by Andrew McCarlie
Applications Engineer

    At first glance, the maximum tooling size for a Finn-Power turret punch press appears to be limited to 3.5” diameter in a single hit. While this is the case when punching holes in sheet metal, forming in a Finn-Power turret press is not constrained by the punched slug diameter. As a result, forms up to 5” in length – and sometimes greater – can be achieved, depending on the tool shape and design as well as the maximum tonnage upforming envelope of the machine.

4.5” extrusion tool.

Here is an example of a 4.125” diameter knockout tool in a Nova G station using a two piece punch design that again allows for the use of a standard Upforming station holder.

    Combining forms larger than 3.5” in diameter with the optional Upforming feature, available in 10 Series, – and up – machines, provides an entirely new realm of punch/form possibilities. The standard 20-station Finn-Power turret has five Upform capable stations, and the new 30-station Shear Brilliance is equipped with seven Upform capable stations.

    As in the case with most forming, what is required of the turret punch press and tooling is to produce a form in sheet metal in the most accurate and precise manner. The maximum size of the form in the Upform station is limited by the physical area available between the two adjacent stations.

    The advantages of the combination of the Upform feature and large diameter forms are many. Typically, form-tooling dies sit much higher in the turret – depending on their design. As a result, they tend to interfere/scratch the material. This design also requires the carriage moving the sheet to be run at much slower speeds in order to avoid collisions under the turret. Larger form tooling tends to exacerbate these problems. Another issue is how close to the part edge you can place a large form if the sheet must ride up onto a large high-form die in the first place. In most cases, use of the two adjacent stations in a machine without the Upform feature is limited.

4.75" louver tool using a modified thick turret D station.

Programming these large special tools and the Upforming feature is all seamlessly set up and supported with the Finn-Power NC Express CNC programming software in an easily understood graphical environment, as shown above.

     However, by utilizing the Upform feature – which can form from both the top or bottom side of the sheet – the die or punch forms only after the sheet is in position. The die retracts after the large form is made to the same height as the other dies in the turret, thus leaving no high dies.

     The Upform feature provides flexibility in that these large form tools are not permanently fixed in one or more dedicated stations. Special large form tools are available in both thick turret and Nova tool styles from Mate Precision Tooling and Wilson Tool International.

     Depending upon the tool design, innovative methods are used to either semi-customize existing holders so that the forming stations can still be used for standard tooling of 3.5” diameter or less. This means that you are not limited by having certain stations in your turret that can only be used for large fixed form tools. Rather, they are available for a variety of other standard punches and dies.

Tech Tips is a new feature column covering such topics as tooling, operation, NC Express software, optional features, preventative maintenance, etc. This column will appear regularly in future issues of The FINN-ISH LINE. We welcome reader suggestions for future topics. Please send them to Bob Kolcz, rjk@finnpower.com

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www.finnpower.com

  Volume 13 Issue 1 - July 2003
Finn-Power reserves the right to change technical specifications without prior notice.
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Copyright © 2003 by Finn-Power International, Inc.