Small Clamps for Big Die-Change Needs
October 1, 2019Comments
Since most quick die change (QDC) solutions involve medium and large dies, companies with smaller dies don’t have the same clamping options. A new offering changes that.
Newly introduced smaller-sized clamping elements by the Hilma Div. of Carr Lane Roemheld, Fenton, MO, protect dies, improve workpiece quality and increase productivity, says the company’s manager of quick die and mold change, Brent Stille.
"These small die clamping and changing elements solve a critical problem for automatic punching machines and high-speed presses,” he says.
Clamping dies with screws take a long time and can distort the die, making the upper dies wear out very quickly. That’s a definite problem. So the Hilma Div. of Carr Lane Roemheld, recently introduced easy-to-retrofit small clamping elements that protect dies, improve workpiece quality, increase productivity, and pay for themselves within a short timeframe.
For example, Stille says, a $15,000 investment, on average, may save 20 min. per die change. With a machine rate of $300/hr., and 40 die changes per month, the payback would take only 3.75 months.
Available in hydraulic and mechanical versions, the elements are specially designed for the limited space available on small press tables, and include sliding clamps, hollow piston cylinders and hydro-mechanical clamping nuts with clamping forces to 30 kN. With a dia. of only 50 mm, they are suitable for installation in T-slots as small as 12 mm.
For difficult space conditions, magnetic clamping plates can be permanently installed on the press table, allowing dies of any size and geometry to be securely clamped in seconds, even when space is completely limited for the use of other clamping elements.Roller and ball bars, along with carrying consoles, can be used to move dies, allowing simplified and accelerated setup, as can die-changing carts for loads to 1600 kg.
See also: ROEMHELD North America
Technologies: Tooling
