MoldMaking Technology

MAR 2018

Advertising in MoldMaking Technology offers

Issue link: https://mmt.epubxp.com/i/943854

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 36 of 51

moldmakingtechnology.com 35 because of a host of tool monitoring and control capabilities that Makino machines provide as standard features that enable users to achieve extended machining hours with no labor costs. "These milling machines provided a variety of technologies to help improve speed and efficiency," Martin says. The a61 offered a ring-type, 60-tool magazine and an automatic pallet changer with a seven-second pallet-change time. On the S33 machines, we were able to reduce setups and improve utiliza- tion rates with a 20-position tool magazine and automatic tool changer (ATC) that performs tool exchanges in 1.3 seconds." Speed and efficiency were not the only noticeable changes in performance. Both the S33 and the a61 were equipped with Makino's proprietary SGI geometric intelligence servo control, which Martin says "provided exceptionally smooth machined surfaces—even in high-feed rate machining opera- tions and complex, 3D-shaped features." These early steps toward automation illustrated how well the machines performed on their own and led Martin to con- sider ways of organizing them into manufacturing cells. For the next step, Summit Tooling added a System 3R material- handling robot that Makino recommended to one of its exist- ing commodity EDM machines. "The first thought for many of our employees was, 'You are trying to eliminate our jobs.' No, we were making their jobs easier and more efficient so that we could push more work through and make more money. It is all about staying com- petitive and bringing in the revenue to provide good paying jobs, and there's simply not enough qualified labor to grow otherwise," Martin says. Automation Investment Pays Dividends Martin says that his com- pany realized a full return on its investment of its initial automated manufacturing cell in about six months after the installation. Sales doubled while Summit Tooling continued running one shift and maintained the same number of mold shop employees. The company could do this because its EDM machines and horizontal and vertical machining centers were integrated using System 3R material-handling systems that could robotically load and unload electrodes and workpiece holding fixtures. This freed up the operator to handle other tasks like performing The reality is that had we not automated our mold- making operations, we would not be in business. WEBINAR UPCOMING ENGINEER / BUILD / MAINTAIN PRESENTER: Tim Lankisch Director of Engineering CAE Services Corp DATE & TIME: Wednesday, March 14, 2018, 2 pm ET Register at short.moldmakingtechnology.com/CAE314 It's About your Part! PRESENTED BY: caeservices.com It's a fact – plastic parts warp! Realizing the problem at the press is way too late… Who pays the price for excessive warpage and missed target dates? The key to reducing costs and keeping your project on schedule is to identify warpage issues prior to mold sourcing and cutting steel. In this webinar, the steps required to identify and solve part design and warpage-related issues will be reviewed. Specifically, you will learn: Primary Topics: • What causes warpage? • How part design impacts warpage • How cooling impacts warpage • How to reduce warpage • Importance of proper material data • When to consider cooling inserts Baffles + Moldmax – Warpage Improved 80 Percent 1.5 mm warp (unacceptable) -0.28 mm warp (acceptable) Tim Lankisch has been with CAE Services Corporation for over twenty years and currently serves as the Director of Engineering. Celebrating 30 years, CAE Services has been providing Moldflow analysis services in North America since its founding in 1988.

Articles in this issue

Links on this page

Archives of this issue

view archives of MoldMaking Technology - MAR 2018