AccuForm Modular 3Dx with integrated Indexing Tool changer
The AccuForm Modular line consists of components that are interchangeable within the same size. The major components that comprise the AccuForm Modular line are as follows:
1) Turntable
2) Straightener
3) Feeder
4) 3 Dimensional Bender
5) Optional accessories such as punching, chamfering, threading, drilling, piercing, marking, cold heading, and many others
Each AccuForm Modular CNC wire bending machine can currently have up to 32 motion axes, depending on the machine configuration. These machines take wire directly from coil, straighten it, bend it, and cut it to create wire products designed with the use of AIM’s exclusive software package. SmartEditor® provides flexibility and simplicity in setup. Programming is quick and easy. All you need is to enter the lengths and angles of your product, view the design, edit if necessary, and begin production!
Models offered with a turret option (-T) add one servo axis, for automatic and programmable bending tool-changer along with a second bending pin.
AIM uses the world’s preeminent servo system. Accuracy and repeatability of AIM machines are exceptional, so the wireforms produced will only be limited by the quality and consistency of the wire supplied.
Parabolic and S-curve positioning profiles give smoother acceleration and deceleration, minimizing shape distortion while achieving higher speeds at minimum possible power usage. Furthermore, the exclusive AIM Ultra option can in most cases double or triple the production rates from the standard models and grants the AIM equipment the title of the highest working speeds in the market.
AIM “Four Wheel Drive” wire feeders are capable of operating at lower pressure, which means no wire marking. Using V-groove rollers, you can run more than one wire diameter per groove and by using two V-grooves per roller, wire capacity doubles. Power transmission is through high torque, precision drive belts and in some cases, high precision planetary gearboxes; NO adjustments needed.
AccuForm machines come with “true wide-range straighteners”. A two-plane straightener with V-groove double row ball bearing rollers is standard on all AIM single head machines. Each plane contains two different roller sizes on two different center distances from each other. For the lower half of the machine wire range, you would typically use only the smaller rollers and for the top half of the wire range only the larger rollers are used. This design allows easy and efficient adjustments and eliminates many difficulties one could have for the lower or upper end of the wire range. It is like having two wire straighteners incorporated into one assembly.
A quick release adjustor bar on each straightener minimizes changeover time. By using these preset adjustor straightener bars, changeover time can be as short as ten minutes allowing for a quick and easy wire diameter change. Wire diameter change is even faster with the AIM optional Automated Indexing Turret System (AITS), which can hold and index up to six straighteners.
Dual acting hydraulic cutter for strong and fast cuts: All of the hydraulic cylinders installed in AIM machines are double acting, providing fast and powerful motion for the extra heavy duties of the machines, such as the cutting of the wire.
AIM machines incorporate simple design and easy access plus world wide available parts. Simplicity, robustness, functionality and speed are AIM’s basic engineering principals. Easy tool changeover makes the setup quick and efficient. Clear drawings are available upon request, so that AIM customers can easily manufacture their own tools such as cutters, rollers, bending pins and all consumables. AIM machines have an excellent reputation of customer support and spare parts delivery.
AIM uses robust engineering for long life and low maintenance. Using enclosed type brushless servomotors along with highest precision planetary gearboxes provides the best machine operation. All critical components have over-temperature, over-current, and over-voltage protection installed. All bearings used are oversized and double-sealed for longer life expectancy and lower maintenance. The design of the AccuForm machines provides for maximum safety standards and life expectancy factors. All AccuForm machines come backed by a two-year parts and labor limited warranty, the most comprehensive in the industry. Excluded are the wear parts that “touch” the wire (such us cutters, rollers, etc.), although all of these wear parts are made from the hardest tool steels and heat-treated to Rockwell scale 55°-65° degrees.
For the AFM line, the newest Windows® XP Pro Version with video conferencing is standard. No extra fees, no contract needed! You can also use video teleconferencing over your existing LAN through the Internet or you can watch your equipment performing from the convenience of your office PC.
The Software Animation utility allows the user to view an nimated production simulation of a part before the machine even produces it! This way the user can easily verify the programs for mistakes and errors. A collision detection feature is available, so that the user can prevent program miscalculations and rearrange part flow for optimum production.
Another AIM pioneering feature: “Dial-A-Service™” allows access to any AIM machine worldwide. The customer simply connects the machine to a telephone line or an Internet gateway and the machine’s computer connects to AIM’s Technical Support department. Within minutes, diagnostics can be reviewed and initiated.
SmartEditor® has a standard DXF/XYZ import feature that can import your CAD files directly and convert them into part files on your screen. AIM also provides the original machine buyer Lifetime Free Upgrades on the machine software. Since AIM compiles its own software, all suggestions and program change requests are fulfilled regularly and free of charge, taken that the requested change or improvement is beneficial for the majority of the users and falls within AIM’s expertise.
Statistical analysis with the touch of a button – a standard SmartEditor® feature! Let the computer figure it out – production rates, time, shifts, days, wire needed, wire spools required, including spool changeover time. All the factors involved are parametric and are customizable to fit every need. Using the SmartEditor® Office version (available upon customer request), you can use the “EZ-Quote” analysis from your office PC. Production statistics can be saved automatically, locally on the machine or on a network computer for review and analysis frequently needed by ISO 9000 quality analysis programs or the customer’s lean manufacturing system.
AFM-3Dx-T Machine Description
The AFM in the model number stands for “AccuForm Modular” meaning the machine configuration is modular.
The basic version of the AFM-3Dx line has a feeder module and a bender module. Each module provides its own operation, yet all modules are controlled and synchronized from the same computer system. On the AFM-3Dx line, the computer system mounts with the bender module.
The feeder module feeds the wire through a straightener to the bender module. The bender mechanism bends the wire according to pre-programmed data and “shears” it with an integral hydraulic cutter. The turret option (-T) adds one servo axis to the bender module, for automatic and programmable bending tool-change along with a second bending pin. The turret option allows for on the fly programmable tool changes, making up to 8 different bend radii available without requiring physical tool exchange. Two bending pins are available with the turret option, where usually one is a roller for generated radii and the other is a hard pin for “tight” bends.
Additional modules are available to modify the machine configuration depending on the specific production requirements, e.g. in-line chamfering module (AL8) or in-line die module (AD15). Please contact your AIM representative for a comprehensive production analysis and review of all the modules available to help develop the best system configuration for your production needs. As AIM is on the cutting edge of wire shop work-cell design, AIM Engineering is always developing new methods to increase the production floor flexibility.
To get familiarized with the AIM wire bending concept and to better understand the principals used, following is brief description of asimple step by step right angle, 90-degree wire bend operation:
1) Feeder module feeds the first length of the wire sample
2) Bender positions at –30 degrees position, ready for bending operation
3) Turret positions to the pre-selected tool position
4) Bending pin engages
5) Bender moves to the required 90-degree position bending the wire in the process
6) Feeder feeds the second length of the sample part
7) Cutter cuts the wire
The above steps are simple and very familiar to anyone that has worked with wire bending. In conventional programming, a user would have to enter all of the above steps individually into the CNC controller unit.
How about speeding up the above production?
It would be preferred to perform the first four steps at the same time and not have to worry where to position the bender. Since we are only truly concerned with a part made of 90-degree bends, it would be advantageous not to enter every small machine movement to accomplish this task.
This simple task is indeed complicated machine logic, but AIM’s exclusive SmartEditor® software generates the algorithms needed by the machine controller automatically. AIM has created an algorithm that builds motion algorithms! All of the above steps can be represented with just three numbers and a bend radius (tool selection). The user only programs the actual part shape, not every machine movement!
The AIM user simply enters lengths and angles that comprise the desired part and SmartEditor® does all the rest. Advanced users can also control the exact steps of the equipment when an intricate part operation requires absolute coordinate programming.
In addition to programming simplicity, AIM machine construction is exceptional. AIM machine frames incorporate solid steel plates, minimizing vibrations and providing the greatest possible stability at extreme operating speeds. This design enables AIM machines to deliver the fastest production rates in the market!
Additional Features:
- Modular frame construction for easy field installation of accessories
- SmartEditor® Windows XP® programming, office version available for off-line programming
- Dual processors allow concurrent part production and new part programming
- Instant Production Statistics for estimating
- “Dial-A-Service” tech support via modem or Internet
- Optional extra I/O for auxiliary equipment
- Optional STEP File Import
- Tool changeover in 8 minutes. Highest overall forming speeds in the industry
- CAD import of DXF/XYZ files directly into SmartEditor® programming software
- 2-year limited parts and labor warranty
AFM-3Dx-T Machine Details
1.1 Two Plane Wire Straightener
Every AFM-3Dx machine is equipped with a two-plane wire straightener. Each plane consists of 11 “V” groove roller bearings. Two different diameters of rollers allow straightening a wider range of wire with just one straightener. Wire range: 2.7mm to 8mm (0.106” to 0.315”). Wire linearity: < 5:1000 at 6mm (0.236”) wire diameter. For wire diameters under 2.7mm (0.106”), an additional straightener is required. See Accessories Section. Please consult table on previous page for applicable tensile strength / diameter properties.
1.2 Feeder Module
Used for the feeding and positioning of the wire. Consists of four driven rollers, one wire guide, sprocket-belt reduction unit, precision hi-torque drive (HTD) belts and one brushless servomotor.
Feed Speed: 120 meters/min (394 ft/min)
Repeatability: +0.1 mm (+0.004″)
1.3 Wire Length Measuring Device
Wire positioning feedback consists of a pair of rollers: one stationary and one with an adjustable pneumatic load. The stationary roller connects through a flexible coupler directly to an incremental rotary encoder providing accurate position feedback to the machine controller.
1.4 Machine Controller & Operator Panel Computer: Industrial Panel PC, integrated touch screen, 15” LCD color monitor, industrial sealed keyboard with integrated pointing device, high capacity storage hard drive (40 GB), 3.5” floppy drive, CD-ROM, Fast Ethernet network ready and video camera for machine monitoring, videoconferencing or servicing available. Operating system is Windows® XP Pro.
1.5 Z-Axis Arm:Bender mounts on an H-Beam base that rotates around the center of the wire. All electrical connections pass through a “Slip-Ring”, an aircraft-quality device that allows electrical signals to pass through a series of gold plated rings and platinum contacts. The hydraulic and pneumatic lines pass through a “union”, which along with the slip ring device allow infinite rotation of the arm.
1.6 Hydraulic Unit (inside main machine enclosure): Used for supplying high-pressure oil to the wire cutter.
Consists of:
-20 gallon oil tank with sight glassand oil filter
-5 Hp electric motor & 5 gpm / 2300 PSI hydraulic gear pump
-Double solenoid valve and pressure relief valve (factory preset to 2300 PSI)
1.7 Bending Head and 1.8 Cutting unit: Standard turret tooling consists of cluster with 4 bending radii and both hard and roller bending pins.
Max. Bending angle Unlimited
Precision +0.05º
Drive AC brushless servo motor
Transmission Precision planetary gearbox
Cutter material D2 tool steel, hardened 58 HRC
Maximum cutting force 4400 kgF (9700 lbF)
The cutting unit is hydraulic, providing exceptional reliability and longevity for high tensile and heavy cutting requirements. Double acting hydraulic cylinder design allows minimum maintenance (no spring return).
Wire Payoff unit (Turntable): Model P270-5, fully automatic powered Payoff Unit, capable of handling coils weighing up to 2000 Kg (4400 Lbs), 5 Hp AC motor, automatic speed control with AC Vector Drive, adjustable tension for dancer control arm. Speed range: 5-70 RPM, rotating base Ø: 1140mm (45″), heavy-duty construction with oversized tapered bearings assures maintenance free operation, main electrical panel supplies all electrics – eliminating the need for a separate electrical connection box.
Utility Requirements:
480 VAC, 3 Phase 50/60 Hz, < 1 CFM air supply.
400VAC, 3 Phase & CE Certification available
- Concurrent Operations: Dual processor allows programming a part while running production
- Production Statistics for cost estimating & scheduling
- 2D/3D DXF file transfer & optional 3D Step file import
- Animation / Bending simulation allows you to see programmed moves before running production
- Remote, off-line programming with stand-alone software or through installed network card
- Color touch screen monitor and industrial grade sealed keyboard for data entry
- Simple programming with Windows XP Pro based operating system
- Exceptional accuracy and repeatability
- Sealed, oversize bearings for low maintenance operation
- Wire fed directly from coil
- A variety of servo drive options for combinations of faster feed and bending speeds
- Double acting hydraulic cutting system for high tensile wire provides the strongest cut in the market
- One keystroke transition between Metric and English units of measure
- Video camera for remote machine monitoring or video conferencing
- Merge individual part programs for production of complete assemblies or program to make alternating parts
- Programmable delay or hold functions to match downstream operations in work cells
- Spiral software function allows user to define any spiral with just three numbers
- Easily accessible tooling for minimal setup and changeover time
- Hardened and precision ground tool steel moving parts for exceptional wear and tool life
- I/O’s for interconnection of auxiliary equipment such as robotics, threading units & inspection devices
- Highest overall production speeds in the industry
- Network ready for “Dial-A-Service”
- Parallel, Serial, Ethernet & USB Ports
- Aluminum extrusion safety barrier with high impact polycarbonate shields and safety interlock door included
- Unlimited rotation of bending arm for maximum efficiency and reliability
- Fully automated payoff unit included: 5Hp, 2000 Kgr (4500 Lbs) capacity
- Temperature controlled electronics cabinets with washable filters