Schuler’s Visual Die Protection detects hazards before parts can be damaged

Schuler has developed Visual Die Protection, a camera-assisted monitoring system that detects the presence of foreign bodies such as wrenches or punch scraps; checks if the die is properly connected; and verifies that the blanks have been correctly inserted, formed, and removed. It also recognizes cracks in the part and potential damage to the centering and ejector pins. If any abnormalities are found, the press is stopped to prevent the situation from getting worse.

The cameras first create reference images of the relevant die before production begins. During this imaging process, operators mark critical areas that require particularly accurate monitoring, such as the centering and ejector pins. While the production process is running, artificial intelligence on a separate computer performs a real-time comparison of current images with the original condition of the die, thereby allowing an immediate response if any discrepancies are found.