The Stockpile from April/May 2024

Cold forming machine

The FORMAX 2000 (FX2000) cold former advances the original FORMAX by raising performance and precision to a higher level. The FX2000 design combines zero-clearance heading slide guiding, straight across transfer, sealed heading slide liners, precision linear feed, quick-change offline setup, and advanced computer controls into a forming system delivering close-tolerance parts to net or near net shape.

The FX 2000, along with the addition of certain specials, can produce brass/steel pistol shell casings at more than 250 parts per minute (ppm). The machine can also be configured to produce second draw rifle tubes in brass or steel material.

FORMAX pioneered the quick-change concept with a Formapak system that can be removed from the machine and set up externally on a Formapak setup fixture. The Formapak is one unit incorporating the diepak, punchpak, transfer, transfer camshaft, cutter, and quill. After installation of the Formapak, computer controls simplify the adjustment of machine settings. Motor drives make accurate and repeatable kick out adjustments during this automated process.

The zero-clearance heading slide is a 2-axis design using fixed liners providing zero clearance during the work stroke of the machine. The zero clearance heading slide guidance system precisely aligns punches to dies so part concentricities are held to tight tolerances.

The FX2000 cold forming machine is designed with heading slide liners sealed to prevent foreign materials from damaging the liners and causing excess/premature wear.

Linear feeding makes traditional feed roll designs obsolete by delivering superior cut-off blank accuracy without the need for a stock gauge. The linear feed grips are designed to handle the full range of wire diameters so only one set of grips is needed, unlike traditional feed rolls. Linear feed also delivers more precise blanks while eliminating the problems associated with feed clutches and brakes.

The FX2000’s zero clearance transfer system moves blanks across the dies and is designed for greater machine speed and consistency than traditional transfers.

National Machinery https://www.nationalmachinery.com

Automated bending cell

The automated Flex Cell offers highly efficient bending in combination with the TruBend 7050 press brake. Operators can dock the mobile robot cell onto the bending machine and operate it automatically in a few simple steps. The machine can run autonomously for several hours, helping companies handle order surges and combat labor shortages. The combined footprint of the Flex Cell and the TruBend 7050 is under 10m2 (108ft2), compact enough for most production environments.

The Flex Cell has a double-sized material buffer ensuring it has enough material to feed the TruBend 7050 throughout a night shift. A vacuum combination gripper on the robot arm enables fast and safe loading and unloading. Using the TRUMPF TecZone Bend software, a bending program can be created in just a few seconds. The operator can program the robot with an app and the teach panel, making the TruBend 7050 quick and easy to set up. With automatic double-sheet detection, the Flex Cell can recognize if unprocessed material has stuck together during loading and then eject it, reducing rejects and saving resources.

The Flex Cell is suitable for components with a format ranging from 600mm x 400mm to 70mm x 50mm. It can process sheet metal of between 0.7mm and 6mm in thickness.

TRUMPF Inc. https://www.trumpf.com