Punching blanks is useful especially when there are various starting materials, thicknesses, and sheet sizes offering more flexibility compared to the punching with coils. The punching process starts with pre-cut blank and the punching is done with Thick Turret Tools placed both-sided.
Punching Lines for Blanks
PivaPunch PCB (Punching Center for Blanks) is the most efficient punching center for symmetrical parts and product families, and as flexible as traditional sheet metal punching centers. The main reasons to choose PivaPunch PCB are typically small batch sizes, many different materials, or material thicknesses. In PivaPunch PCB the movements are different from traditional systems. As for coil material, the blank is moved only in X-direction by CNC Clamps — one clamp feeds the blank and one clamp pulls the blank. The punching is done with Thick Turret tools which are set in quick-change tool cassettes, one on each side, and which move in Y-direction over the blank. The Double Tool Punch feature is used whenever possible.
PCB Modules
PCB Principle
Punching
Punching blanks is useful especially when there are various starting materials, thicknesses, and sheet sizes offering more flexibility compared to the punching with coils. The punching process starts with pre-cut blank and the punching is done with Thick Turret Tools placed both-sided. Punching Lines for Blanks PivaPunch PCB (Punching Center for Blanks) is the most efficient punching center for symmetrical parts and product families, and as flexible as traditional sheet metal punching centers. The main reasons to choose PivaPunch PCB are typically small batch sizes, many different materials, or material thicknesses. In PivaPunch PCB the movements are different from traditional systems. As for coil material, the blank is moved only in X-direction by CNC Clamps — one clamp feeds the blank and one clamp pulls the blank. The punching is done with Thick Turret tools which are set in quick-change tool cassettes, one on each side, and which move in Y-direction over the blank. The Double Tool Punch feature is used whenever possible. The PCB starts from blank loading and feeding system, which can be a conveyor, single or double-stack pallet storage, or a blank tower storage. It is also possible to produce the blanks from Coils in the line with Blanking modules or Cut-to-Size modules before the PCB.
The feeding of the blank to the PCB punching station is done by similar CNC grippers as for coil punching lines. The part is positioned and fed accurately through the punching station by the entry side CNC gripper, and an exit side CNC gripper will take a hold on the part with the entry gripper as soon as possible. If the parts are known and there is no need for flexible tooling, an increase in efficiency can be obtained with using several C-frame punching units in place of the PCB punching station. Several hole patters, embossings, or notches are punched with a single hit. The blank is held onto and transported through the paired C-frame units by an entry side gripper and exit side gripper at all times.
Follow-up processes
When the punching process is finished for a part, it can be stacked or buffered automatically in the PivaPunch or fed to a process like bending or roll forming. It is possible to flip the part over prior to stacking or bending, to have the burr on top of the part (inside of the part when bent). Additional special equipment can be integrated into the line if required, such as an inkjet printer or labeling device.
Example PCB C-Frame Process
Example PCB Integrated Process
The PCB is positioned for customer segments such as Steel Doors, Casings for Air Handlers, and Panels for Ceilings, Facades, and Refrigerators. The material types for these segments go up to maximum of 6.00 mm mild steel and 3.00 mm stainless steel. The PCB concept can also be integrated, either as upstream or downstream option.