Product category:
Power presses, hydraulic
News Release from: AP and T AB, Automation, Press and Tooling | Subject: Complete hot forming/hardening lines - steel parts
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 04 July 2007
Press lines hot form and harden steel
parts
Hydraulic power press builder now offers complete hot forming lines that produce press-hardened steel components that are lighter on a strength to weight ratio than aluminium items.
Power press builder now offers complete hot forming lines that produce press-hardened steel components that are lighter on a strength to weight ratio than aluminium items AP and T in Sweden is offering to produce complete 'turnkey' hot forming press lines for part hardening
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 5 Sep 2005 at 8.00am (UK)
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The press line for a heating systems manufacturer is laid out for maximum flexibility and can be operated as two separate press cells, or as a linked press line for multiple press operations.
The systems are regarded as a key technology for producing lightweight, ultra-high strength automotive components.
The company said that the automotive industry's search for lower weight and increased crash safety and hot formed hardened steel components achieve this.
* Stronger than aluminum - AP and T sales and marketing director Per Josefsson said that on the basis of weight to strength ratio, press hardened steel components are superior to aluminum components.
Further reading
Press delivered for thixoforming research
For further research into thixoforming of metals - of growing automotive industry interest - a specialised power press has been delivered to the University of Liege.
Toolmaker to benefit from versatile tryout presses
All five ram cylinders and four cushion cylinders can be independently set and controlled in four hydraulic tool-try-out presses delivered by AP and T in Sweden to Horst Matzner in Germany.
The technology can produce components with three to four times higher strength compared to regular steel.
He added that the turnkey production systems are ideal for manufacturers competing on the cost and quality conscious market for automotive safety parts.
The hot forming systems from AP and T cover the entire production process including the following.
* Part simulation.
* Tool design and manufacturing.
* Material loading.
* Heating.
* Press loading.
* Forming and quenching in the die.
* Unloading and stacking.
* Die and system changeover.
* Superior line control system.
AP and T takes full responsibility for installation, training, production support and service, allowing the customer to focus on production.
This is what AP and T refers to as it being 'One Responsible Partner'.
* Crucial production logistics - in safety parts production, exactness, traceability and repeatability are key issues to consider when fulfilling quality requirements.
In the hot forming process, the steel blanks are heated to 900 deg C then formed and cooled in a hydraulic press.
The blanks have to be presented to the press at the right temperature, so fast and precise press loading is important not only for production efficiency, but foremost for product quality, said Josefsson.
* Fast loading, minimal cooling - AP and T's feeders and grippers load blanks into a die in 1.5 - 2s and so minimise heat loss.
AP and T's hot forming presses use advanced hydraulic ram cylinders and high speed hydraulic accumulators to achieve fast closing speed - up to 700mm/s - and cary out fast forming.
Again, fast action minimises heat losses from the blank.
* Improved line control - AP and T integrates the entire metal forming process into one 'operational platform'.
So one line control system controls and monitors the manufacturing process and provides a complete operational view of the whole hot forming/hardening line.
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