Product category:
Diecasting machines and equipment
News Release from: Frech | Subject: Gripmat workhandling device
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 24 January 2005
Device automates diecasting handling
Castings that were previously removed manually and stacked to await clipping away from a diecastere are now mechanically placed on a cooling conveyor feeding a clipping press.
2004 was a good year for sales of Frech Gripmat casting removal units in the UK, and for a wide range of reasons Eurotech Industries, for example, added a Gripmat to its DAW 200 zinc machine in order to make all the stages from casting to clipping part of a continuous operation
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 26 Mar 2002 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Reliability wins diecasting machine orders
"t's clear that Frech will be building machines for a long time to come, and we're just as committed to the business of making diecastings," said a leading diecasting foundry.
Magnesium diecasting success is in the chamber
For the diecaster producing components in magnesium alloy, making the right choice between hot and cold chamber manufacturing routes is fundamental.
Castings that were previously removed manually and stacked to await clipping away from the machine are now placed by the Gripmat on a cooling conveyor, at the end of which they are put through a clipping press by the re-deployed operator.
ABB robots are everywhere to be seen in Eurotech's predominantly aluminium diecasting foundry, spraying dies as well as removing castings - so why not a robot on the DAW 200 too? "The Gripmat is adequate for the casting weights on the zinc machine, so the cost of a heavier-duty robot wasn't justified," explains foundry manager Alan Walker.
"In addition to that, the zinc parts we produce follow many different finishing routes and some don't go through the conveyor and clipping press.
Further reading
Diecasting newcomer expands CNC capability
Although it has been in business for half a century, Eurotech Industries is a relative newcomer to diecasting; but a timetable of investment shows that it is catching up.
Hardware maker brings die-casting in-house
Bringing diecasting in-house has been a success for a window and door hardware manufacturer so much so that it has added another diecaster to the three existing ones.
Toolmaker invests deeper into diecasting capacity
Adding further to its diversification policy, a toolmaker has invested in more diecasting machine capacity, this time to enter the LM5 diecastings market.
In those cases, the take-out can be adjusted and repositioned far more quickly than a robot." The versatility of the Gripmat was an equally important plus point at Avon PDC, where two new units recently took on 'pick and place' duties for two 320-tonne (3200kN) machines.
One produces mainly a component that goes into Nissan cars, yielding 15,000 parts from its two-impression die every week.
The workload of the other is much more varied, taking in frames for wing mirrors and handsaws and handles for the cab of JCBs.
Casting weights across the two machines are as much as 2750g, and the inventory of dies includes around 30 different tools, single- and multi-impression.
As at Eurotech, Avon's Gripmats are the link in another 'cooling conveyor and clipping press' scenario, but their function is not just logistical, as operations director Tom Barrett explains.
"Previously castings were dropped into a quench pit below the machine and then removed by conveyor," he says.
"Apart from the risk of damage to parts, the quench water had to be re-circulated and treated with chemicals regularly to prevent the possible build-up of potentially injurious bacteria.
"Installing the Gripmats has eliminated that health hazard and protected the integrity of the newly cast parts, but without losing the automatic operation of the whole cell.
In fact, we've even been able to reduce cycle times." The one dissenting voice in this trio of Gripmat users - on the merits of robots at least - is David Rowbottom, managing director of Ashley Engineering.
Automation at Ashley began as long ago as 1975 and - despite the absence of programmable robots - it now encompasses metal feeding, plunger lube, die-spray and take-off on all its machines (two for zinc and six for aluminium).
Or, as Rowbottom neatly summarises the company's casting handling procedure: "We just don't touch 'em".
"I can see that a robot could be useful at the clipping stage, but in my experience if there's a problem with a diecasting cell it's usually because of the clipping tool," he says.
"So I reckon it's better to clip outside the cell, where you can deal with any problems separately." That's why the conveyor alongside the new Gripmat at Ashley terminates with a collection bin and not a press.
The machine in question is a recently acquired 600-tonner (6000kN) - the company's biggest - producing parts mainly for military applications and the automotive after-market.
• Frech: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Manufacturingtalk email newsletter
• Manufacturingtalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
