Best machine for lots of dif. pieces

[rossandon]

Hi, I’m new in the forum.
I work for a company that process over 400 tons of mild steel per month with thickness between 0,8 and 5mm.
The first part of the process consists in cutting and punching the different pieces. We produce more than 1000 different pieces, and the size of them are from 20x30mm to 1800x500mm. Now we have 3 guillotines, 2 CNC plasma cutter, 1 Euromac ZX CNC punching machine and 7 old press.

I’m looking for a machine that can handle alone the hole production. I have been looking some coil fed punching machines (pivatic, dalcos, produtech) but I don’t know if they are the best option (someone know another brand that sells coil fed punching machines?)

We prefer punching than laser or plasma cutters because of the speed and the cost.

What machine do you think we should buy?

Thanks

[metalworkz]

Hello,
Are you using all of your own hard tooling? I assume this is the reason to be looking for coil fed machines? There are CNC punching machines that have multiple shelves for loading and unloading flat precut sheets, and they can run multiple program schedules. This option we use and normally run the machines all weekend long un-attended. We are using the Amada CNC turret punch and punch laser combination and both have 6 shelf loading capabilities. If your operation already has money invested in the hard tooling this will probably not be the way to go for you unless you are ready for different functionality.
Regards,

[rossandon]

thanks for the reply metalworkz.
There are two very important reasons for us to start looking for a new machine:
- To handle the month production we have 24 people working in different cutting machines.
- Because of old machines, the quality of the pieces is very bad.

During the last days, I've been realizing that maybe the best option is to buy a CNC punching machine with auto load-unload.

¿What do you think about salvagnini machines? I really like them because of their shear cutting system.
¿What about AMADA?
¿Does somebody knows if there are big differences in price?

Thanks a lot

[metalworkz]

Hello rossandon,

I have no experience or knowledge of the salvaginni machines. I have had many years experience working with and around the Amada CNC turrets and am currently using the 2006 EMK 3610 NT with a 6 shelf loader. Be sure to check the service costs etc. for each machine. You should be able to find plenty of information on the internet for those machines. The CNC turret will give you rapid prototype ability and repeat jobs will be quick and easy once you have the programs made. Sorry I am of no help on the prices either.
Regards,

[Independent CNC]

The Salvagnini would be great if you have a lot of rectangle shape parts, with the down side being they can only handle 3mm material. I would take a look at the Trumpf 2030 laser that can be setup to run lights out.

Independent CNC Programmer
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[rossandon]

Actually we have a lot of rectangular shape parts, (I think that is over 90%). I already know the problem of salvagnini about the thickness of the material but I think that the best solution will be to separate the pieces in 2 different machines (from 0,5 to 3mm and 4 to 5mm).
The problem of amada here in Chile is that there are only a few in the market, so the service is very expensive.
I'm also analyzing laser.

Thanks for the replies

[metalworkz]

Hello,
I have used the Trumpf 360 punch and it is a very good machine. The nice thing about the Trumpf is every tool can be rotated 360º, but that is because the tools are loaded one at a time into the punching station. Also it has a very good suction device for avoiding slug pulls. I am not sure if they have automated cells for lights out running.
We had to have service come from Venezuela or somewhere in SA for the Trumpf but maybe they are closer to you as far as service goes.