Neff Press Custom Applications: High Speed Drawing
Final Product: Food and Beverage Cans
Project: 25-Ton 4-Post Press
Ram Control System
High Speed Hydraulic Power Unit
Electronic Integration of Conveyors and Roll Feed Equipment
 Our
Mission: The customer, a systems integrator in Colorado, approached
Neff to supply a high speed draw press. This press will be integrated
with a servo-roll feed and conveyor, which were both supplied by
the customer. After integrating the press, feed, and conveyor, the
entire line will be shipped to Shanghai, China. The end user will
utilize this press in an R & D capacity to evaluate different
types of alloys and how they react to the cupping process, which
is the first stage in a canning line. The customer required the
press to blank, clamp (1.75" stroke), and draw the material
(5" stroke) in 1.5 seconds.
The Solution: A special 4-post hydraulic press designed
by Neff Press. This press was designed with a bed size of 24"
x 24" in between the pins, and 26" of daylight. The press
had multiple rams for several purposes. The two rams attached to
the moving platen were both 3.25" bore cylinders and were used
for rapid advance of the moving platen and to blank/clamp the servo
fed material. The center ram was a 5.0" bore cylinder used
to draw the material into a cup.
Neff designed a 75 horsepower high speed power unit to meet the
criteria. Each cylinder had proportional pressure and flow control.
Linear distance transducers were linked to the draw cylinder, and
to the moving platen. Variable volume and pressure compensated piston
pumps were used in conjunction with two accumulators to meet the
peak oil flow demands. Ram speeds with the required stroke parameters
traveled up to 2400 Inches per Minute.
The Press was controlled by Neff's Ram Control System. An Allen
Bradley SLC 5/03 PLC with a 7-slot rack that included several analog
cards was used for controlling the equipment. A dual axis closed-looped
hydraulic control card interfaced with the PLC for position and
tonnage feedback. An Allen Bradley Panelview 600 was selected as
an operator interface, which included; recipe storage, diagnostic
functions, preventative maintenance, and calibration functions of
analog devices.
 Our Mission: Our customer, a consumer appliance supplier, needed another Neff Press for a draw application. This press needed to be a C-frame in design and generate a minimum of 200 tons. The press would be dedicated to one job most of the time, however it needed some basic dimensions and features to have it used as a general purpose machine if needed. The customer required independent speed control on extend and retract portions of the main cylinder stroke.
The Solution: Neff supplied a DF200-50M hydraulic C-frame press (generates 231 tons of force) with several unique features. The press frame had 24” of daylight (net with 4-post guided platen), 16” of throat, 16” of stroke, and bolster dimensions of 48” L-R x 28” F-B x 6” thick. The press ran on a 50 HP power unit, which included Neff’s standard dual stage pump system for rapid advance and retract, while meeting tonnage requirements.
This application required independent speed control during the extend and retract of the hydraulic cylinder. On various parts, having the ability to slow the ram down (especially on the retract portion) allowed better part quality and fewer rejects. Neff also included its basic Distance Reversal option. An additional adjustable proximity sensor on the front of the press sets the maximum ram travel distance and a three-position (PRESSURE/EITHER/ DISTANCE) selector switch chooses between distance reversal, pressure reversal or whichever event occurs first. This option greatly simplifies press set-ups, eliminates mechanical press die modifications and provides tool and die protection.
Neff has over 40 years of experience manufacturing, engineering
and integrating industry standard components to solve customers
manufacturing needs. Contact Neff Press at 800-325-8612 for further
details on this application or on many others.
|
