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2 Day Educational Webinar

die maintenance with art hedrick

Introduction

In order for a die and press to perform correctly, both need to be properly maintained and cared for. Improper methods or the lack of proper maintenance can cripple a stamping operation.

This session focuses on the methods and frequency of die maintenance. Attendees will learn how to properly sharpen, shim, and time all stamping components to their correct working heights. They will also gain insight into determining when components require repair or replacement. Additionally, participants will learn how to identify whether specific components need maintenance or full replacement. The session covers proper techniques for straightening plates and pads, as well as the correct methods for welding and repairing tool steel.

Schedule

Session 1 : Tuesday, Nov 12th, 2024
Session 2 : Wednesday, Nov 13th, 2024
*Each session will be held from 9AM – 11AM CST

Agenda

  1. Die maintenance
  2. Maintenance verses repair
  3. Shim making process
  4. Timing sections
  5. Grinding methods
    • Wheel selection
    • Set up
  6. Grinding cutting shear
  7. Shimming ball lock retainers
  8. Shimming headed punches
  9. Nitrogen spring pressure and replacement
  10. Coil spring assessment and replacement
  11. Polishing techniques
  12. Straightening plates and pads
  13. Replacing guide pins and bushings
  14. Setting a pierce punch
  15. Keeping a clean environment
  16. Welding methods
    • Pre-heating / Post heating
    • Rod selection – peening. Tempering. 
    • Cracked and broken section repair

About the speaker

Art Hedrick is the owner of the training and consulting firm Dieology, located in Greenville, Michigan U.S.A. He is a journeyman tool and die maker with over 40 years of metalworking experience. Art currently serves as the Science of Forming columnist for MetalForming magazine®. Previously, he authored the “Die Science” column in The Stamping Journal® for over 23 years and has written numerous articles for The Fabricator.com®.

Art, a past instructor at General Motors University, has been the recipient of many training & education awards. He has held chairmen positions of stamping councils with the Society of Manufacturing Engineers as well as Fabricators and Manufactures Association. Art has conducted over 300 stamping, product design, and tool and die related seminars for trade organizations and private companies. Currently he has over 175 clients in the auto, appliance, hardware, defense, electronics, space exploration and commodities industries. Art is active in metal stamping training and consulting world-wide.

Link to Register

2 Day Educational Webinar!

aluminum stamping with art hedrick qr

Introduction

Over the last decade or so, there has been a massive initiative to reduce the weight of our automobiles while still retaining performance strengths. Special grades of advanced high strength steels have served us well in helping us to achieve this goal. However, as fuel prices escalate and global pollution increases, the need for stronger lighter weight materials has become necessary. Aluminum is one popular alternative to help us achieve these goals. This special abbreviated course will give the attendee a fundamental and critical understanding of the behavioral differences between steel and aluminum when conventional die forming is utilized.

Schedule

Session 1 : Tuesday, April 30th, 2024
Session 2 : Wednesday, May 1st, 2024
*Each session will go from 9AM – 11AM CST

Agenda

  • Aluminum basics 
  • Typical automotive grades used. 
  • The aluminum sheet manufacturing process 
  • Aluminum sheet defects 
  • Drawing and stretching aluminum sheet 
  • Trimming and piercing aluminum sheet 
  • Edge stretching / flanging aluminum 
  • Spring back correction techniques 

About the speaker

Art Hedrick is the owner of the training and consulting firm Dieology, located in Greenville, Michigan U.S.A. He is a journeyman tool and die maker with over 40 years of metalworking experience. Art currently serves as the Science of Forming columnist for MetalForming magazine®. Previously, he authored the “Die Science” column in The Stamping Journal® for over 23 years and has written numerous articles for The Fabricator.com®.

Art, a past instructor at General Motors University, has been the recipient of many training & education awards. He has held chairmen positions of stamping councils with the Society of Manufacturing Engineers as well as Fabricators and Manufactures Association. Art has conducted over 300 stamping, product design, and tool and die related seminars for trade organizations and private companies. Currently he has over 175 clients in the auto, appliance, hardware, defense, electronics, space exploration and commodities industries. Art is active in metal stamping training and consulting world-wide.

Link to Register

Komatsu Industries Corp. providing machinery for a new manufacturing era

Newsweek-article_Compress-web

Original article published in Newsweek on February 17th, 2023. Written by the Worldfolio

Komatsu Industries Corp. provides its best-in-class machinery and after-sales services to automotive makers, while leveraging IoT to champion predictive maintenance technologies.

Guided by its “Quality and Reliability” philosophy, Komatsu Industries Corp. serves as an indispensable partner for manufacturers in the automotive, construction and home appliance industries, sup- plying industrial machinery built to the highest quality and made to last. A pioneer of technologies such as its servo press, the Japanese company is today providing state- of-the-art machinery supporting the development of the automotive industry and manufacturing-based IoT applications.

Aside from press machines, the company has focused on laser technology, developing fiber-laser cutting processes that enable cut- ting to be done in water, which will result in reduced environmental impact and ensure energy savings for customers.

With the emergence of electric vehicles (EVs) that require lighter weight materials, high-tensile steel has been in high demand. In response, Komatsu has developed a laser cutting machine that trims the press-formed parts of high tensile steel. “Our TLH 3D laser cutting machine is the best solution for trimming hot-formed parts,” says president Yasushi Kitade.

Meanwhile, the evolution of cold forming, which requires less energy consumption than hot forming, bodes well for an automotive industry looking to lower its carbon footprint. “Amid the carbon neutrality trend, product development has led to cold-formed high-tensile steel having gained almost the same strength as hot-formed without hot forming,” explains Mr. Kitade. “Komatsu has been developing suitable press machines with our customers for cold-formed ultra- high-tensile steel.”

He adds: “The quality of EV vehicles is oftentimes determined by the distance it can run and operate, but at the same time, the design aspect is crucial, so we are now talking with automotive compa- nies about the strengths of our servo press, which can do so many things at once. Our products are long-lasting, so it is crucial that we provide long-lasting maintenance service and retain good relation- ships with our customers.”

As it strives to provide long- lasting maintenance, Komatsu has leveraged the strength of IoT technology to develop its predictive maintenance services, which is helping clients to increase the productivity and efficiency of their manufacturing operations.

“We have a predictive maintenance system incorporated into each machine in order to keep staff up to date on the machine’s health,” says Mr. Kitade. “There are many components in each piece of our machinery, and each component has a prediction on its lifespan. We are analyzing and taking data on each component to determine its longevity. There are many different customers, and as such, each customer takes their approach to our machinery a little differently. Some customers keep spare parts for our machinery and do regular replacements, whereas some do not. We are trying to use this system to urge our customers to do predictive maintenance and parts replacements.”

In terms of its global operations, Komatsu Industries Corp. has eight overseas subsidiaries located nearby automotive manufacturers’ plants. In the U.S., it is approaching car makers buying up old Japanese automotive factories to transform them into EV plants. “We have been approaching these companies since we have experience providing services to these existing Japanese factories,” says the Komatsu Industries Corp. president. “Globally, there are new emerging EV companies, so we are also approaching them so that we can increase our sales channels.”

As the company presses ahead with supporting a new era of manufacturing, Mr. Kitade stresses the importance of the company’s commitment as a long-lasting partner. “What is important in manufacturing is providing the products and service, and there has to be a balance between the quality of the product and the after-services added on top. We wish to keep our business growing by providing this comprehensive solution to our customers.”

Download the magazine article PDF

2 Day Educational Webinar!

dieology komatsu webinar 4 2023

Introduction

This short 4 hr. session is broken up into two separate 2 hr. sessions. This is a high demand basic training also for those who don’t work directly in the tool room. Individuals like quality control inspectors, press operators, general accounting personnel, welders. A wide number of different individuals could benefit from this basic training.

Schedule

Session 1 : Tuesday, April 11th
Session 2 : Wednesday, April 12th
*Each session will go from 9AM – 11AM CST

Link to Register