Page 15 - MetalForming February 2020

A robot picks up blanks used for compressed-gas-cylinders tanks.
and anticipating part failure based on wear patterns well before the system goes down. Bottom line: Every cus- tomer comes to us with a goal in mind for achieving a competitive advantage. Our job is to design a solution to achieve their end goal.”
“Customers look to us to help with press transfer systems, pick and place automation, index tables and a lot of quality assurance,” says Jon Schmidt, PE, chief engineer at Neff Press, Inc. (www.neffpress.com). “With the right sensors, you can use a force-over-dis- tance curve and compare that with the estimated baseline to know if you made a good part, even before placing it in an inspection station.
“Force-over-distance sensing,” Schmidt continues, “utilizes press- mounted stroke and tonnage feedback devices, coupled with data acquisition, to compare a press-fit or forming curve to established norms. Applications like bearing insertion, crimping, staking and deep-draw forming are good can- didates for this technology which, in some cases, has completely eliminated destructive testing of samples, making inspection gauges obsolete.”
vision camera system, automated parts conveyor, fencing and guarding, and remote connectivity. “The process for arriving at a finished line,” says Josefiak, “always begins with information gath- ering up front.”
Ray Fausz, vice president of sales at Sutherland Presses (www.sutherland- presses.com), agrees. “A lot of our cus- tomers no longer have their own engi- neering departments, so they’re coming to us with their raw materials and finished products, asking how to get from A to B, which depends on the application. For some it could be a simple feed system to run with the press. Others may require a full work cell with automated load/unloading.”
In other words, turnkey systems come in a range of variations. “Automa- tion used to be something that you applied only to dedicated high-volume applications,” explains Josh Dixon, director of sales and marketing at Beck- wood Corp. (www.beckwoodpress.com). “With decreasing prices for collabora- tive robots, conveyors and vision sys- tems, automation is more flexible than ever and can be adapted to fit lower- volume, high-mix applications.
“If the goal is to provide a safer work environment,” Dixon continues, “and
the goal is to eliminate the handling of heavy tooling, there’s automated die clamping and unclamping, storage and retrieval. Or, to eliminate downtime, today’s sensor-equipped presses pro- vide predictive-maintenance capabil- ities, monitoring press components
Talking Turnkey
www.metalformingmagazine.com
MetalForming/February 2020 13
What do metal formers need to consider when investigating turnkey hydraulic press systems? Here is what the press experts have to say.
“Have a defined goal and don’t lose sight of it. It is easy to get mesmerized by all of the possibilities when it comes to automation. So get your group together, have a brainstorming session and come away with clear goals to drive your buying decisions.” —Josh Dixon, director of sales and marketing, Beckwood Corp.
“Before reaching out to the press suppliers, determine your budget, production rates and return on investment. Then we will work with you to design and build not only the right press or presses, but the right turnkey automation to support them as well.” —Rob Bisbee, automation team leader, Greenerd Press and Machine Co.
“Consider your volume. If you are producing 400,000 parts annually, then full automation may not be for you. In addition, consider your workforce. We can put together systems that process raw coils from start to finish, but they require a higher level of skill and knowledge versus semiautomated systems with intermediate sites where associates perform various tasks.”
—Jon Schmidt, PE, chief engineer, Neff Press, Inc.
“Think about available head and floor space for the equipment, as well as internal logistics. For example: If it’s a coil-fed line, how will those coils be brought to the line and how will finished product be moved from the line without interrupting production?” —Ray Fausz, vice president of sales, Sutherland Presses