High speed press

[psabadus]

Hello everybody,

I need to design a small press integrated into an automation. The necessary output force will be 400lbf. The press will cut material in different lengths based on the part type The maximum part length (on feed direction) is 2". The cycle time requirement is .8 seconds. The feeding system will be based on a servo drove indexing roller system.
A hydraulic or air actuated press probably will not be able to give me the required cycle time. Maybe having an electromechanical press consisting of gear motor, soft start clutch, flywheel, single revolution clutch, eccentric shaft will be the way to go.
My questions are :
Is it realistic that in .8 seconds to feed material, sense the material in position, send signal to the single revolution clutch to engage and stroke once?
Is there any better solution?
Data: for the material feed - max. one revolution of the roller
press stroke max. 2.5 "

 

[cnccodejockey]

Some ten years ago I was working as a Tool and Diemaker in a local factory. This factory made baseboard heaters. The sheetmetal for the long sections were made on a rolling mill. This mill had a set of air actuated presses that would punch holes, slots ect in the metal. These were triggered exactly like what you have described here. They had an aluminum upper and lower "bolster" plate, a large air bag in place of an air cylinder to close the dies while opening back up was done simpley with springs. Large quick exhaust valves fed the air bags and the whole assembly could also slide along with the moving part while the punches were engaged. The amount of pressure you need and the time requirements I feel could be easily done via this method. I hope this helps.

 

[lesliehowell]

Yep!!! I did one with a cam and return springs too and it worked also. Over the years I have seen a lot of methods used but the cam one seemed to have the least amount of maintanance. Just a thought.

Sincerely yours,
Leslie H. Howell

lesliehowell@howellconsulting.com

 

[ornerynorsk]

If material cutoff is your only operation, there are many small punch presses available that cycle much faster than what you describe. 0.8 seconds is not really that fast. I once worked in a plant where our presses were blanking out electrical connector components out of thin gage brass at the rate of 400 spm, so what you are talking about is not really pushing limitations in machinery.