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Advances in automation broaden punching capabilities(2)

Posted by: Mu Ju 2019-04-26 Comments Off on Advances in automation broaden punching capabilities(2)

When Is Automation Suitable?

  • Standard Product. A standard product in large volumes with a common material type, thickness, and size remains the most obvious application. A consistent range of material types, sizes, and thicknesses means that part changeover is minimal, involving only a change in part program and slight changes to punch press tooling.
  • Large, Heavy Workpieces. Automated load/unload devices can handle large or heavy workpieces that cannot be managed easily in a manual operation or when a two-operator setup is needed. Today’s punch presses feature larger tables than in the past and can accommodate nominal workpiece sizes up to 60 in. by 120 in. (1,500 mm by 3,000 mm).
  • Material Utilization Maximization. Because automated systems accept large blank sizes, material can be better utilized to punch large workpieces. For example, a fabricator punching a 4-ft.-square blank could use an automated load/unload system to increase the blank size to 48 in. by 96 in. or 60 in. by 120 in. to nest more parts per blank. This is likely to improve productivity because more parts can be produced per workpiece, and material handling can be reduced.
  • Labor Shortage. Freeing up machine operators from dedicated supervision of the equipment helps to address a skilled labor shortage or when labor is at a premium. Automating the material handling process provides an opportunity for operators to add value to other operations or expand their capabilities.
  • Continuous, Uninterrupted Production. A material handling system combined with a high-speed punching machine allows a continuous, even work flow and a consistent level of productivity. Generally, load/unload systems complete a load cycle time in less than 25 seconds. While the punch press is punching, material can be replenished automatically for the next production run. Sheet handling time can be reduced as much as 80 percent.
  • Lights-out Manufacturing. Automating punch press operations makes lights-out production feasible. Loading devices generally have material stack capacities of up to 10 in. (254 mm) and 10,000 pounds (4,545 kg), enhancing overall machine efficiency by providing high throughput volume without operator intervention. Marrying an automatic warehouse tower or multiple towers to a punch press with a large turret and tool capacity (for example, with up to 48 stations) further increases the autonomy of a system (see Figure 3). In addition, today’s automated systems can be equipped with a paging system to alert personnel when the machine has faulted or stopped. Webcam technology allows shops to monitor lights-out operations via the Internet.
  • Safety Improvements. Automating punching also improves worker safety.

    Figure 3
    Linking the punch press with a robot to material storage units adds flexibility, optimizes material flow, and permits unattended operation.

    When Is Automation Not Suitable?

  • High Frequency of Changeovers. Regular changeovers of material type, size, and thickness without a fully automatic system with material warehousing and tower likely require too much setup time.
  • Part Quality Improvement. Although automation does allow more consistent gauging of the punch press, and therefore reduces opportunity for operator error, it does not significantly improve part quality.

What Do I Need to Know to Implement Automation?

Automation generally requires extensive training. Operators new to automation often underestimate the amount of training that is required. Be prepared to reserve the time to learn the system. Implementation often is a trial-and-error process because it varies with the application and because variables such as material mechanics (workpiece size, material type) influence material handling equipment setup.

For example, operators need to learn where machine work clamps should be positioned for consistent material gauging; how loader vacuum cups should be placed to load material accurately; and how to set the location of the unload clamp to effectively offload workpieces, whether they are shake-a-parts or full blanks.

Set reasonable expectations. The higher the level of automation, the more the user often expects from the system. Automation systems do not offer endless flexibility, however. For instance, a robotic material handling system is limited in the amount of weight the robot can lift and the distance it can reach for picking up blanks or stacking parts.

Allow adequate time for implementation. Anticipate up to a six-month implementation period for initial sales discussions, system configuration, installation, training, and support for a fully automated system (load/unload device with feed system or warehouse, robotic material handling system, and production cell). Automating with a simple load/unload device is a less time-consuming process and takes from one to two months.

Last, keep the level of automation in proportion with the value (and capabilities) of the punch press.

Who’s Using Automation?

Robotic Material Handling. A manufacturer of commercial and industrial doors replaced a stand-alone punching machine with a 30-ton turret punch press combined with a robotic material handling system. The robotic material handling system feeds blanks to the punch press and removes and stacks individual parts after punching is completed. The company now is able to use standard-sized blanks, nest more parts on each workpiece, and eliminate a shearing operation. The robotic material handling system eliminated the need for an operator, who was then reassigned to a different production task.

Load/Unload, Storage, Retrieval. A manufacturer of beverage-dispensing equipment replaced stand-alone punching and shearing equipment with punching and laser cutting equipment integrated with an automated load/unload system, sheet storage, and retrieval tower. Metal sheets measuring 4 ft. by 10 ft. are carried by crane and placed in the 12-shelf storage tower. A parts transfer system was programmed to select the appropriate sheets from the tower and deliver them for processing. The company estimates that the system is 50 percent more productive than the punching and shearing equipment it replaced.

Load/Unload, Lights-Out. A precision job shop produces 60 percent of its parts for the telecommunications industry. It uses three 20-ton punch presses with single-sided autoload systems to handle run quantities of up to 500 50-in. by 100-in. or 60-in. by 100-in. aluminum and stainless steel workpieces. The company says the autoload systems have improved the productivity of each machine by 40 percent and allow lights-out operation on long production runs. The company has eliminated shearing operations and now uses full-sized sheets for most production runs.

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