Extra-safe wedge clamp for presses

Roemheld’s range of die-clamping solutions for presses and injection-moulding systems has been supplemented with a newly designed series of robust wedge clamping elements.

A hydraulic model has been developed specifically for the fixing of upper dies that meets the highest safety requirements.
An additional locking cylinder holds the wedge clamping bolt in position and prevents any inadvertent retraction. Release of the clamping device is only possible once the locking mechanism has been opened, which ensures that the upper die is retained in position, even in the event of a pressure drop.
The wedge clamping element itself comprises a block cylinder with housing-guided clamping bolt. An angled contact surface creates a frictional connection in conjunction with angled die clamping edges. A position control is integrated as a space-saving measure to monitor the clamping and release position, as well as the status of the locking mechanism. Whenever there is no die available, a notification is issued.
Due to the Roemheld wedge clamps being constructed as a variant system, they can be adjusted in accordance with respective customer requirements. The standard range already includes seven designs with clamping forces of 25 to 630 kN, and cylinder dimensions of between 25 and 125 mm. Clamping strokes of 15 to 36 mm are available here, while the maximum operating pressure is 350 bar.
When elements are to be used for processes with high heat requirements, special designs are available which are temperature-resistant up to 300°C. In addition, there are versions for straight clamping edges, as well as models with clamping forces of up to 1250 kN, and even higher retention forces.
For further information www.roemheld.co.uk

XYZ Machine Tools posts record year

XYZ Machine Tools has continued its record-breaking run of year-end results, posting an 11% increase in turnover for 2018/19, taking it to £33.9m.

The coming year is also one of optimism for the machine-tool company, with order books remaining encouragingly strong and plans in the pipeline for more new product developments, along with the opening of a new showroom in the north of England.
“There is some amazing positivity in the manufacturing sector at the moment, despite the uncertainty that our politicians are generating around Brexit,” says Nigel Atherton, managing director at XYZ Machine Tools. “Our sales have been bolstered by a mix of optimism in the industry, along with the addition of new products to our portfolio such as
the LR series of vertical machining centres, our two UMC five-axis machining centres, and the latest generation of ProtoTrak RMX and RLX controls
for our mills and lathes.”
For further information www.xyzmachinetools.com

Time-saving indexing head from 1st MTA

Aimed at production shops where manual mills may still be in operation, but equally suited to use on a CNC vertical machining centre, a manually adjustable indexing head has been introduced by 1st Machine Tool Accessories.

RotaVice can be rapidly set to position a component at multiple rotary angles in the horizontal plane for milling and drilling.
Manufactured in the UK, the unit is designed to be secured in a One-Lok work-holding device manufactured by Chick in the US, for which 1st MTA is the sole agent in the UK and Ireland.
Costly fixtures and the need to change machine set-ups can be avoided, saving money and time. In smaller job shops employing four-axis VMCs equipped with a full or indexing rotary table, where there may be only one or two people able to program the machine, the load can be lightened by having an operator of a lower skill level set up a component manually for three-axis machining.
Everything about RotaVice is said to be fast. First, a One-Lok may be bolted quickly on to a VMC table. Next, positioning the moveable jaw using the integral time-saving ratchet mechanism leaves only a few turns of the handle to clamp the indexing head in a special RotaVice jaw, also made by 1st MTA, which replaces the standard One-Lok jaw. Lastly, the workpiece is secured in moments in a horizontal orientation using an array of work-holding options, which include a three-jaw chuck.
Adjusting the angle is also rapid and accurate, and is effected by turning a circular locating plate to the required angle and inserting a pin into the relevant hole, an array of which are pre-drilled into the plate at the most common angles.
For further information www.1mta.com

Fully automatic panel bending

The new TruBend Center 7030 bends parts up to 30% faster than its predecessor, while its tool change cycles are up to 70% quicker.

For the first time, Trumpf has also included the option of equipping the panel bender with a loading and unloading station.
The operator can stack various piles of metal blanks on the right-hand side of the machine. A suction cup initiates the automated loading process by picking up a sheet whilst simultaneously checking that it has not taken two by mistake. This gripper device deposits the blank on a brush table, with a positioning bar ensuring it is aligned correctly. A loading carriage then moves the blank into the machining area, simultaneously removing the most recently bent part from the machining area, and transporting it to a conveyor belt. During this loading and unloading process, the TruBend Center 7030 continues to operate.
The task of changing bending tools is handled by the ToolMaster. As well as increasing its axis speed, Trumpf engineers have also added a feature that allows it to change multiple small tools at the same time. These improvements reduce machine set-up time by up to 70%. The TruBend Center 7030 also features the offline TecZone Fold programming solution that enables operators to program many parts in just a few clicks of the mouse. TecZone Fold takes a matter of seconds to generate the bending program and 3D simulation of the parts, including collision monitoring.
Panel bending machines such as the TruBend Center 7030 are particularly adept at fabricating complex parts with radius bends, short side lengths, and narrow profiles. When it comes to producing parts with these kinds of specifications, this alternative bending technology is quicker than die bending machines, says the company.
For further information www.trumpf.com

Easy forming of complex parts

Two custom bending cells, each comprised of an LVD Easy-Form press brake and Fanuc robots, have automated the production of complex formed parts for Germany-based Kuipers CNC-Blechtechnik – parts that could not be manufactured using a standard modular solution.

Today, Kuipers, a 100-year-old sheet metal subcontractor that serves a wide range of industries, uses the bending cells to handle complex interlaced parts with a high number of bends. In contrast to standardised automation solutions, the LVD bending cells offer the flexibility to program parts tailored to Kuipers’ requirements.
After the success of its first custom bending cell, the company decided to order a second cell – designed from the ground up and equipped with two movable Fanuc robots. The first robot feeds the parts from the material supply and pre-centres the blanks, while the second robot handles the components during the bending process, and stores and stacks manufactured parts.
Kuipers’ latest bending cell automatically sets up the press brake tools and the robot grippers. More than 80 m of tools are held within the cell. Four stations with flexible configurations handle the material supply. When completed, the parts are placed on a conveyor belt or stacked on pallets.
The press brake features LVD’s Easy-Form Laser adaptive bending system, which provides angle measurement and correction in real time.
For further information www.lvdgroup.com