Vision die system protects tools, prevents damage on stamping press

Visual die protection system enables operators to stop the press before damage and failures occur.

Schuler Group has developed a visual die protection system designed to detect possible causes of tool damage at an early stage, enabling operators to stop the press before damage and failures occur.

How It Works. The visual die protection system uses cameras and intelligent software to monitor the production process. It detects unexpected causes of error and reacts by halting the press. In this way, it prevents damage to the tool and die and its consequential costs.

If, for example, a foreign body--even if it is just a piece of sheet metal--is detected in the die, the press stops automatically so that the foreign piece cannot press into the active surfaces of the tools. This prevents the tool from breaking.

With additional cameras, the system also can monitor the scrap chutes and other areas of the machine.

The control functions range from the component position, foreign body detection, and in-process tests to the targeted monitoring of critical tool functions with increased precision.

Camera Has an Eye for Detail. Up to eight monitoring functions are set up for greater process reliability in production. By controlling different areas or process steps, the visual die protection system can cover many error sources to prevent unforeseen incidents. This not only reduces the probability of failure, it also ensures the safe operation of the systems.

Analyzer Adds Insights. The visual die protection analyzer offers additional ways to understand a malfunction and its cause. This is especially applicable if a malfunction occurred on the night shift.

The analyzer offers access to historical image series and data for a detailed analysis of your production process.

Visual die protection can be retrofitted to a variety of systems.

Visual die detection detects possible causes of tool damage, such as tools, parts, and fasteners, at an early stage.