The CNC Turret Punching Process

CNC Turret and Laser Fabrication

Turret presses, likewise recognized as CNC punch presses are especially suited for low to medium volume production runs. CNC presses are the workhorse for “soft-tooled” manufacturing and are extensively used by users of PMA’s Metal Fabricating Division. Their flexibility and speed are continually being greatly improved, boosting the run numbers for which they are the most cost-effective choice when compared with dedicated stamping press tooling and processes.

Intermediate-sized units may hold up to 60 tools, have up to 30-ton press capacity, and normally use a table of 50 in. (1.3 m) Square. Bigger machines carry as many as 72 tools, provide up to 50 tons of capacity, and feature table sizes as large as 60 in. (1.5 m) x 70 in. (1.8 m).

Working speeds range from 80 to about 300 hits per minute (hpm). This evaluation is based on the one-inch movement of workpiece material in between each “hit” or work stroke.

In practice, the greatest functioning speeds are generally linked with intermediate-sized machines. The larger machines are typically run at less than maximum speed to preserve accuracy while conforming to the inertia of relatively larger and heavier tools and workpieces.

Machines are designed with either a Cframe or a bridge frame design. CNC presses deviate substantially in size and speed. The smallest, and thus least flexible of the bunch are those with 20 or fewer tools in the turret, 20 tons or less of press capacity and table size of 40 in. (1 m) square or less.

Laser Operation & Process

With the turret affixed in position to make sure precise positioning, the program triggers the ram, driving the punch through the workpiece. After the punch is pulled back, the machine is ready to prepare for the next hit.

Some turret presses are assembled so that the crankshaft is used to both depress and disengage the tool. In this situation, urethane strippers surrounding the punch are used to hold down the workpiece throughout movement of the tool.

Regardless of construction, size or speed, all turret presses function in the same way. A sheet of workpiece component gripped at the edges by workholders, is moved across the table into position in between the upper and lower portions of the turret by motion of two precision lead screws (one in the X-axis, the other in the Y-axis). Meanwhile, the turret revolves until the necessary punch and die set in place.

Other machines are developed to disengage the tool by spring motion rather than with the ram. This needs a separate punch holder and allows for strippers of metal rather than urethane. Metal strippers can hold the workpiece more tightly, especially during forming operations.

Advantages and Limitations of the CNC Turret Punch

The prospect to improve part appearance and precision with inexpensive specific tools in the turret press is in some cases overlooked. Mainly where nonstandard designs and components are concerned, the manufacturer is likely to advise the selective use of particularly shaped tools. Special tools, appropriately designed and used, can considerably improve dimensional control while minimizing burrs and improving feature appearance.

Certain design functions make the CNC press a prospect for better quantity manufacturing runs. For example, firmly spaced hole patterns and louvers as generally used for ventilation purposes, may require the use of two or even three progressive stations in a tough tool die to space the openings– at substantial added cost. This added tooling cost presents the CNC press its economical quantity strength in this example.

The CNC press pairs the distinct benefit of highly flexible manufacturing of prototypes with rather inexpensive manufacturing quantities. This is due to the extraordinary variety of standard punch configurations offered which makes the cost and lead time connected with special tooling not needed.

Another perk of CNC press processing is the incredible design versatility in configuration and size of features within the part. Newer machines, particularly models with indexable tool stations, make the nibbling of very large and complicated features a practical reality.

Laser CNC Equipment Characteristics

Greater production numbers are also economically run in the CNC turret press in several instances. When automatic loading and unloading machinery is employed, long periods of economical, unattended function are possible, but sweeping generalizations concerning the length of the run are often misleading.

Because of the nature of the process, it is feasible to make rapid adjustments in part configuration, and to make them “on paper” before executing them to metal. In effect, the manufacturer has the distinct opportunity of doing design development throughout initial periods of production.

A relevant advantage is the fact that lead time from the completion of concept to the production of parts can be exceptionally short employing CNC turret press technology.

At the start of a job, many experienced fabricators take advantage of the quick, low-cost, versatile design opportunities inherent in the CNC turret press, then advance into more high-end and costly tooling as the escalating quantities warrant.

Standard and Special CNC Tooling

Nibbling, compared to processing with a singular punch or unique tool, has constraints regarding preciseness which the professional should keep in mind. Since a dimension of a nibbled attribute is impacted twice by the punch (once on each side of the element), twice the normal punch resilience is appropriate.

The exact number level at which specific tooling becomes more cost effective depends on several variables, but in many cases requires several thousand of parts. In general, parts with highly irregular outer contours or large central holes– which demand long machine functioning time for the turret press– reach the cross-over point for specialized or “hard” tools at reasonably lower quantities.

Severe flexibility of over-all part dimension is another perk of CNC press production. In practical terms, the throat depth of the machine restricts the over-all part size in the Y direction of the machine, though it is achievable to reposition the part in the X direction during processing to produce a greater length. (Since each repositioning calls for added tolerance, only one repositioning per part is recommended.).

Resource: http://www.makeitmetal.com

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