Software helps crushing machine producer cut 3-hour beveling process to 3 min.

Situation

Williams Patent Crusher & Pulverizer Co. is a designer and manufacturer of crushing machines based in St. Louis. Many of its machines contain a replaceable steel liner attached to interior side walls using a metal plug. A beveled countersink ensures a secure, flush fit.

The bevel cutting process has posed challenges for the company. “We had a real quality problem with bevel cuts,” said Foreman Jim Colyott. “The process became a prolonged series of manual steps. It was nothing short of a 3-hour operation.”

Resolution

Williams decided to add a Messer burning table to the process. A third party recommended bringing in a new nesting tool specifically for the burning table, but Williams decided to retain the SigmaNEST software from SigmaTEK Systems that it had used for more than eight years.

After implementing a SigmaNEST-based program that maximized the beveling capacities of the burning table, Williams was able to achieve high-quality bevel cuts and reduced the manually intensive, 3-hour process to just 3 min.

SigmaTEK Systems LLC

www.sigmanest.com