Troubleshooting a bending opeation is like troubleshooting any other manufacturing process-keep records, watch for changes, and keep symptoms and causes separate. Consumables. Pay attention to consumable usage. For example, an increase in wiper tip reorder frequency is not a problem. More than likely, it is a symptom of a problem. A wiper die's support comes from the tube groove of the bend die contour. Considering that the wiper is just 0.003 inch thick at the tip if machined correctly, it is easy to understand that this tip will conform to the bend die regardless of its condition, new or worn. If the bend die's groove contour is worn, the wiper tip life will be a fraction of what it should be. How many tips did you discard last quarter after premature failure? How many replacement bend die bodies would have prevented this? Short wiper die life also can indicate that the tooling mounting surfaces are misaligned. This misalignment, in turn, can be caused by excessive and uneven strain on the bender, which is a result of excessive bender force. This doesn't just prematurely wear or ruin the tooling; it has the same effects on the bender itself.
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