More efficient cold forming thanks to the servo infeed

It is not equally easy to retrofit servo drives for all machine functions. However, experience from numerous retrofitting projects for hotformers confirms the economic efficiency of these measures without any restriction.

A servo motor infeed offers a range of advantages. Here are the most important of these at a glance:

• High-precision and reproducible material supply

• Easy process for raw material in both directions

• Minimal overstroke thanks to the precise synchronization with the material stop

• No wear parts, such as an infeed freewheel or anti-reverse lock

• Prevents guide bushes from being subjected to a heavy load

This also has a direct effect on the economic consideration, among other elements thanks to the following:

• The infeed length can be quickly and flexibly adjusted via a touchscreen

• Consistently reproducible setting values from the recipe management

• The infeed length can be adjusted during production, without interruptions

• Wear-related and maintenance costs are reduced

Constant development of infeed technology

In Hatebur’s range of coldformers, we distinguish between a roller infeed and a linear infeed. The mechanical roller infeed is the original and the oldest version of our coldformers. It also requires the addition of a mechanical bar stop that strictly defines the cut-off length. On machines without motorized adjustment, the system must be stopped in order to adjust the material supply.

The mechanical-hydraulic linear infeed has been developed over the course of time and there is no need for a bar stop. The infeed length can be adjusted precisely according to the high requirements and reproduced in production. In this case, the wire is securely held and transported by hydraulically controlled clamping jaws. This system only needs to be stopped to adjust the infeed stroke.

New cold formers have already been fitted with servo-powered material infeeds as standard for many years. Their great success and high degree of reliability have led to us also offering these technical solutions as a retrofit. The easiest option to do so is to convert the mechanical roller infeed into a servo roller infeed. The bar stop remains necessary and can continue to be used. To ensure ideal interplay, it is useful to have a servo motor stop adjustment.

If a machine already has a linear infeed, it makes sense to convert to a servo linear infeed. In this case, it is not necessary to have a bar stop in order to meet the very high requirements of the cut-offs. In addition, the existing clamping jaw hydraulic system can continue to be used.

In a more extensive upgrade, which is also extremely interesting from technical and economic perspectives, the mechanical roller infeed can be converted to the latest version of the servo linear infeed. This makes it necessary to have a hydraulic supply to the clamping jaws but brings a key advantage – it is no longer necessary to have a mechanical bar stop at all in this type of solution.