin@pma.org
Contents
24 News&Technology
30 Laser Cutting: System Capabilities and Ease of Use Continue to Advance
34 Welding Well
36 Rapid Fab-Shop Growth
38 Design for Manufacturing: Guidelines for Sheetmetal Fabrication
News & Technology
Mate Precision Tooling, Anoka, MN, has introduced Ameri- can-precision-style press-brake tooling featuring the compa-
American-Precision-Style Press-Brake Tooling with New Safety Features
ny’s new Maglock
magnetic safety sys-
tem. Compatible with
press-brake laser
and optical safety systems, this full line of
punches and dies is available in lengths from 0.5 to 18 in.
The line features the patent-pending Maglock magnetic safety system, using rare- earth magnets to attach and seat the punch to the holder with no separation between the surfaces. The magnets are specifically and proportionally added along the punch shoulder so that the up-force of the magnet is localized and directed at the contact surface of the punch holder. Installation of a Maglock punch always results in the shoulder seating onto the holder, and the strong yet balanced Maglock connection also makes lateral position adjustments simple, according to Mate officials. Note that once the punches are seated in the desired position, the holder-clamping system must be engaged. Maglock does not claim to be, and is not intended to be, a replacement of the holder-clamping system.
Unlike punches with mechanical designs (buttons, springs or pins) that become unsafe to use if the mechanism is damaged or missing, Maglock’s nonmechanical design works safely all of the time. The technology offers an additional level of safety if electrical, hydraulic or pneumatic power to the brake is disrupted. In lengths greater than 4 in., the tool design includes a lever to facilitate punch removal.
A reversible/symmetrical punch tang design enables the punch to be installed facing forward or backward. With no protrusions, the tang simplicity also makes the punches ideal for front-loading tooling into the press. Designed with a 0.5-in. tang, Mate punches can be used in any holder system that receives a 0.5-in. tang, regardless if the holder is designed for mechanical designs or tools with hooks.
Additionally, Mate punches and dies with a standard profile all feature uniform height, which is important for operator safety when used with laser or optical safety systems. The new tooling also features a “buy-by-the-inch” pricing system that lets users specify and buy the tooling length required by the part design.
Mate Precision Tooling: www.mate.com
24 MetalForming/January 2018
www.metalformingmagazine.com
Miro Manufacturing Adds Fabrication and Assembly Center
Miro Manufacturing, Inc., Waukesha, WI, has acquired property and a facility located less than a mile from its main campus to serve as the company’s fabrication and assembly center. The addition provides the company with more than 60,000 sq. ft. of manufacturing space. The company provides fabrication services that include laser and waterjet cutting, forming and welding, and assembly services that range from simple two-part sub-assemblies to complete product assembly. It also announced the addition of a Komatsu 330-ton servo press with a 36-in. coil-feed line. Miro’s presses range from 60 to 1000 tons.
News & Technology