Page 22 - MetalForming May 2019

FABRICATION
Today’s fabricating technology promises the ability to produce high-quality components job after job, in a variety of applications. And, in each issue, MetalForming is committed to informing you on how fabrication equipment delivers.
This month, we turn our attention to Industry 4.0 and Internet of Things (IoT) technology for metal forming and fabricating companies, highlighting our upcoming conference on the subject. Also on tap: a look at automation strategies for the sheet metal fabrication shop, including use of robots and conveyors for moving raw material and parts around press-brake forming and welding cells.
Our Welding Well feature takes a look at how to reduce energy consumption during resistance welding, including the return on investment when retrofitting existing welding machines with AC inverter technology to reduce current draw on the power line.
Contents
20 News & Technology
22 Automating Flow via Robots
With more than 3000 system installs throughout North America, robotic integrator Acieta knows a thing or two about automating the movement of materials and fabricated parts. Here they pass along examples of how automation has helped manufacturers streamline operations.
26 Waterjets: Much Needed Flexibility for Aftermarket Work
Abrasive waterjet cutting shines on job- shop production of complex parts where traditional cutting processes and tools would erode profitability.
30 Metalformers and Fabricators Pay Attention: Use Data
to Drive Daily Decisions
37 The Greening of Resistance Welding
News & Technology
Desktop Waterjet Cutter
Wazer, a low-price-point desktop waterjet cutter from a New York startup of the same name, features a cut area of 12 by 18 in. and can cut aluminum in thicknesses to 0.50 in. and mild steel to 0.25 in. It also reportedly can cut titanium, aluminum, glass, stone, tile and car- bon fiber. The introduction makes waterjet cutting technology accessible to small businesses and schools, according to company officials, who initially developed the concept as engineering students at the University
of Pennsylvania.
The Wazer enables users to iter-
ate quickly on designs without having to spend time and money sending their projects out to be made by an external water- jet-cutting service. Also, the machine enables larger manufacturers to use it for
prototyping and low-volume manufacturing without tying up larger machines.
Its high-velocity jet combines high-pressure water and sand-like abrasive particles to cut through the workpiece, reportedly achieving a high level of precision. Simple to set up with no special electrical or water requirements, the fully contained Wazer runs on 110-V AC/60Hz and only requires a water source such as a sink or a hose pipe
along with a drain.
Wazer: www.wazer.com
Wall-Mounted Weld- Fume Extraction with Self-Cleaning Filtration
Lincoln Electric’s new Statiflex 800,
a wall-mounted weld-fume extraction and
filtration system, is designed to curtail oper-
ating costs via self-cleaning filtration that
reduces the frequency of filter replacement.
The system features dual-arm capacity that
includes an optional extended reach of 27
ft. The system reportedly is ideal for heavy-
duty extraction and filtration in facilities with fixed workstations and limited floor space.
Statiflex airflow in the single-arm configuration measures 735 ft.3/min., while dual- arm airflow measures 1200 ft.3/min. The system includes a filter capacity of 568 sq. ft., and an internal spark arrestor that functions as a pre-filter for larger-sized particu- late.
To aid with efficiency and cost, the onboard automatic filter-cleaning mechanism uses blasts of compressed air to knock particulate from the filter surface, extending the time interval between filter replacement. Statiflex users can create a configuration tailored to individual needs—start with the base unit and choose an extraction arm, wall-mounting hardware, starting control, fan and (where applicable) an extension crane mounting.
Lincoln Electric Co.: www.lincolnelectric.com
20 MetalForming/May 2019
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