PRODUCT REVIEWS
Cutting and bending in focus
At EuroBLECH 2022 in Hanover , Germany , this October , sheet-metal specialist Salvagnini showcased its wide range of machinery , software and services on its booth .
P-Robot .
P-Robot
Salvagnini introduced P-Robot at EuroBLECH , a new application which combines a panel bender with a robot to produce kits , batches and single parts autonomously . It offers a compact and modular layout , is designed to make robot programming “ as simple as possible ” and allows for a certain level of customisation to specific production requirements . New functionality includes the ability to manage sheet separators to detach single parts produced , if necessary , and book-type stacking to pile parts vertically . At EuroBLECH , P-Robot was available for numerous different demos to highlight the different production strategies available .
“ This P-Robot incorporates a P1 , but we can also apply it to the P2 and P4 . The P1 is our electric panel bender , with maximum consumption of 3kW and a footprint of just 8m ². For the robot , we have chosen a partner which allows us to move around in proximity to the working area in complete safety : this translates into an extremely compact layout ,” Salvagnini told ISMR .
“ The robot is equipped with a flippable gripping device , fitted with suction cups on two sides , for picking up the bent part and immediately positioning the new part to be bent , in-cycle . This gripping device enables optimisation of the sheet loading / unloading cycles , improvement of production rates and a reduction in waiting times . We can also offer solutions with loading / unloading assistance only , or more complex systems providing for automatic movement of the pallets or thirdparty integrations ( e . g . with work centres for labelling laser marking ; riveting ; welding and corner forming ,” it added .
Laser in focus
A patented modern design , extensive automation portfolio and a range of advanced process control and efficiency solutions are the cornerstones on which Salvagnini has built its L5 laser . Salvagnini unveiled a new 8kW high power density source for the laser at EuroBLECH in Hanover . In the configuration at Hanover , L5 was fed from an LTWS store-tower , equipped with automated loading / unloading . The MCU automatic sorting device ( with new full multi-gripping function ) completed the layout and was used to stack parts of different shapes , sizes and weights . The L5 was also equipped with the APC2 adaptive process sensor which monitors piercing in real-time , for greater speed and higher quality .
“ This new power source further improves the L5 performance on medium-thin sheet metal thicknesses , because the high-power density also allows significant improvements in cutting acceleration . The 8kW high power density source guarantees cutting speeds higher than any other traditional 8kW source , and at thicknesses of up to 6mm achieves cutting speeds even greater than those of a 10kW source ,” explained Salvagnini .
All the Group ’ s lasers installed since 2021 have been equipped with the ACUT option ( for cutting with suitably treated compressed air ). Contributing to the sustainability of ACUT is APM2 , the new compact , turnkey device which connects directly to the pneumatic system of the factory and ensures the pressure values required for the cutting process . Salvagnini ’ s lasers can also be equipped with various artificial vision applications .
Salvagnini cutting program software is called STREAMLASER ( part of the STREAM programming suite ). A key feature is OPTI , the nesting algorithm which optimises the use of the metal sheet , minimizing scrap . Another is SAFE GRID , which automatically optimises the positioning of the parts with respect to the grid , preventing piercing operations , lead-ins and cuts from overlapping on the Y axis .
Bending solutions
With over 40 years of experience in automatic bending , and more than 4000 installations in 76 countries worldwide , Salvagnini is a global panel-bending specialist . It presented an S1 + P4 punching and panel bending line at Hanover ( S1 punch-laser combi machine and P4-2520 panel bender ). Salvagnini also presented a further extension of the concept of in-line processing , by integrating a B3 . AU-TO press brake downstream of the S1 + P4 .
“ Like all Salvagnini panel benders , the P2 natively combines productivity , with its automatic bending and handling cycles , with an average of 17 bends per minute , and flexibility , with its universal bending tools ,” commented Nicola Artuso , Salvagnini Product Manager for bending technologies .
“ It doesn ’ t need re-tooling , because the upper and lower blades , the counterblade and the blankholder are universal tools that are able to process the whole range of thicknesses and machinable materials . The ABA automatic blankholder adapts the tool length according to the size of the part being produced in-cycle , without machine down times or manual re-tooling . P2 is really the ideal solution for kit or singlebatch productions . Only the loading and unloading operations are performed by the operator , who positions the sheet metal on the worktable and collects the product after bending ,” he added .
The integrated advanced sensors measure the actual thickness and effective size of the blank , detecting any deformations caused by