FORMING AND FABRICATING AUTOMATION
Press-Control Upgrades Elevate Die Protection, Press Automation
AR, VR and AI—New Trends in Press Control Augmented and virtual reality, and
Celebrating its 100th year in 2022, General Stamping & Metalworks has enjoyed great success serving primarily the agricultural and solar-power industries with stamped and fabricated parts and assemblies. Here we shine the light on its most recent success story.
artificial intelligence promise to transform pressrooms, with the technology already advancing in welding, assembly and stamping operations. CLICK FOR
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Virtual reality provides real value in stamping operations, especially in the planning stages. For example, as shown here, the technology allows evaluation of human-centric processes and the work environment to optimize tooling engineering, production-process planning and maintenance planning. For a planned stamping line, VR use enables an ergonomic review of the proposed end-of-line layout and automation setup; evaluation of tooling layout and blocking for ease of maintenance and repair; and validation of machine maintenance during press commissioning. Photo copyrighted by ESI Group courtesy of AP&T
Along with the new press controls at GSM came the ability to employ tonnage monitoring. “Prior to installing the new controls, we periodically would experience tonnage-related quality issues,” says Brent Ortman, GSM stamping lead and certified machine skills instructor, “especially on thicker work requiring higher press tonnage. Now, any imperfection in the tool or the process and the press will stop before damaging the tooling or the parts.”
Controls Deliver Smooth Movement in Robotic Press Cell Coordinating three stamping presses and three robots along with the feed line, a new control package ensures efficient movement.
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VIDEO COURTESY OF USA PAN Hundreds of machines dot the production floor of USA Pan in Crescent, PA, including gap-frame and straightside mechanical presses to 600-ton capacities, as well as press brakes and CNC machines for tool and die build and repair. Other operations include shearing to create blanks as well as welding and assembly.
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