Page 14 - MetalForming May 2014

Tech Update
10-mm high-strength low-alloy steel (65- ksi minimum yield), with an 0.07-in. flat- ness tolerance over the entire length.
“This tough material has a lot of inher- ent stress in it to start with,” says Arce- neaux, “so even if it is as flat as the mill can make it, there will be distortion from stress relief during laser cutting.”
Using a gantry flattening press when prototyping the job, it took the plant an unacceptable 15 to 60 min. to flatten each part, often requiring hits from both sides. To the rescue came an Arku (Cincin- nati, OH) FlatMaster 88 parts leveler, delivered early in 2013. The FlatMaster uses servo-hydraulics to set and maintain the leveling gap, and adjust forces to compensate for parts with cutouts, per- forations or odd shapes. It can process parts from 2 to 23 mm thick, to 2 m wide.
we were ready to run. In a few seconds, one pass through the FlatMaster brings the part into spec and relieves inherent stress. As we look ahead at new business oppor- tunities, we see the leveler as a competitive
advantage for us. It is a real game-changer to have this capability inhouse, because flat parts, fully stress relieved, always improve downstream processes and quality.”
Arku: 513/985-0500; www.arku.com
Says Arceneaux: “We installed the machine inline with our laser outfeed, where it’s also accessible to the press brake. After a few days of training for our lead operator,
12 MetalForming/May 2014
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