Product category:
Pressbrakes and folding machines
News Release from: LVD (UK) | Subject: ROBOformER G2 robotic press brake bending cell
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 29 December 2004
Touch of button forms part from CAD
Automated robotic press brake bending cell is believed to be the only system of its kind able to take a part from a 2D or 3D CAD drawing to a finished product at the touch of a button.
LVD Company n.v and Salvagnini jointly displayed the new ROBOformER G2 robotic press brake bending cell at Euroblech
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 25 Jun 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
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The Salvagnini ROBOformER automated bending cell is the only system of its kind able to take a part from a two- or three-dimensional CAD drawing to a finished product at the touch of a button.
Bending sequences and robot movements are automatically calculated for the most efficient production, without the need for robot teaching and without process interruption.
Robot assisted material handling for bending operations addresses the current market concerns of increased labor costs, need for unmanned second/third shifts with frequent production changes, and improved operator safety.
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The ROBOformER provides a high quality, cost-effective and automated solution for both short and long production runs.
LVD and Salvagnini shared engineering resources and technology to develop the advanced robotic bending cell, which is based on Salvagninis design and is comprised of an LVD PPEB press brake with Easy-Form Laser system; CAMformER programming package; VI control system; 6-axis Kuka robot, and material handling stations.
The new cell makes use of LVDs recent advances in adaptive forming to provide real-time angle control and ensure consistent part accuracy without operator intervention.
It incorporates features of both Salvagnini and LVD software for programming of press and robot.
* One control, one program - ROBOformER is the only system of its kind to provide true off-line programming.
It combines the powerful VI control?a single, proprietary control that manages all components of the cell?with the CAMformER offline programming system.
CAMformER analyzes the feasibility of each part, calculates a list of necessary operations, and automatically generates a single part program that runs the entire cycle.
Because of the sophistication of the system, the programmer does not need specific knowledge of robot programming, is able to produce complete bending programs without having the press brake available, and can estimate the cost of the forming cycle.
Advanced bending technology - at the heart of the bending cell is the LVD PPEB press brake.
Servo-controlled with state-of-the-art hydraulics and electronics, the PPEB press brake is built on a rigid frame design to ensure precision.
A programmable V-axis crowning system automatically calculates and adjusts the amount of crown on the bed to the proper position from bend to bend.
Bend angles are consistent from the center to the ends of the part, providing the ultimate in deflection compensation available today.
The press brake produces accurate bending results from the first piece through Easy-Form Laser, LVDs innovative angle measurement device that employs a laser to monitor the angle in real time during the bending process.
Easy-Form Laser uses symmetrical measurement at the front and back of the die to determine the exact value of the angle of the workpiece.
The sensing device transmits information in real time to the CNC control unit, which processes it and subsequently recalculates the correct depth adjustment of the ram to obtain the correct angle.
Bending results are consistently accurate.
The bending process is not interrupted, and no production time is lost.
6-Axis Robotic Device A Kuka 6-axis robot performs part handling inside the cell throughout the bending process.
A patented Soft-Link system guarantees maximum precision during gauging, reducing gauging time and increasing repeatability and part quality.
* Full material handling capabilities - ROBOformER employs state-of-the-art material handling capabilities to enhance flexibility of operation and total automation.
A material input station features magnetic sheet separators with air blowers, pack-holding bars and double sheet detection to ensure autonomous lights-out production.
The sheet centering station has been designed to ensure perfect gripping of the sheet under all working conditions.
A part regripping station permits positioning of the robot-gripping device on either face of the part, allowing production of upward or downward bends.
The panel unloading system, in a basic configuration, unloads parts onto flat containers or crates located in defined areas of the cell.
* Advanced job list management and storage - to further optimize performance, ROBOformER features a job list management and data storage software for the automatic management and sequencing of job lists, and for saving data and movements of system components.
Job sequencing is selected manually by the operator and stored in the cell controller.
Job lists are arranged in accordance with the tooling required to produce the parts.
Single parts produced are automatically assigned to the off-loading station placed downstream of the system.
The operator can modify the destination of the part before starting production and also has the flexibility to interrupt job lists and initiate a re-start from the point of interruption, even though other parts have been produced during the sequence interruption.
* About LVD - LVD is a leader in forming technology, having engineered the multi-tasking CNC press brake control and adaptive bending systems.
LVD designs, manufactures and sells sheet and plate metal forming equipment, including CNC press brakes, Strippit turret punch presses, laser cutting machines, guillotine shears, and CAM programming software.
* About Salvagnini - Salvagnini is credited with inventing panel bender technology and is recognized worldwide for its capabilities in integrating manufacturing processes.
The Salvagnini product family includes panel benders, punching/shearing and laser-cutting systems, robotized bending cells, integrated logistic solutions and a full range of high-performance software packages.
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