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A typical situation for our FLEXcnc
controls package as a retrofit application, is it's use to control
this general-purpose, heavy-duty punching machine in a
small-production-lot shop environment
The primary use of the machine is
to perform hydraulic punching & plasma shape cutting on
sheet-metal & other sheet materials ranging in thickness from
¼" to 2" & in sheet sizes from 2' x 4' to 6' x 12'.
The machine is used in a specialty-fabricating shop that focuses
primarily on manufacturing screens such as those found in rock
crushing applications as well as general machine parts. The
machine has hydraulically operated clamps so the material is moved
through the programmed sequence without requiring the operator to
handle it for most operations.
The machine is especially useful
where a small number of parts are required because of the
combination of high speed operation; CAD/CAM program generation
& translation of "library" programs, previously
written for the control we replaced, allow non-CNC trained
operators to perform all, regular, work without the need to write
CNC programs. The availability of full CNC functionality in the
controller background allows appropriate operators to perform
unusual work & to modify the machine's operation when
necessary.
The machine was an existing unit
which was in adequate mechanical condition so no major mechanical
parts were required to be replaced. Some hydraulic replacement was
necessary. Standard servo motors & drives were used to replace
those that existed on the machine providing 2-axes of motion (X
& Y). The operator can move his control pendant for manually
controlling the machine during part set-up. A light curtain
existed for operator safety & that was connected into the new
control system.
More Details in PDF
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