Presses meet industry requirements for parts production from high-strength materials

AIDA's single-press transfer systems and press-to-press transfer lines are designed to provide total solutions for stampers with requirements to produce parts from high strength steel. Use of automation with these transfer systems, including the company's gap transfer lines, can also reduce labor.

The TMX meets the automotive industry's more specialized requirements for large complex parts from thinner, stronger materials as well as complete assemblies and production from tailor-welded blanks. Its larger bed size gives stampers the ability to accept wide materials, and the high off-center load bearing capacity provides design flexibility for the die layout. High accuracy and rigid, low-deflection characteristics in the press components help to ensure production part quality and improved tolerances.

The press builder's double crank SMX straightside press can produce massive parts requiring corresponding stroke lengths. When used in a tandem line, automation can deliver improved productivity as parts move from press to press. In a two or more press system, the straightside can be run individually or, when extra tooling is required, as a single large transfer press by initiating the intermediate stage between the presses and running them in a continuous, synchronized operation. Tie-rod straightside presses (AIDA's NST) can be selected with long or short strokes for transfer or progressive die operations, however, unitized frame straightside presses (AIDA's NSU ) also can be used to meet the same production requirements. Two unitized frame presses can provide up to 12 tooling stations with material feeding left to right through both presses, or the presses can be used individually. This combination can provide more tonnage capacity without the capital equipment costs of a dedicated transfer system.

The company's gap frame press transfer systems continue to offer flexibility with an investment cost reportedly one-third that of a dedicated transfer press system. The manufacturer says many stampings produced in transfer dies can be successfully run on gap presses. The ability to connect as many gap presses as needed for higher tonnage requirements makes this transfer system capable of handling a wide range of stampings. Since the system does not require large accessory equipment or a pit, press configurations are easy to install or change.

ServoPro® allows stampers to produce a wide range of parts from materials like aluminum, magnesium, high-strength steel, and titanium. In addition to infinite control of slide position, the high torque, low RPM motor eliminates the flywheel, clutch/brake, and main drive motor found on a standard mechanical press. The company's direct drive offers the same maximum stroke length and torque rating as a conventional mechanical press while allowing full torque to be used at as little as five strokes per minute. Full torque at very low speeds gives stampers the ability to perform forming operations at slide velocities that cannot be achieved with conventional press drives, according to the company. ServoPro can be used on a variety of the press builder's gap and straightside models or in a transfer line.