If done properly, installing a press pit or machine foundation can be done smoothly and relatively quickly. Conversely, if all aspects are not taken into consideration and planned for, the installation can be disruptive and drawn out at best and a money pit at worst.
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To realize a timely and successful press pit and machine foundation installation, foundation contractors will need to obtain certain information upfront. Stamping manufacturers that prepare for this important installation and have an understanding of what to expect can help facilitate a smooth landing for their press pits and foundations. Provide the answers for these seven questions ahead of time so you can help ensure a successful and timely construction.
Obviously, the application for the press or other equipment will determine the size, depth, and construction of the pit or foundation. These applications include:
Tryout press
Production stamping press
Blanking and heavy-gauge stamping press
CNC machining center
Low-tolerance fine milling machine
Rough milling machine
Are you using a tryout press with low cycle numbers or a high-speed production press? Are you stamping light-gauge material or thick material? Are you blanking or forming a finished product? All of these factors can influence the design requirements for your press foundation.
Will scrap be handled manually at the finish floor elevation or via some sort of mechanical handling system, such as a conveyor below ground? Scrap tunnel with floor covers (concrete or steel) may be required for an underground system.
This information is key for a number of reasons.
First, youll need to be sure you have proper clearance to accommodate the equipment. Youll also need to know if there is any interference with existing building column footings or utilities.
Youll want to make sure that the press is located optimally for your process flow, because you will want to move your multiton press only once.
Does your building have ample power and utilities in place to operate the equipment? If so, how will you bring utilities to the new equipment? Will it be overhead, through floor trenches with cover plates, via underground conduits, or other means?
This is definitely something youll need to have figured out before the press is installed rather than after.
Ideally, youll be able to provide the foundation contractor with the general assembly drawing, recommended foundation drawing, and associated equipment drawing.
If you havent yet gotten a geotechnical report, its a good idea to do so. It is vital to those building the press pit and machine foundation to understand the condition of the soil present in the proposed foundation area. Additionally, if there is groundwater in the area, this needs to be addressed.
Once all of this is decided, there may be some required modifications, particularly if its determined that you will need to work with special backfill material, geotextile fabric or piles (refusal, friction, helical, and so forth).
As you prepare to install new equipment, youll need to be aware of any sensitive machinery in the area that may be impacted by vibration. Furthermore, will the new equipment be affected by existing plant operations. You may want to conduct a vibration study to answer these questions.
Youll also need to consider whether vibration control measures should be installed. You have a number of options here, including perimeter foam or fabric materials, horizontal fabric materials, additional concrete mass, and specialized pads or mounting systems.
Obviously, youll want to minimize downtime, so the construction process should be carefully planned to consider its effects on the plants operations. The foundation contractor will need to know that a construction route has been defined to get materials in and out of the facility.
Also, if there are special concerns regarding housekeeping and dust control, they should be relayed upfront.
Obviously, theres a lot to consider. Gathering and cultivating all of the needed information ahead of time will guarantee success in all facets of the project, regardless of the scope of the work you need. After all, success is in the details.
Tom Lytle is vice president of Delta Industrial, Gratiot Ave.,Chesterfield, MI , 586-598-, , deltaconcrete.com.
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The more you know about stamped metal, the more prepared youll be to choose the right company for the job.
Stamped metal is used for all sorts of tasks today, and if you need stamped metal parts, you should know exactly what youre paying for. In this guide, well show you everything you need to know about the industry. Keep reading so you can hire the best business for the task!
The first widely used stamped metal parts came about in the s, during mass production of bicycles. Stamping took the place of machining and die forging, allowing parts to be made at a much lower cost.
These stamped metal parts arent quite as strong as die forged metal, but the quality is good enough for most tasks.
By , those stamped bicycle parts were being imported from Germany to the U.S. After that, some U.S. machine tool companies started to make their own custom stamping machines.
After the bicycle came the automobile, of course. Even before Ford Motor Company popularized the assembly line method of making cars, some automakers were using stamped components for their vehicles.
Fords engineers actually recommended the use of stamped metal, and Ford didnt listen at first. But it soon became apparent that the company wouldnt be able to meet customer demand with die forged metal parts, and stamped metal was introduced.
Now, parts made from stamped metal permeate many different aspects of modern life. For example, household appliances like washing machines and dryers are made using stamped sheet metal.
Basic items like silverware that we eat with and pots and pans that we cook with are made using metal stamping. And the cars we drive still use stamped metal parts to this day.
Some other common things made from stamped metal include cigarette lighters, aluminum drink cans, gun shells, and some solid gold jewelry. Even modern technology, like your computer, uses some stamped metal parts. In short, stamped metal is all around us, all the time.
Stamped metal is essential to our lives, but not everyone has the same perspective on the people who do it.
Some people believe that metal stamping is an unskilled, dirty factory job. However, the reality is that the people who do this work are skilled artisans who need a great deal of knowledge to get the job done.
Creating stamped metal parts involves a long list of tasks. People must design and make the die, troubleshoot issues as they come up, and do maintenance on the machines and parts involved.
Although its a hands-on job, the best metal stampers have to be creative, intelligent problem solvers. And as new technology takes over some of the hands-on aspects, brainpower has become an even more essential part of metal stamping. Without smart, experienced people, these parts would never get made.
Many metal stampers become masters of the industry and strive for perfection in their work. Their pieces have to fit perfectly in order to function well and fit and function are essential for stamped metal parts.
For example, some parts of the die have to have very precise, accurate dimensions in order to work. A good metal stamper will take the time needed to make these parts precisely, while knowing which parts can be made with less effort.
One thing thats not important in many steps of the metal stamping process is appearance. The finished product needs to look great, but the die and tools themselves only need to look good enough to get the job done.
If a stamped metal company doesnt have perfectly polished tools and a spotless workspace, dont worry theyre probably focusing their efforts on the more important aspects of the business. The tools need to perform well, not look good.
There is a popular misconception that making stamped metal is an art form. Although some creative problem-solving skills can be needed for the job, its not actually an artistic pursuit. Making stamped metal parts is more of a science.
The best metalworkers are creative, but they build things for practical purposes, using practical experience and a professional skill set. A solid knowledge of physics is necessary to make parts that will perform well.
Professional metalworking is a career path that takes a lot of education and training. A lot of that education is on-the-job, although some of it comes in a more traditional academic form. The combination of academic and real-world knowledge can help get the job done right.
Diemakers have to do their jobs well, because the industry doesnt leave much room for mistakes. A bad die is completely worthless, so scientific knowledge is needed to make sure things come out right every time.
A number of different tools and machines might be used in the process of making stamped metal, but only three things are essential: the sheet metal for the part, the stamping die, and the stamping press.
The goal of the entire process is to get the piece of sheet metal into the correct shape and size for its intended purpose. Sometimes, a specialized process called hot stamping is used, but most of the time, the metal is stamped using cold forming. This means that no added heat is used throughout the operation.
However, even during cold forming, heat is naturally generated in the process. When the metal is cut and formed, friction between the metal and the die creates heat. This means that the metal coming out of the dies is usually very hot.
Stamped metal components are needed for many different industries.
If you need them for your business, be sure to choose a metal stamping company that does precise, professional work. Otherwise, youll end up wasting money on poorly constructed parts that may not work at all.
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