Page 31 - MetalForming March 2017

control that helps with our more chal- lenging jobs, such as drawing thin- gauge material. We added the magnetic die-change system to the press to fur- ther optimize its capabilities and free up as much production time as possi- ble, so we could move work over from other presses.”
The WCM agenda calls for single- minute exchange of dies (SMED), the Japanese-born lean concept calling for production-changeover times meas- ured in the single digits (less than 10 min.) Messner notes that the press- room is right there.
“We’re getting dies in and out of the servo press in about 10 min., with last- part to first-part times in the range of 20 to 30 min.,” he says. “This is a 50- percent improvement for every changeover, which has had a huge impact on productivity.”
More on Magnetic Clamping
The Tecnomagnete Stamp Tec setup is a round-pole bi-mag clamping system that, says company literature, “elimi- nates the resin previously used in all square-pole products.” Magnet clusters, says Messner, are embedded in 2-in.- thick steel plates that bolt to the press ram and bolster. (The shop tested the system on the ram plate of another press, a 165-ton standard mechanical press, before installing it on the ram and bolster of the servo press).
During a die change, proximity sensors on the top and bottom mag- netic plates sense when the die is in proper position. The operator then initiates the ram to come down to touch the top die half, turns a key and presses a button on the control panel to activate the magnets and secure the die sections. All of this con- trol is integrated into the press con- trol—any interruption in the magnetic circuit automatically shuts the press down.”
The magnetic setup, Messner explains, is a universal process that easily adapts to the shop’s dies. Dies are changed using a fork truck; a ded- icated die cart maneuvers larger dies around the pressroom.
Helping orient the dies in the press are locating plates installed on the bot- tom die half, to corner the die on the press bed. “This helps to standardize the die-change process,” Messner explains, “and helps our technicians get in and out of the press as quickly as possible.”
Accommodating Gas Springs
Another task the shop had to com-
plete to accommodate the die-change system: adding nitrogen-gas springs to about 20 of the dies that run in the servo press.
“A lot of our dies were using the air cushion in the older press,” Messner adds. “With the magnetic bolster plate, we had to change those dies over to gas springs. Then, we had to be sure to account for the added die height with the press.” MF

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