Teksign enhances its forming capabilities

With a history that dates back over seven decades, Teksign based in Brantford, Ontario, makes signs for the petroleum, automotive, hotel and agricultural equipment industries. For its forming needs, the company was using an older press brake that was labour-intensive.

“With the press brake, the operator would have to set up for every single bend, every time,” said Jim Hahn, production control manager at Teksign. “It would take two operators to manage the bends on a number of jobs we did.”

The company decided it was time to update its forming capabilities. Teksign has high-mix/low-volume production needs, and several of its projects are repeat business. This led to an investment in a CNC-equipped folder.

Teksign purchased the RAS TURBO2plus metal folding machine. The machine has several features that are ideal for the company’s fabrication needs. With the RAS Bendex software, an operator can automatically program parts, use alternative bending sequences and view the bending sequence on the monitor in 3D. The machine has a 3.2 m bend length and accommodates tool heights up to 127 mm.

“Its ability to store a significant number of programs simplifies our bending operations substantially,” says Hahn. “I’d say that we are cutting our forming time by 50-60% just in set-up time alone, between our former requirements of having to change dies and other actions. Now we can build much more, much faster, because we can easily switch from one job to another with the press of a few buttons.”

Teksign can also manage maintenance concerns remotely with its new RAS metal folding machine.

Says Hahn: “The team at RAS can take over our machine if we need something fixed or want something better explained. It makes it very user-friendly.”

RAS machines are available in the UK from Press & Shear.

For further information
www.pressandshear.com

Historic fabrication: restoring classic Continentals

A broke kid with ambition and desire to build customs. That is how Jeff Davy, owner of Devious Customs, says he found his passion in fabricating and restoring custom cars.

“I stayed out of trouble by modifying stuff on my car or my truck. And I didn’t have the money to pay someone to do it, so I had to figure it out for myself,” he says.

Davy’s Riverside, California shop started primarily by focusing on trucks. Over time, though, he leaned into Lincolns and Cadillacs seeing a need in the customs market.

The shop jumped into the parts-making business to “eliminate some of the headaches” that came from factory issues back in the day. While fabricating new parts, Davy remains focused on maintaining the vintage look of classic Lincoln models, most notably Continentals. Along with learning on the fly, Davy says his relationship with Baileigh Industrial has helped him hone his metalcraft.

“I really learned the hard way. However, I took a Baileigh metal-shaping class, which inspired me to buy some more Baileigh equipment because it works so well.”

Davy’s Baileigh line-up includes machines like the BP-3305CNC CNC press brake and the RDB-250 tube bender.

“Man, I love my Baileigh equipment, every single piece,” says Davy. “I’ve never had anything bad, or break, or anything go wrong.”
Beyond building epic cars, Davy has his sights set on a more personal legacy.

“My legacy, I think, will be passing this establishment and skills on to my kids, and hopefully their kids. I’m pretty fortunate in that I work with my Dad and my oldest son, so there’s three generations here right now. Hopefully it just keeps on rolling and never dies.”

For further information
www.baileigh.com

Press brakes on display

At Blechexpo 2021 in Stuttgart (26-29 October), SafanDarley will present a variety of systems for sheet metal processing. For instance, the E-Brake 35T Mini Cell is a fully automated system characterised by its compactness for producing small, complex products. The 100% electric Mini Cell has a modular construction, so customers choose only the options needed. For instance, with the optional automatic tool and gripper change system it is possible to change quickly between different products. Furthermore, the Mini Cell can be equipped with a pallet dispenser to automatically load new pallets and remove finished products. Programs for the E-Brake Mini Cell can be prepared offline with Robobend simulation software.

SafanDarley will also show the H-Brake Hybrid 110T-1600. This powerhouse has a very high tonnage density on a short working length, making it suitable for bending shorter complex parts in thicker materials. The machine can be equipped with SafanDarley’s ‘Ergonomic’ package, which is advantageous when processing large quantities.

One of the highlights of the show will be SafanDarley’s AutoPOL offline bending simulation software, a modern 3D system for programming press brakes offline and unfolding 3D CAD files. With optional ‘Batch & Remote’ functionality it is possible to automatically program multiple single 3D files, reducing programming costs. The latest development makes it possible to load 3D composite drawings, where AutoPOL will identify and program the sheet metal parts for production.

A second new feature is offline programming of the E-Bend L angle measurement system in AutoPOL. In addition to saving time, accurate angles are guaranteed by offline analysis of the angle measurement settings.

For further information
www.safandarley.com

High-load ball screws suit press brakes

Following success with previous-generation machines, a leading manufacturer of press brakes is once again specifying high-quality NSK ball screws for its latest electric model. The company is using the NSK HTF-SRC high-speed, high-load ball screw featuring A1 seal for its new machine, which with 80 tonnes of press force, is the most powerful in the range.

As with previous electric press brake models, the force will be carried by two HTF-SRC ball screws in tandem configuration, with independent electronic control of each axis. Thanks to the design of HTF series ball screws and NSK’s technical knowledge, the solution can withstand large forces while retaining a compact shaft diameter – smaller than ball screws from other manufacturers – to help OEMs minimise machine size.
Such is the customer’s confidence regarding the performance of NSK ball screws that its first order was for a full production batch, rather than prototype quantities.

NSK’s HTF-SRC ball screws offer numerous benefits to OEMs and end users, including high dynamic load, high speed, low noise and extended operating life thanks to proper load distribution. The press brake manufacturer has been using NSK HTF series ball screws since 2017, when it produced its first electric machine.

Compared with hydraulic press brakes, electric machines offer low maintenance thanks to automatic lubrication, low power consumption, low noise and shorter cycle times. The press brake manufacturer’s sales force also refers to the use of NSK ball screws as another key selling point.

For further information
www.nskeurope.com

Sharpe takes eighth Unison Breeze

Sharpe Products, a North American specialist in custom tube and pipe bending, has purchased its eighth UK-built Unison Breeze all-electric CNC tube bender. The machine, an 80 mm single-stack model, will be installed at the company’s Wisconsin, USA manufacturing facility, where it will be used to further expand production capability.

Sharpe’s president and CEO, Paul Krickeberg, bought into the concept of all-electric tube bending many years ago, when it was still a relatively new technology.

“Our new Unison Breeze tube bending machine will help further support our capacity to offer short lead times and consistent accuracy – attributes that are essential to our customers,” he says. “We’ve worked with Unison for nearly 20 years and appreciate the quality of their products, along with their service and support.”

All-electric tube bending technology, with all the advantages of automatic set-up, has equipped Sharpe Products with the ability to take on all manner of tube manipulation challenges, including projects involving traditionally difficult alloys.”

The 80 mm single-stack Unison Breeze machine was chosen by Sharpe Products for its ability to deliver the accuracy and reliability necessary to meet strict tolerances. It is equipped with Unison’s recently upgraded Unibend software, which offers cycle time improvements in the region of 25% compared with earlier versions, and incorporates new teach routine and simulation features.

Like all Unison Breeze tube bending machines, the 80 mm (maximum tube diameter) Breeze offers rapid set-up, fast tooling changes, high power, rigid mechanical design, and all-electric control for right-first-time components.

For further information
www.unisonltd.com