Page 16 - MetalForming October 2009

TechUpdate
for forming complex, high-strength auto- motive components. With so many advan- tages and very few drawbacks, it is easy to predict that the use of hot-formed steels in the automotive industry, and possibly in other industries, will dramatically increase in the coming years.
This new type of metalforming requires a new generation of 3D processing equip-
ment for trimming and piercing. While tra- ditional mechanical equipment used to trim and pierce formed parts results in extremely high tool wear, laser-beam cutting, according to Antonio Rotunno, director of technical services for Prima North Amer- ica, Chicopee, MA, offers manufacturers a way to easily and accurately adjust trim lines and feature size or location. And,
the thermal reaction required for laser cut- ting is unaffected by steel strength.
In 1995, Rotunno says, hot-formed parts were laser-cut using oxygen as the assist gas. Cutting speeds were around 100 in./min. Today, lasers with higher beam quality and power to 5000 W allow cutting with an inert assist gas such as nitrogen, with speeds in excess of 780 in./min. The cut edges are free from oxide and therefore are weld- and paint-ready with no secondary operations required.
Prima has deployed 3-D laser-cutting systems in hot-stamping applications throughout Europe and North America, including automotive supplier SSAB HardTech, a manufacturer of safety com- ponents (acquired by Gestamp in 2005). Prima North America: 413/598 5200; www.prima-na.com
Dispelling Myths About Plasma Cutting
This article, provided by Hypertherm, Hanover, NH, dispels five common miscon- ceptions related to plasma-arc cutting (PAC).
Myth No. 1: Plasma is expensive— While plasma systems can come with a higher pricetag that other cutting equip- ment, high cutting speeds and superior cut quality from PAC result in productivity gains that save operators time and money. Faster cutting speeds—without any pre- heating of the workpiece required— enable operators to complete jobs quick- ly. Better cut quality, with less dross and better edge quality, means fewer labor- intensive finishing operations are required. And, since most handheld plasma systems run off of compressed air, shops avoid cost- ly cylinder rentals and delivery charges.
Case in point: Northern A1 Services, Kalkaska, MI, a safety and environmental cleanup company, recently switched from oxyfuel cutting to plasma to cut tita- nium for a variety of aerospace projects.
“There’s no question our company is saving money by using plasma,” says Northern A1 project manager Brian Balon. “We used to pay a lot for gas. With plasma, we’re saving that money and creating a
14 METALFORMING
write no. 13
www.metalformingmagazine.com