Product category:
CNC punching and profiling
News Release from: Press and Shear Machinery | Subject: CNC turret punch press
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 13 October 2006
Turret punch press has regenerative
braking
An all-electric, CNC turret punch press incorporating regenerative braking technology and energy management software in the controller was installed in mid 2005.
An all-electric, CNC turret punch press incorporating regenerative braking technology and energy management software in the controller was installed in mid 2005 at the Southport factory of leading commercial beverage-making equipment manufacturer, Instanta The principal reason for the company choosing the press, a Finn-power E5, was that at average punching speeds the machine draws only 4.5 kW, which is around one third of the power consumed by a hydraulic punch presses of 200 kN punching capacity
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 9 Jul 2002 at 8.00am (UK)
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CNC punch press ups fabrication productivity
Acquisition of a Finnish-built CNC turret punch press and a pair of large-capacity press brakes has paid off handsomely for an Essex-based sheet metal work fabricator.
Pressbrakes added to make the most of CNC punching
The recent installation of a highly productive CNC turret punch press at a subcontractor caused a shortfall in pressbrake capacity that was quickly rectified.
The dramatic energy saving is a result of using capacitors to store energy from deceleration of the machine axes, and redirecting that energy to power other machine functions, rather than wasting it.
Supplied through Finn-power's sole agent, Press and Shear Machinery, the press not only minimises consumption of increasingly expensive power, but also avoids wasting and disposing of 150 litres of hydraulic oil every year.
Service is less expensive, as there are no seals or disposable filters to replace, and the risk of oil spillage has been eliminated.
Further reading
Punch press' up-forming station is indexable
For high-performance punching, nibbling and forming of sheet up to 2500mm by 1250mm, a 300kN CNC turret punch press, with indexable up-forming station, can nibble at up to 1,100 hits/min.
CNC punch press halves cycle times
Installation of a CNC turret punch press and programming software has halved pressworking cycle times at the factory of a railway (railroad) equipment maker.
CNC turret punch press is at affordable level
Latest Finn-Power 230kN hydraulic turret punch press has been priced at a highly affordable level and has a working area is 1250mm x 2500mm without repositioning.
In addition, the machine's elecronically controlled, servomotor-driven roller and cam arrangement for ram actuation is quieter in operation than an equivalent hydraulic press.
Instanta implements an environmental management system to BS EN ISO14001 and has long been an adherent to ecologically friendly business practices, as a brief visit to the relevant page of its web site will attest.
In any case, from a purely practical point of view, the factory was close to its maximum power consumption and a hydraulic press would have taken it over the limit, necessitating an increase in the capacity of the incoming electricity supply.
Of seven presses originally evaluated, the E5 was the only servo-electric model shortlisted, as it had a long and verifiably sound track record in this relatively new area of technology.
In addition, the machine's ability to use wheel-type tools and its proven and highly controllable upforming capability fitted in well with Instanta's wish to incorporate more strengthening ribs and decorative features into its products.
All of the stainless steel internal tanks, for example, are embossed in four to six places to support a baffle plate.
Spill trays are also embossed, allowing the fitting to be recessed so that water is not trapped.
The punch press also had to be highly productive to cope with increasing throughput, volumes having taken a sharp upturn recently with the introduction of a range of wall-mounted beverage makers alongside the counter-top types.
Over 7,000 beverage makers per year are currently produced and each contains 15 to 20 sheet metal parts.
Said operations director, David Wilson, "We were surprised at just how quick the E5 was - it has exceeded our expectations.
The machine eats work, so much so that we are always ahead now and hold buffer stocks of our sheet metal parts.
"Before the Finn-power was installed, the factory worked to the pace of our old CNC turret punch press, as its speed was limited and if the machine stopped, the factory stopped." All parts at the Southport factory are produced on the Finn-power E5 from 2.5 x 1.25 m or 2 x 1 m sheet, avoiding having to guillotine them into smaller sizes, as was necessary with the old punch press, and allowing larger batches of components to be nested and produced in one uninterrupted punching, nibbling and forming cycle.
The machine has the flexibility to reposition pre-cut blanks using three programmable clamps.
Around 80 per cent of components are in stainless steel ranging from 0.7 to 1.2 mm thick, while the remaining parts are made from 0.9 to 2.0 mm gauge aluminium.
The E5 has been installed for over a year, yet Instanta has so far sharpened only four of the Wilson tools in the 20-station turret, which is testament to the rigidity of the machine structure.
To expand the number of tools to 29, the company opted to use in one of the turret stations a Mate multi-tool holder that accommodates 10 smaller tools up to 16 mm diameter.
This has proved very effective, as the full punching force is available through each tool, unlike with some other multi-tool systems. Request a free brochure from Press and Shear Machinery ...
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