Page 33 - MetalForming-Apr-2018-issue

BDC and top dead center—no addi- tional force required during press restarts. (A key press-design enhance- ment that allows repeatable stop-start cycles at full tonnage at BDC: proper lubrication of the bronze bushing with- in the press crown.)
These findings verify that press con- ditions at BDC are well suited to a con- tinuous hot-stamping process, with the required control of ram position and force on the part and die without a meas- urable increase in power consumption.
Case Study: Automotive-Parts Supplier Batz
While hydraulic presses originally got the call for hot-stamping lines, the Spanish automotive supplier Batz can testify to the benefits provided by servo-mechanical presses. It has used a 15,000-kN Fagor servo-mechanical press (3.6 by 2-m bed) for hot stamping since March 2016—for die tryout and production. The company uses hot stamping to produce primarily safety- related parts from boron steels, and employs production lines outfitted with robotic destackers, roller or walking- beam furnaces, robotic unloading to conveyors, and laser or press trimming.
With two years under its belt using the servo-mechanical press in hot- stamping die set-up and preserial pro- duction, Batz now has a clear idea as to press performance in this applica- tion. Energy savings was an immedi- ately identified result.
“Energy consumption was one log- ical and expected advantage,” explains Andoni Alonso, hot-forming business manager for Batz. “With hydraulic presses in our facilities, we were used to their high energy consumption. With this servo-mechanical press, energy expenses have dropped dramatically and this is something to take into account nowadays.”
More surprising was the equip- ment’s effect on part quality.
“During the set-up of new dies, we realized that we could more easily achieve higher-quality parts than in our conventional hydraulic presses,” Alonso says. “We attribute this in part
to the higher drawing speed of the servo-mechanical press. The servo con- trol also allows us to simulate the end user’s press conditions, which ensures that part quality at a customer’s facility will be comparable to ours.”
Alonso advises that proper training is necessary to gain the full advantages of this hot-stamping technology, a les- son learned during Batz’s adoption of the new equipment.
“Operating mechanical presses ver- sus hydraulic presses presents some differences,” he says, “so it was neces- sary to train personnel in understand- ing the data-introduction system for the servo-mechanical press. Once proper training was achieved, we real- ized that the system attains the same force control and even greater flexibility than we had been accustomed to when using hydraulic presses.” MF
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