Stamping Electrical Components To meet demands for exacting tolerances when processing thin and exotic-alloy sheetmetal, stampers need a high-speed press designed to overcome thermal expansion and off-center loading, and optimize bottomdead-center repeatability. BY DENNIS BOERGER o produce parts for the electrical and electronics industries, stampers must process thin, exotic materials and measure production tolerances in microns. Extremely tight punch-to-die clearance in the tool also is required. Without the proper high-speed press, these exacting conditions can prove challenging. To help stampers achieve successful parts production in this arena, the single most important goal of the press builder is to design and implement high-speed press characteristics that maintain the best possible relationship between the punch and die. A highspeed press must provide the optimum environment for the tool, and the stam- Dennis Boerger is product manager, AidaAmerica Corp., Dayton, OH, 937/2372382; www.aida-america.com. Photo courtesy of Aida-America per must have a basic understanding of these high-speed press characteristics. Dynamic Accuracy Critical Dynamic accuracy is the key requirement of a precision or high-speed press and the essential element that creates the optimum environment required for high-quality part production and long die life. The seven key characteristics of dynamic accuracy are: • Elapsed-time die-height variation • SPM die-height variation • Start-up die-height variation • Slide lateral displacement • Slide tipping • Component deflection • Vibration. www.metalformingmagazine.com

Elapsed-time die-height variation refers to the thermal differences that occur in a press during operation. During production, press components heat up and become larger and longer, causing a change in die height and resulting in part dimensional variations. Since these components are highly susceptible to thermal growth, the press builder must incorporate technology that eliminates thermal expansion. The stamper should consider a high-speed press with a lubrication system that contains a high-performance oil heater/chiller. The lubrication system is pretimed and should run heated oil through...

Stamping Electrical Components Dynamic Accuracy Optimizes Part Quality and Die Life Static accuracy Elapsed time die-height variation Dynamic accuracy (no load) Vertical resistance (movement) Slide-drive type Machine parts strength Dynamic accuracy Start-up die-height variation Slide lateral displacement Inclination resistance (parallelism) Slide guide Slide deflection Position shift resistance Clutch brake capacity Lubrication system Control system Dynamic accuracy is the essential requirement of precision presses and is key to precision metalforming. possibility of a perfectly centered load...