Sheet Metal conveyance?.

[ifin]

we are putting up a Lean cell and where hand off is physically not possible, does anybody have any suggestions on how to transfer parts from turrets in flat, or from Press brake partially formed?

 

[Barry1961]

Round belts conveyors are sometimes used to transfer odd shapes between operations. One way is to have two single strand conveyors that run off a single VFD. The difference in slip is usually not enough to cause problems. This allows the two strands to be on different elevations and easily adjustable.

There are several manufactures of round belting. Often they are urethane with high tensile core.

Barry1961

 

[aamoroso]

Robots are becoming more popular these days for handling material.

Fill what's empty. Empty what's full. And scratch where it itches.

 

[BillPSU]

Depends on the volume you are doing? Are you kitting the parts from the turret? Give me some more info.

 

[ifin]

3 turrets making total of 8 parts
( 8 parts = 1 kit)

cycle time per kit = 180s

3 parts -> press brake #1
3 parts -> press brake #2
2 parts -> press brake #3

all parts in flat, biggest size = 35"x 38"

 

[griffengm]

Can gravity be used to move the parts? Are there surface finish issues to be managed? Are all parts similar in size/configuration? Are all presented to the brake in the same orientation? Do all leave the punch in the same orientation? Who/what picks up the part at the brake?
Each decision affects cost, time and space.

Griffy

 

[ifin]

we currently use gravity and we have issue with parts mixing on track

No surface finish issues.
Parts are fairly similar in size/ config.
Parts picked up by operator
Parts presented to brake in same orientation
Parts are punched in the same orientation

 

[griffengm]

"we currently use gravity and we have issue with parts mixing on track"
Does this mean that specific parts from the kit must go to specific brakes? Does it mean that the parts for a kit do not stay together though you want them to or does it mean that the parts become entangled such that the operator must do extra work to move a part to his machine?
Each option would seem to indicate a different method of accumulation.

Griffy

 

[BillPSU]

Specialized cart able to hold all 8 parts. Move from machine to machine. Depending on volume. 500 per year? 10,000 per year?