Increasing cycle time

[pete mcadams]

Hi Folks

I need to increase the number of parts in the machine. The part is a 0.625 square bar 15 inches long with 6 taped holes in it. I run the in batches of about 1000 on a machine without an operator. I want to fill up the table and let it run for 2-3 hours.

I need some ideas for holding 40-50 parts without taking to long to change the parts out.

What I am thinking about doing is a plate with locating slots and a bar to clamp over the top.

Thanks

Pete

[jeff]

Sounds quick and easy.

Mitee bites are good also.

[John13]

quote:

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What I am thinking about doing is a plate with locating slots and a bar to clamp over the top.

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Sounds good to me. I do something similar with some parts I make and it works good.

[Tim Simmermon]

Make a base plate to fit on the machine, and two fixtures to hold the parts. Load up one fixture, attach it to the base plate, then let it run. While that one is running someone can load and unload the second fixture. The only downtime is the length of time to change out fixtures. If you use locating pins and De Staco clamps, you're talking only a couple of minutes.

[David from FN MFG.]

+1 to mitee bites especially if you are needing access to the complete top surface of the parts. Cheap and simple workholding.

[Chris Rizzo]

quote:

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Make a base plate to fit on the machine, and two fixtures to hold the parts

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+10000

That allows you to compensate for the longer change over times part to fixture, which could take some time with alot of parts on a fixture.

 

Slapping another loader fixure on the table when the cycles is done will be much quicker than changing parts out in the machine.

 

At least that's what I've found generally works, there are always exceptions however.

[pete mcadams]

quote:

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Slapping another loader fixure on the table when the cycles is done will be much quicker than changing parts out in the machine

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Thats's what I have been doing I just need to put in enough parts for a 2-3 hour cycle. I will make to jig plates and a sub plate and see how it runs

Pete

[Tim Simmermon]

We have made a similar fixture for round parts, but it should work for square parts with a little modification. On the fixture plate, we created our own clamps that would spread out in both directions to clamp the parts. The clamps are located in between the parts. As you would tighten the screw the clamps would spread out (and down for the round parts). Being that the parts are square, just spreading out would work fine (like mini vises). On the ends of the plates have pins for the parts to push against. I can see it in my head perfectly, describing it is a whole other mess!

 

Edit: I guess what I just described are Mitee Bites, but more expensive!