Product category:
Pressbrakes and folding machines
News Release from: Radian Solutions | Subject: CNC press brake software
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 19 November 2004
Spend less time programming, more time
pressing
Software company suggests that out of 60 min on a CNC press brake, 40 min is spent programming, wheras it is possible to reverse this - that is - 40 min poroduction, 20 min programming.
Radian Solutions says that out of 60 min, a press brake operator spends 40 min programming, changing tooling, finding drawings and correcting program errors Only 20min is spent actually producing parts
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 1 Apr 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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Companies having problems in finding skilled operators to manage and program CNC pressbrakes can take advantage of an online programming service over the Web.
With radian software, the reverse is true.
Only 20 min spent in programming and 40 min spent in production.
The company provides the following example to substantiate its claims.
Further reading
Remote Pressbrake Programming
Radian, based in Hampshire, explains its remote pressbrake programming offering which can be achieved over the internet.
Rivets automatically fed into stamping tools
Automatic system inserts rivets into dies during stamping operation to produce garage door components.
Plasma cutting of 75mm and 88mm thick SS plates
'Petals' to form welded thick section, large dia stainless steel dished ends were plasma-arc cut, producing edges entirely dross-free, while chilled water extended nozzle life by 600%.
Current method of production (based on 15 operators, 3 shifts) 1.
Piece part arrives at the Pressbrake for bending.
2.
Drawing read and interpreted by the operator.
Drawings read and interpreted by Radian were quires i.e bending aides D/L etc can be sorted in advance of any parts being cut out.
3.
If the drawing is not with the piece part, operator must take time away from the Machine to find the correct drawing or drawing revision.
Were preferred set-up sheets can be posted accompanied with correct revision drawing.
4.
Piece part manually programmed at the machine.
Piece parts are programmed and emailed to customers in advance of any parts being cut out.
5.
Tooling is selected.
6.
Fit tooling into machine (if different from previous job) With set-up sheets at hand jobs can be arranged so tool change can be kept to a minimum.
7.
First component is produced and inspected by the Pressbrake operator or Quality Assurance.
8.
Multiply the above by 5 machines.
* Examples of problems that can occur: * If 10 piece parts are required, it's not unknown for half of the batch to be L/H and half R/H but with only one drawing supplied for the two.
A problem comes to light only at the stage when the parts are fitted in the production line.
You can see without further explanation the potential for human error.
Left and Right hand Programmes can be supplied with a popup notes reminding the operator of which hand is which.
* A complicated part i.e six or eight bends is programmed by operator A.
Piece part is produced accepted and is good.
Time has been taken with the production method, drawings and Quality Assurance.
One-month later the same piece part.
Is produced by operator B who has a different opinion on the bending sequence.
The piece part appears to be correct but when it arrives at the production line it dose not fit correctly, due to it being bent in a different sequence to the original.
At this point everybody scratches there heads and says "I don't understand what's happened here" Programmes are supported with a detailed set-up sheet containing bend sequence and pressing notes for all operators.
In today's market everyone looking for leaner, faster, and cheaper manufacture.
The Radian system has the following major advantages: a.
Increased throughput of piece parts.
b.
Current statistics suggest that in every 60 minutes 40 minutes are spent programming /changing tooling/finding drawings/correcting mistakes and 20 minutes actually producing the part.
Using radian system a conservative estimate would be that the figures are reversed i.e 40 minutes production, 20 minutes preparation.
Customers with multiple pressbrakes set ups, when faced with a lack of throughput, always consider buying a new pressbrake.
In reality this only serves to compound existing problems.
With our system we can increase throughput with the same number of operators and the same number of machines, in many cases actually decrease the number of pressbrakes required.
It also means that less skilled operators can be trained to produce proven parts which are usually expected of a more highly skilled operator (which are increasingly hard to find).
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