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Expanding Wilson Wheel Technology
by
Ron Palick
 Vice President of Sales and Marketing
Wilson Tool International,
Inc.
Developing solutions to help sheet metal fabricators
become more efficient and more productive is the primary
objective of Wilson Tool International. More than a decade
ago Wilson Tool introduced the revolutionary concept of the
Wilson Wheel for use in the 1-1/4" (B) station. Since being
introduced to the market Wilson Wheel technology has transformed
sheet metal fabrication, providing fabricators with a much
higher level of flexibility and performance. Fabricators
can now form and shear sheet metal as fast as they can move
the sheet through the turret.
As a company committed to continuous
innovation, Wilson Tool sought to expand our family of Wilson
Wheel tooling to larger turret stations. These efforts have
paid off and we are now proud to offer the rolling rib and
rolling offset tools in the 2" (C) station. These tools allow
larger forms and thicker material to be fabricated in the
turret. Previously fabricators were forced to "nibble" or
perform costly secondary operations in order to achieve the
results now possible with the 2" rolling tools.
While the
Wilson Wheel station family of tooling is a cutting edge
technology it is important that fabricators be cognizant
of the wheel tool's capabilities and operating requirements.
For example, when using 1-1/4" wheel tools, the maximum width
of forms is .875"
(22.23 mm). With the 2" tool the maximum width expands to 1.500" (38.10 mm).
The 2" station tool is designed to form aluminum, mild steel, and stainless of
up to .125" (3.18 mm) thickness, while the 1-1/4" tool is designed to form .098" (2.49
mm) aluminum, .078" (1.98 mm) mild steel, or .060" (1.52 mm) stainless steel.
One
more benefit inherent in both the 1-1/4" and 2" Wilson Wheel tooling is
the quality of the form. The unique wheel design allows you to "roll" a form
without breaking contact with the sheet. When using the Wilson Wheel you can
expect a high quality finished product with no nibble marks. Why leave certain
forming applications to secondary operations when it can be done in the turret?
To
take full advantage of the 2" station Wilson Wheel technology, the tool
must be used in a machine with a 2" Auto-Index station. Without Auto-Index
capability, only straight-line forms are achievable. In addition, the machine
needs to be equipped with a programmable, hydraulic ram. The machine's ram
stroke must be able to stop the tool in the down position and hold it there
throughout the forming operation. Also, make sure the machine in which you
are using the tool is equipped with the latest controller for programming "arcs",
such as the new line of Finn-Power presses.
The Wilson Wheel family of tooling,
including the existing 1-1/4" and the new 2" station, is another example
of Wilson Tool International's commitment to innovation so that our customers
can be "the most successful fabricators in the world."
For more information, please contact:
Wilson
Tool International®,
Inc.
12912 Farnham Avenue
White Bear Lake, MN 55110
Tel: 800-328-9646
Fax: 800-222-0002
turret@wilsontool.com
www.wilsontool.com
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710
Remington Road 
Volume
14 Issue 1 -
July 2004