volume 18 - issue 1 - Finn-Power International, Inc.

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TECH TIPS Finn-Power Part Removal Options There are many different part removal options for Finn-Power’s family of turret punch presses, combination machines, and lasers. These options need to be selected carefully. You should determine your need for machine time availability versus part sorting and stacking requirements to ensure the most efficient use of your equipment. Remember, one operation directly affects the other. For example, overall cycle time is increased when the machine is sorting and stacking parts, depending on the operation and the availability of a buffering option. Depending upon part size and hole and feature intensity, the machine may be able to produce parts faster than the machine can buffer, sort, and stack them. Depending upon the machine or system, the options begin with simple manual part removal and range from fully-automated flat stacking on pallets to automated storage systems. Machine Part Removal Options Manual removal and micro-jointed parts in full sheets – An example of efficiency improvement, which is dependent upon your part removal options, is removing parts as individual pre-cut blanks compared to nesting multiple parts on a sheet. The result is that the unload time is for one sheet of 10 micro-jointed parts rather than 10 individual single part unloads. Easy-Snap microjointing – The use of scrap-less part retension or Easi-Snap tools further enhance micro-jointed part removal by jointing the scrap to the parts rather than breaking them out of the skeleton. Nested micro-jointed parts can be stored and broken out later outside of the machine cycle. Common-line, micro-jointed nests save even more time and give better material utilization. Trap door to bin removal of individual part sizes 500 mm (19.5" ) square – Another part removal option available is that of a trap door. The current size takes a 19.5" (500 mm sq) blank. This part removal option allows for the automatic removal of parts from the material skeleton into a box after the last punch hit or laser cut often via conveyor without operator intervention. Again, you must balance the trapdoor unload time off against the extra machine cycle time that it takes up. As an option with the Finn-Power NC Express software, the trap door can be automatically programmed with a variable delay to stay open for all or some parts, thereby significantly reducing the trap door cycle time. Part pickup and The FINN-ISH LINE is a publication distributed to Finn-Power customers, prospective customers, employees, dealers, suppliers, and friends. The staff of the FINN-ISH LINE requests article ideas and letters for future publication. Editor Robert J. Kolcz rjk@finnpower.com Associate Editor Tiina Ayaydin tiina@finnpower.com Technical Editor Lutz Ehrlich lehrlich@finnpower.com Contributing Editor Andrew McCarlie mccarlie@finnpower.com Senior Correspondent Timo Laurinen timo.laurinen@finn-power.com All registered trademarks in this publication are property of their respective owners. 2 by Andrew McCarlie, Applications Engineer placement is not significantly affected by forms and holes on the part profile and to a lesser degree material flatness. Pick and place robots removing parts from the sheet skeleton during part processing and stacking on pallets. LSR/PSR/LST – This is an option that is typically used on punch presses and laser/punch combination machines. The part-picking robot typically picks a part out of the sheet skeleton after the last punch hit frees it from the sheet. It is then stacked onto a pallet which can then be feed into an automated storage system if required. Much larger parts can be extracted from the sheet using this option. The time required for the robot / unloader to extract the parts from the sheet must be taken into account in the overall part cycle time. Also part pickup and placement is dependent upon the number of cutouts and forms present on the part profile as well as material flatness. Pick and place robots stacking skeleton free finished parts from a buffer to a pallet. SGR/SBR – This unload option can function while the machine SG/SB is still processing parts until the buffer is full. The parts are cut completely from the skeleton which is cut up allowing a truly skeleton free operation. The finished parts are then stacked onto a pallet which can be off-loaded manually or attached to an automatic storage retrieval system. Skeleton unloader systems that unload a full skeleton of micro-jointed parts to a pallet such as on the Compact Express, SG/SB/LP and Laser machines – These unloading systems can be used as the single main parts removal option on a machine such as a compact express or as an extra unload option as part of an SG or LP system. The parts can be broken out of the skeleton outside of the machine cycle. This method of unloading is less sensitive to material variation and part profiles. Stacking/sorting/bin systems that stack skeleton free parts to a pallet or bin. SG/SB STS systems – These two types of part removal systems allow for removal of complete parts up to a certain size in the case of the sorting bins. Both systems take time up from the processing time to sort and stack the parts. The bin system has the advantage of being quicker but is limited in size to 30" x59" . Scrap is tabbed to the parts to provide for quick release and to avoid extra scrap punch hits thereby speeding up the process cycle time. The finished part goes directly to the next operation with no micro-joint removal. Punch part removal using the punching slug chute – This method can be used on all punching machines and involves using a large rectangle (1" x3" – 25 mm x 75 mm) as a mini right angle shear to free parts that fit inside the size of the punch. This is done by sequencing this large rectangle to be the last hit in the punching sequence. The freed part goes through the die down the slug chute and out the slug conveyor. The operator diverts these slugs which are small parts from the slug conveyor into a separate container as they fall out.
PRESIDENT’S CORNER New Opportunities…New Solutions When Finn-Power and Prima Industrie S.p.A. joined forces last February, the acquisition created the 3rd largest sheet metal fabrication manufacturer in the world, with a product offering that is by far the widest in the world. Our new group now has a turnover in excess of 400 million euros and employs 1,700 persons. As we steadily and carefully consolidate our many resources, we are very excited about our ability to provide the sheet metal fabrication world with a complete product line consisting of machines, cells, and systems to satisfy any customer need or requirement. New equipment technology has always been the lifeline to growth for sheet metal fabricators. And the new realities of the sheet metal fabrication industry match our combined product lines perfectly, with a comprehensive range of laser cutting, punching, shearing, bending, and automation. We have designed versatility to individual work stages by integrating them with automated material management and making automation as flexible as possible. Our modular approach adapts to a multitude of production needs and changes. Our goal has always been to improve our customers’ productivity. The “Greening” of Sheet Metal Fabrication For the past decade, Finn-Power has pioneered servo-electric products into the sheet metal fabrication industry. We introduced the first servo-electric turret punch press – the E5 work center – in 1998. Since that time, our family of energy-saving products has grown to include the second generation of servoelectric punch presses; the LPe6 servo-electric punch/laser combination; the E series servo- electric press brake; and the EBe servo-electric Express Bending cell. All Finn-Power servo-electric machines provide our customers with such benefits as: Higher precision Higher repeatability Higher quality of end product Less energy consumption (50% less than hydraulic models) Lower maintenance costs Lower operating costs Higher reliability Ease of operation Less noise & vibration In the Words of Our Customers This issue of the FINN-ISH LINE contains several customer profile articles that highlight Finn-Power’s product range and flexibility: Day-Brite Lighting, Tupelo, MS, (see page 12) has earned a well-deserved reputation for manufacturing quality industrial and commercial lighting products. In 2004, the company’s challenge was to find a way to go from product design, to fabricating the part, and have it ready to assemble to within one day. To achieve its goal, Day-Brite chose two Finn- Power Shear Genius flexible manufacturing cells, a Night Train Material Management System, a robotic hydraulic press brake, and two servo-electric E press brakes. “With the Shear Genius, we’ve eliminated blanking since we are able to fabricate full-sized sheets and nest the parts, ensuring part consistency and squareness from one run to the next.” “The integration of the Night Train with its management system was a big feature for us. We run a great deal of 24/7, including ‘lights out’ over the weekend on some of our larger volume products to get a jump on production.” “The E Series press brake is a phenomenal piece of equipment. With the Finn-Power E Series press brake, we have seen increases in our productivity, quality repeatability, and reduced set-up and programming times. We estimate savings of 35-40% bending with the new press brakes over the older models.” “The integrated automated system was the key to Finn-Power over the competition. None of the other machine producers had this capability. Finn-Power was head and shoulders above the competition.” Produits Métalliques Bussières, Inc., Quebec, (see page 4) was formed in the early 1990s to service the growing job shop market in 3 by Tomas Hedenborg, President Quebec. By 2005, the company’s old turret punch press was overloaded, and the company began looking at ways to increase its productivity. After an intensive search of the latest automated technology on the market, PMB executives chose the Finn- Power LP6 laser/punch combination with the LSR load and stacking robot. “Not only have we been able to bring all the laser work in-house from the subcontractors, but the quality is much better with the LP6. In addition, we have the flexibility to use either the laser or the turret punch press.” “The LP6 is 40% faster – and in some cases 60% faster – than our earlier machine. The Finn-Power LP6 /LSR has tripled our productivity capability compared to our earlier fabrication equipment.” “We also changed our production philosophy with the new equipment. We used to batch manufacture our parts. With the Finn-Power equipment, we nest everything…and this has made us more efficient.” Prática Technicook, Pouso Alegre, MG, Brazil, (see page 20) is a manufacturer of professional ovens found in grocery stores, industrial kitchens, and hotels. By 2006, the company had outgrown its fabrication equipment and needed to add more capacity. Prática Technicook chose the C5 hydraulic turret punch press from Finn-Power which was installed in January 2007. “Before we installed the Finn-Power C5, we had the capacity to make six ovens per day. With the C5, we now produce 10 ovens plus four refrigeration units per day. We have more than doubled our production…with less labor and less expense in tooling.” “95% of what we produce is stainless steel. Everything is fabricated on the C5, which amounts to 45 metric tons of stainless steel per month.”
Page 1: Finn-Power Attracts Great Interest
Page 5 and 6: LP6 means that a fabricator can use
Page 8 and 9: FOCUS ON TOOLING by David Bishop, B
Page 10 and 11: SOFTWARE UPDATE by Kyle Plass, Appl
Page 12 and 13: CUSTOMER PROFILE Day-Brite Lighting
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Page 17 and 18: PRODUCT REVIEW Discover the Unique
Page 19 and 20: FOCUS ON BRAZIL Finn-Power’s Punc
Page 21 and 22: Efficient unloading - The C5 delive
Page 23 and 24: FOCUS ON ROBOTICS New Advances in M

volume 18 - issue 1 - Finn-Power International, Inc.

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