Content tagged with "press"
Results: 77
Article
March 9, 2010
Older than Oscar
Figure 1 Irwin Seating Co. has been seating audiences, including those in Grauman's Chinese Theatre, Los Angeles, for a century. The Academy Awards®, airing this month, offers a retrospective look at the best movies you may have seen last year. Seeing clips of the nominated films... Read more...
Article
March 11, 2008
Press selection—sorting it out Part III
Editor's Note: This article is Part III of a series covering questions and answers for those who are in the market for a press or press system. Part I , speed; Part II covers
tonnage; Part IV , part accuracy; Part V , best for operation; Part VI ,
best for part; Part VII , automation;... Read more...
Article
March 11, 2008
Press selection—sorting it out - Part VI
Matching Press Characteristics to Your Applications
The following questions–and their answers, provided by industry equipment manufacturers and experts–are intended as a general guide to help you simplify the daunting task of selecting a press or press system.
6. So, Which Press Type... Read more...
Article
March 11, 2008
Press selection—sorting it out
Editor's Note: This article is Part VII of a series covering questions and answers for those who are in the market for a press or press system. Part I , speed; Part II covers tonnage; Part III , materials; Part IV , part accuracy; Part V , best for operation; Part VI , best for part;... Read more...
Article
March 11, 2008
Press selection-sorting it out Part VII
Matching Press Characteristics to Your Applications
The following questions–and their answers, provided by industry equipment manufacturers and experts–are intended as a general guide to help you simplify the daunting task of selecting a press or press system.
7. What Do I Need in a... Read more...
Article
March 11, 2008
Press selection—sorting it out - Part IV
Editor's Note: This article is Part IV of a series covering questions and answers for those who are in the market for a press or press system. Part I , speed; Part II , covers tonnage; Part III , materials; Part V , best for operation; Part VI , best for part; Part VII , automation;... Read more...
Article
March 11, 2008
Press selection—sorting it out Part VIII
Matching Press Characteristics to Your Applications
The following questions–and their answers, provided by industry equipment manufacturers and experts–are intended as a general guide to help you simplify the daunting task of selecting a press or press system.
8. Which Automation... Read more...
Article
March 11, 2008
Press selection—sorting it out Part IX
Matching Press Characteristics to Your Applications
The following questions–and their answers, provided by industry equipment manufacturers and experts–are intended as a general guide to help you simplify the daunting task of selecting a press or press system.
So, getting back to that... Read more...
Article
March 11, 2008
Press selection—sorting it out Part I
Are you in the market for a press or press system? Has your search generated a lot of questions? Does it seem that the more questions you ask, the more questions you need to ask?
The research is justified. Choosing the correct press can mean the difference between being in the black or in the... Read more...
Article
March 11, 2008
Press selection—sorting it out Part II
Matching Press Characteristics to Your Applications
The following questions–and their answers, provided by industry equipment manufacturers and experts–are intended as a general guide to help you simplify the daunting task of selecting a press or press system.
2. Beyond Part... Read more...
Article
May 10, 2005
Hey! Your stamping press is trying to tell you something
Bill Engvall and Travis Tritt teamed up on a humorous little song called "Here's Your Sign." This curious little ditty relates the frustration of dealing with modern man's inability to grasp the obvious in daily living. From the service station attendant who stares at the blown-out tire... Read more...
Article
August 10, 2004
Sequence scheduling in automotive scheduling
Although automakers' demands on automotive stampers fluctuate, under normal conditions, the variation in quantities of parts required is 20 percent or less. Most of the time the variation is substantially lower, although seasonal changes, such as holidays and plant shutdowns, can have an impact... Read more...
Article
July 13, 2004
Acoustic emission monitoring for stamping presses
Sheet metal forming companies face constantly increasing demands for higher production speeds from their machinery and more complex parts. At the same time customers demand higher standards of quality and stringent price controls, even as production volumes swell. Figure 1 If a... Read more...
Article
June 8, 2004
Spraying it right
For coil-fed applications, spray cabinets can be mounted to the feeder to accommodate passline changes. Most stampers understand the need for lubricants, but many apply as little as possible so they don't have to deal with the mess. Others take an opposite approach and flood the tool... Read more...
Article
June 8, 2004
Dangerous curves
Provocative lines and innovative materials are the hallmarks of luxury car manufacturer Jaguar Cars Ltd. Jaguar has reaped the benefits of aluminum since 1922, when the company, then known as the Swallow Sidecar Co., designed sidecars out of lightweight aluminum panels. Since then the... Read more...
Article
June 8, 2004
Optimizing your hydraulic cutoff press
It is accepted that, because tube production is a highly competitive industry, many tube producers stay up nights thinking of ways to increase output and improve quality with less labor. Three obvious strategies are to increase mill speed, minimize downtime, and eliminate secondary... Read more...
Article
June 8, 2004
Advanced lubricant technology for high-strength steel
Figure 1 As if the recent rise in steel prices weren't enough, now automotive stamping suppliers are faced with the difficult task of getting high-strength steel (HSS) to form parts with tooling designed for mild steel. In an effort to reduce vehicle weight and improve gas mileage,... Read more...
Article
May 4, 2004
Article
March 1, 2004
Building a better beast
Demands on stampers are similar to those on every component manufacturer these days: Make it right and progressively cheaper year after year. Older press technology may not be able to provide the speed, throughput, die life, and uptime required to reduce production costs. As a result of... Read more...
Article
February 12, 2004
Selecting a stamping die pressure system, Part II
Selecting a stamping die's pressure system can be a critical decision. Many questions must be answered to determine what type of pressure system best suits your application. This article is Part II of a two-part series that focuses on the different systems available, as well as the advantages... Read more...
Article
January 13, 2004
Appliancemaker reduces downtime with stamping press feed system
Most of the parts are stamped out of light-gauge metals. "On the majority of our machines, we're feeding 0.0040 inch and less," said Dan Partin, senior process engineer at Whirlpool. Partin reported that the company had noticed excessive downtime on some of its key presses that were running for... Read more...
Article
January 13, 2004
Rolling bolsters bolster productivity
Shown out of the press, the guided wheels on this 120,000-pound rigid chain rolling bolster are evident on the front face of the bolster. One element of changing dies in stamping presses quickly and efficiently is the use of a rolling bolster. With this equipment, the operator rolls... Read more...
Article
January 13, 2004
Hydroforming heats up
Hydroforming at Higher Temperatures The majority of hydroforming knowledge is based on steel. Steel's characteristics make it a favorable choice for many products, and steel has been the dominant material in many industries, especially automotive, for decades. Lately, though, hydroformers are... Read more...
Article
November 20, 2003
High-tech presses
Figure 1 Complex drive system Stampers are looking to achieve higher productivity, better component quality, longer die life, and increased flexibility. While these capabilities are essential to maintaining an edge in today's competitive environment, they come at a price. New... Read more...
Article
October 23, 2003
Programming multiple robots
Figure 1
Two robots can weld on the left side of a large vehicle frame, while two other robots weld on the right side, with all robot motion synchronized by a multiple-robot control.
Multiple Robots, Single Process
Multiple-robot control can increase productivity... Read more...
Article
September 25, 2003
Stamping 101
Figure 1 The Catalyst To make the facility a reality, in 2000 Mike Chester, president and co-owner of Buhrke Industries, a Tier 1 and Tier 2 automotive stamper, donated 1,750 square feet of space in one of Buhrke's buildings. Once a location was established, many Chicago-area... Read more...
Article
September 25, 2003
Hydraulic presses make their mark
Just like hydraulics technology itself, the market for presses based on it is fluid and dynamic. And for the first time in a while, the tide may be turning in favor of its practitioners. As many manufacturers report prosperity and strong prospects for it in the near future, the hydraulic... Read more...
Article
August 28, 2003
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August 14, 2003
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August 14, 2003
Virtual tryout
In this era of global warp speed and virtual reality, calculating the deep draws of progressive dies or the springback of metal is performed by simulation software instead of the earlier trial-and-error method. These software programs essentially replace the artistic methods of diemaking... Read more...
Article
August 14, 2003
What's driving your press?
They no longer are dedicated to running one product for their entire life, and once dedicated lines now perform versatile tasks and provide flexibility from one job to the next. Whether it's for setup of a servo roll feed, an in-die transfer system, or a complex tandem line, flexibility... Read more...
Article
July 24, 2003
Die width selection
Most designers and engineers usually place very little importance on achieving the correct inside radius of a formed part. Why? Because the functionality of the part is unaffected if the specified inside radius is 0.062 in. and actual measured inside radius is 0.078 in. So why do we care about... Read more...
Article
July 24, 2003
Taking the heat, keeping the current
A DaimlerChrysler powertrain control module cover/heat sink assembly needed to be thermally conductive yet electrically isolated. The populated circuit board—one with all components in place—had to be bonded to the heat sink and postcured in a vacuum laminating press. The... Read more...
Article
July 24, 2003
Tier 1 supplier builds four-stage competitive strategy
F & P Manufacturing Inc., a Tier 1 automotive supplier, is no stranger to competitive and financial pressures. Unrelenting competitive pressures come from the many other Tier 1 suppliers looking for opportunities to increase their slice of the automotive pie. Financial pressures come from... Read more...
Article
July 24, 2003
Maximizing a coil fed press
Modern Coil-fed Presses Stamping processes revolve around two basic styles of tooling, transfer and progressive dies. They both require feed-to-length systems but differ in many key areas. Blanking processes could be added but are progressive in nature. Transfer tooling requires material to be... Read more...
Article
June 26, 2003
Press brakes: the quest for a happy ending
Cast: Press brake manufacturers and users. Genre: Suspense/Drama/Horror. Plot: Our hero, Press Brake Professional, fights a life-and-death struggle with the forces of Foreign Competition and his nefarious gang of cohorts—Tiny Orders, Slow Economy, and Skilled Labor Shortage. With... Read more...
Article
May 29, 2003
Making your own punch and dies
Speaking from 30 years of experience, I'd say this situation probably is a fact of life for 99 percent of us. Whether we are doing some in-house engineering and design or working at the press brake, the thought is the same.
An End to the Dilemma
Sure enough, there is a reasonable solution... Read more...
Article
April 24, 2003
Applying and handling die lubricants
Effective application of die lubricants typically is overlooked in many stamping facilities. Many companies try to get by with applying as little lubricant as possible, just so they don't have to deal with the mess. However, metal stampers need to move away from thinking of in-die... Read more...
Article
April 24, 2003
Truckin' along through a stamping plant
The earlier cab models were built in a facility that was converted in 1921 to produce the model S truck line, a truck with a 1.5-ton load capacity and a top speed of 30 MPH. The company determined that it could not competitively launch a new line of vehicles without building a new... Read more...
Article
April 10, 2003
Establishing a die setup recipe for progressive dies
To reduce the number of mistakes, it is important to have a good die setup recipe for each progressive tool. The special setup sheet should contain numerous items in checklist form. Setup Checklist All of the following items are crucial to your die-setup recipe. Although some of these items... Read more...
Article
March 27, 2003
Fill 'er Up
Fuel filler tubes currently are manufactured from carbon steel tubing, which is expanded using mechanical forming techniques. The filler tube then is welded to a section of tubing that is bent to the shape required by the vehicle's design.
Most filler tubes have an offset centerline and their... Read more...
Article
March 27, 2003
The art of laser cutting
On modern laser cutting machines, most of the internal functions are automated. Focus point is changed remotely via a cutting database or technology table. Assist gas change and pressure are system-controlled as well. The numerically controlled cutting database has taken over almost all of the... Read more...
Article
November 15, 2002
Equipping Your Press With the Right Tonnage Monitor
Tonnage monitoring equipment has been around for several decades. The early models were sometimes finicky, hard to use, and susceptible to outside electrical interference. Today's tonnage monitors are easier to install, simpler to use, and more reliable. Many types are available to meet the... Read more...
Article
September 12, 2002
Designing a hydroforming press for research, production
Hydroforming machines--whether designed for sheet or tubular hydroforming--rely on fluid to form or shape metal blanks into finished or semifinished components. While designing a machine for tubular hydroforming can be a monumental task, designing one for sheet hydroforming is more complex... Read more...
Article
June 27, 2002
Evolution of the beast
Photos courtesy of Komatsu America Industries, Wood Dale, Illinois. Described as a big hammer, a beast, and a cookie cutter, mechanical presses have been the underappreciated workhorses of stamping operations. While the physics of the presses haven't changed—they produce energy needed... Read more...
Article
May 30, 2002
Giving your press a lift
Photo courtesy of Atlas Technologies. What's new in quick die change is more subtle than breathtaking. Because the basic design of a typical press line leaves a limited number of options for technological improvements, "new" is best applied to things like operational changes, planning,... Read more...
Article
March 14, 2002
Shock reduction methods for hydraulic presses
Does your stamping operation sometimes sound like a firing range, or do you see your presses shaking? If so, consider the cause and effect. Shock loading is sudden force that can damage all components of a press. In extreme cases, shock can cause serious structural failure, and at the... Read more...
Article
February 19, 2002
High-speed feeding techniques
The maximum operating speed of a stamping operation should be limited, in theory, only by the maximum number of strokes per minute (SPM) that the press can achieve. In reality, production speed is limited by other factors as well. For instance:
1. The uncoiler may not unwind... Read more...
Article
January 24, 2002
The HOW, WHAT, and WHY of liquid impact forming
Hydroforming has revolutionized sheet metal stamping and tube forming. It can expand, bend, bulge, and change a simple pipe into geometric shapes without a hint of wrinkling. This process has allowed automotive exhaust manufacturers to produce a variety of shapes to accommodate almost... Read more...
Article
December 13, 2001
The basics of uncoiling
Choosing proper coil handling and processing equipment can improve material handling and jump-start your shop's overall productivity improvement effort. However, before purchasing any one component, you should consider four factors: • Material to be processed • Line speed... Read more...
Article
November 29, 2001
Mobilizing equipment-saving time and talent
Think about the increased production that would be possible if one operator could manage two machines simultaneously. You could make it work simply by varying access to different pieces of equipment as needed anywhere in your facility.
Of course, some machines on the shop floor cannot be... Read more...
Article
November 15, 2001
Meet the Press
Stamping means different things to different people depending, to some extent, on their generation. Some consider stamping to be synonymous with blanking. Years ago, a stamping or blanking press was a mechanical press and vice versa. Today, that has changed, and these presses often are... Read more...
Article
November 15, 2001
Contract stamper increases die life and draw die productivity
Object Jancox Stampings has remained competitive by investing in link drive mechanical presses from PTC, offering value-added assembly services, and encouraging employee initiatives. The article discusses how the presses work and how reduced speed reduces springback (which allows the company... Read more...
Article
November 15, 2001
Article
October 25, 2001
Achieving straight-side capabilities in a gap-frame press
Gap, or C-frame, mechanical stamping presses have undergone relatively few fundamental design changes since they were first introduced in the mid-1800s. The basic principle behind their operation, simply stated, is this: Inertial energy stored in a rotating flywheel is converted to a... Read more...
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October 25, 2001
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October 11, 2001
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September 4, 2001
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September 4, 2001
Standardizing finger tooling
Figure 1: Tooling is mounted to transfer rails by receivers, which provide mechanical, electrical, and pneumatic connections. Improvements in transfer press automation and the availability of used large-bed presses for retrofitting have accelerated the use of transfer presses with... Read more...
Article
August 23, 2001
Article
August 16, 2001
In search of the perfect bend
Press brake manufacturers have made tremendous advances in the art of machine design and manufacturing. Machine frame components are designed to use proven mechanical engineering principles combined with CAD technology to identify the areas most susceptible to stresses consistent with the metal... Read more...
Article
August 16, 2001
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July 12, 2001
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July 12, 2001
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July 12, 2001
Hydroforming on a budget
In today's business environment, characterized by cost-cutting measures and increasing competition, it can be difficult to justify spending money on new manufacturing equipment. It can be especially difficult to justify purchasing equipment for a competitive niche market, such as hydroforming.... Read more...
Article
June 18, 2001
Article
June 15, 2001
Gas-shielded cored wires find their niche
Object Gas-shielded flux-cored arc welding (FCAW) and metal-cored arc welding (MCAW) are growing in popularity for many applications. To determine if these wires should be used, shop managers should understand how formulations of cored wires do or do not fit their quality requirements for... Read more...
Article
June 13, 2001
Transfer die design considerations
After receiving an assignment to design a die for a transfer operation, a die designer considers many questions and factors concerning the specific project. These questions help the designer to create the best possible design for all the factors comprising the project. If annual volume, press... Read more...
Article
June 12, 2001
Leaping the hurdles to press brake automation
Figure 1: This figure shows the ratio of value-added versus nonvalue-added time for a 50-part bending job. In this example, 42 percent of the time needed to bend the parts was spent on setup. Understanding the obstacles to automating press brakes requires an analysis of the bending... Read more...
Article
May 30, 2001
Discovering the limits of press brake tooling
One of the most important aspects of press brake forming is tooling selection. What are the tools capable of? What kinds of loads can they withstand?
Figure 1:
A standard straight press brake punch withstands more tonnage per foot than the press brake itself withstands.... Read more...
Article
May 30, 2001
Protecting dies against press system faults
Mechanical switches and grounding switches were among the first devices to be used for automated die protection. Early sensing systems based on mechanical switches simply opened the top stop circuit of a press when a fault was detected. These systems, however, offered no protection from faulty... Read more...
Article
May 15, 2001
Hydroforming of tubes, extrusions, and sheet
Hydroforming tubes, extrusions, and sheet metal is a state-of-the-art enterprise and is just now becoming more popular in the industrial production of frames for light trucks and vans. Figure 1: Hydroforming tubes with outer pressure, though not the norm in the industry, has several... Read more...
Article
April 24, 2001
Exploring upgrades in stamping presses
Model Ts are an example of a once-modern mode of transportation that have become a collector's possession and museum lore. Industrialist Henry Ford gave the world access to mobility and freedom to travel; however, vehicles today have improvements that make the formerly innovative Model T an... Read more...
Article
March 23, 2001
Selecting a new press brake
You have realized for a long time that your company should consider buying a new press brake. Now you have the responsibility of developing the specifications and recommending a new machine. This is an awesome responsibility, because if you select the wrong machine, your manufacturing costs... Read more...
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February 19, 2001
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February 19, 2001
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February 19, 2001
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