Quick Facts
| Type of Press | Multi-Action Deep Draw Press | ||
| Tonnage | 450 Tons | ||
| Industry | Job Shop | ||
| Special Features | Programmable Bed Cushion Mirrored Light Curtains | ||
| Challenge | Reduce scrap rates by eliminating tearing and wrinkling. | ||
| Solution | The punch is mounted on the bed, and the blank material sits on the draw ring supported by the bed cushion. When the upper tooling contacts the blank, the cushion retracts downward, forming the material over the punch. Using Beckwood’s Dynamic Cushion Control, Columbia Metal Spinning can adjust the tonnage of the bed cushion throughout four travel zones. This provides the operator with greater control over material flow, allowing them to form complex parts with ease. | ||
| Challenge | Reduce reliance on skilled labor. | ||
| Solution | Equipped with Allen Bradley controls, the intuitive system operates in manual mode to accommodate die set-up and maintenance as well as semi-automatic mode for continuous production. Once part recipes are perfected, they can be stored for easy recall. Columbia Metal Spinning doesn’t have to rely on a manual controls system or highly-skilled operators to maintain accuracy and repeatability. | ||
| Results | Columbia Metal Spinning was able to increase production capacity, reduce reliance on skilled labor, and perform much-needed maintenance on their existing presses. |
For nearly 70 years, Columbia Metal Spinning (CMS) has stayed on the forefront of technology in its quest to provide cost efficient, high-quality parts to the automotive, aerospace, oil seal, and electronics markets. The job shop specializes in precision metal spinnings from almost any alloy in diversified shapes up to 60” in diameter with tolerances of +/- 0.001”. When the need to increase capacity prompted CMS to look for a new press, they solicited several quotes, but Beckwood had the advantage from the get-go.
“Beckwood specializes in building custom presses,” says Ken Kolman, quality assurance manager for CMS. “We knew they could tailor a press to meet our requirements and handle the different materials we wanted to form.”
CMS installed the custom 450-ton hydraulic deep draw press in October 2017. With a 54” x 54” forming area and a 120-ton hydraulic bed cushion, the new press expanded the job shop’s large-diameter draw forming capabilities. They are primarily using the press to form Inconel, aluminum, and brass nickel into hemispheres and flared tube ends.
“We’re running everything we can through this press,” says Kolman. “We are pushing the machine’s limits. The tolerances we are able to achieve are paramount to the components we produce. The press has opened doors to new production areas for us.”
Equipped with Allen Bradley controls, the intuitive system operates in manual mode to accommodate die set-up and maintenance as well as semi-automatic mode for continuous production. The controls system also helps CMS close the skills gap. “The press has allowed us to reduce the number of personnel needed for some jobs,” Kolman notes.
“Beckwood understood what we needed and wanted,” Kolman adds. “They were just fantastic to work with.”
CMS is considering adding hot forming to its repertoire. The application requires a highly-specialized press capable of forming high-strength materials like titanium at temperatures up to 2000oF, and CMS knows just where to shop.
Speak to a Beckwood Engineer about a custom deep draw press