FORMING AND FABRICATING AUTOMATION
Press-Control Retrofit Streamlines Robot Integration
Press-Line Controls Under One Umbrella—An Ideal Solution
10 Questions: How to Determine
PMI’s relentless drive to innovate has led to numerous stamping-equipment upgrades, including the replacement of aging press controls with newer units with built-in ability to manage robot retrofits. When PMI sought to retrofit robotic automation to its presses, “the robot supplier was pleasantly surprised to find that the existing press control already had all of the capability required to seamlessly interface to the robots,” says plant manager Eric Lewis. “It also has a special operating mode called ‘Automatic Single Stroke’ that allows the automation to trigger a single stroke of the press between part-handling tasks.”
“Using one control for the entire line brings many advantages,” Toledo Integrated Systems' John Eby tells MetalForming . “And, it doesn’t matter if the press is from one manufacturer and the feed line is from another, for example. A single control system can marry all of that.”
Which Type of Control to Outfit to Your Press A stamping press’s basic function and methodology have not changed much over the years, but the way that the press is driven and controlled has.
Besides ensuring communication and control over all press- line controls, a single solution prevents having to source a variety of control replacement components; frees operators from having to run back and forth to ensure proper feed, part- out and other functions; and eases operator training.
CLICK FOR
CLICK FOR
CLICK FOR
FULL ARTICLE
FULL ARTICLE
FULL ARTICLE
Page 9
www.metalformingmagazine.com
Powered by FlippingBook