Page 42 - MetalForming September 2014

Servos Seeing More Service
One recent installation of this press points out the capabilities and poten- tial benefits of servo technology and integrated systems in general.
“We installed a complete press sys- tem, with material feed intricately timed to slide position,” explains Schulte. “At a critical point in the operation, a form required the press to run at a speed of 80 strokes/min. Outside of that point, it accelerated to 250 strokes/min., providing a net speed of about 140 strokes/min. A mechani- cal press would have to run the entire cycle at 80 strokes/min. to correctly form the part. So, by using a servo press for this application, productivity has been nearly doubled. When you time all of the auxiliary equipment, such as a servo feed, servo transfer and other
automation, the ability to manipulate slide position
and ram speed provides opportunities for productivity increases.”
Since introducing the P2H-FX, Nidec Minster has come out with its FX2 line of servo-driven straightside models in capacities to 1200 tons, built on the Nidec Minster HeviStamper platform. Servo motors powering the twin end drives of these presses fea- ture liquid cooling. Reported advan- tages of this technology, according to company officials, include cooler operating temperature and less heat transfer to the press, resulting in longer motor life and a more stable production environment. As a closed system, it reduces contaminant infil- tration as compared to open and air-
40 MetalForming/September 2014
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Precision and productivity in forming via servo- press technology requires special attention to
press design and build. That means focusing on the drive, electrical system and press construction, as is the case with this
200-ton-capacity unit from Seyi.
cooled systems. The motors tie to an energy-management system designed to optimize energy usage during production.
Other features include a hand-wheel setup mode, allow- ing users to precisely position the slide during setup and die tryout. Minster’s Production
Management Control pro- gramming provides sim- plified integra- tion with coil-line com- ponents, and a user-friendly operator inter-
face consistent with mechani- cal-press offerings, increas- ing productivity by reduc-
ing training requirements. Innovations such as these in servo presses force metal- formers to dig deep in exam- ining applications for their use as compared to tradition mechanical
presses, explains Schulte.
“The technology is application-
specific and has great opportunity in unique applications,” he says. “Historically, stampers would label themselves as progressive- or trans- fer-die stampers, but servo-drive presses provide more flexibility. This increased flexibility provides oppor- tunities to broaden markets or create optimized solutions in specific appli- cations. Running a job at 140 strokes/min. versus 80 is a big deal. Overall, metalformers look at what they do uniquely, and search for a solution. Servo technology can be that solution.”