Page 29 - MetalForming September 2014

steel frame of the adjustable clamp into a special T nut. With no separate pieces to be stored, the system proves simpler than older styles of clamps, and faster to set up.
It also eliminated potential errors that sometimes are seen with the older- style strap clamps, where a short heel block could cause the clamp to put sidewise thrust on the tool, or the heel would be placed too close to the bolt so the clamping force was directed to the heel and not the tool itself.
“The Lenzkes clamps provide a faster clamping method than we pre- viously had,” Engel says. “Their mis- take-proofing elements also were attractive. Looking for opportunities to improve is an important part of our culture at Atlas.”
So, the eventual die-clamping solu- tion combined Soph magnetic clamp- ing on the ram for the upper tools and Lenzkes mechanical clamps for the lower tools. That allows rapid clamping and no modifications to legacy dies.
Savings Coming from Every Direction
Atlas saved more than just materials and labor by avoiding tooling modifi- cations, Engel says.
“Modifying our existing tools could have created interruptions in produc- tion,” he says. “Tools may have been needed before we could have gotten them modified. The solution we went with allowed a fast, seamless conver- sion from running on the old press to the new.”
With the decisions made for die clamping, TCR provided a plan to move the new press and related equipment into the Atlas pressroom. TCR’s tech- nicians installed the magnets, set up all of the guarding, and integrated the existing feed line to the new press in just a few days.
The swift startup meant no disrup- tions in product flow and no delays for Atlas customers. Being able to provide skilled trades staff and project man- agement to customers such as Atlas, to turn technology recommendations into reality on the floor, has been critical to TCR’s growth.
And, the improvement in die-swap times isn’t the only benefit Atlas has seen from the changes.
“At first our employees were leery of a magnetic plate holding the upper die,” Engel says. “Now they insist that our next press utilize the same tech- nology for die clamping.” MF
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