Attendees of a seminar titled Sensors Control Systems for Metalforming learned techniques for cost-effectively controlling the stamping process, ensuring the highest possible uptime of stamping equipment and preventing defective parts from reaching the customer.Control: To regulate or guide the operation of a machine; to exercise restraint or direct influence over.Applying this dictionary definition of the word "control" translates, in the metalforming community, to gathering data during press cycling that relates to various performance criteria. Sensors placed throughout the press and die help here. Armed with process data such as forces throughout the press and die, part locations and speeds, the press controller and associated software crunches the data, then sends signals to adjust certain parameters or stop certain actions. Or it signals an operator to possible problems that require immediate attention--a broken punch, for example. All of this happens quickly--before bad parts are made, or in time to stop a press before something bad happens.
展开▼
