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Product category: Probes, sensors, tool detection, calibration for machine tools
News Release from: Delcam | Subject: Verification system
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial Team on 12 December 2007

Tool manufacturing time cut in half

On-machine verification system has helped a press tool manufacturer to gain the maximum benefit from its recent investment in high-accuracy, high-speed machining equipment.

Delcam's OMV cuts press tool manufacturing times in half at COC Tooling The introduction of Delcam's PowerINSPECT On-Machine Verification system has allowed Taiwan's leading press tool manufacturer, COC Tooling and Stamping, to halve the time need to manufacture its tools

Established in 1990, COC now employs around 450 people on its 50,000sq.m.

site in Taoyuan County, Taiwan, where it specialises in tooling for large automotive body panels.

These tools are supplied to major manufacturers, including Ford, Nissan, Toyota, GM and Mitsubishi.

COC is justifiably proud of the many awards it has received from these customers, in particular its 2003 Ford Global Suppliers World Excellence Award, which is only given to ten suppliers each year.

Initially formed as a joint venture with Japanese company Ogihara, the company has recently become an independent Taiwanese venture.

Company President, Mr Y K Tseng, explained that the introduction of PowerINSPECT OMV had produced enormous increases in productivity, even though it had only been in use for six months.

"With On-Machine Verification, we can measure the press tools on the machine and find out if there are any problems immediately," he claimed.

"We can obtain a direct comparison with the CAD model, which is much more reliable than using inspection methods based on drawings." Most of the machine tools at COC are between four and five meters in length, and many of the press tools being manufactured are of a similar size.

"Moving parts of that weight and size to the CMM for inspection used to be extremely difficult and slowed down the whole production process," said Tseng.

The main problem with these large tools is that the longer cutters needed to machine to their full depth can be pushed out of alignment, especially near the bottom of the part.

This gives an oversize surface on the punch, while the cavity will be undersize.

"Previously, because of the problems in setting up the tool back on the machine, we would use hand finishing to correct any errors," remembered Tseng.

"This wasn't very accurate and was also very time-consuming.

Now, we can re-machine the surface on the machine tool, which is both faster and more reliable." This higher quality can be seen in the much reduced try-out times needed for new tools.

"We can now be confident that the tool will work as soon as it comes of the machine," claimed Tseng.

Prior to the introduction of PowerINSPECT OMV, COC had been a Delcam customer for several years, using the PowerMILL CAM system for all its 3D machining.

"We introduced our first PowerMILL seat around three years ago," said Tseng.

"Our operators found it easier to use and we could obtain a much better surface finish so we decided to standardise on the Delcam software. Request a free brochure from Delcam ...

We have seen even more improvements following the introduction of our new 15,000 rev/min spindle machines.".

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