Client Case Study

Client Case Study

In 2012 when Alumasteel decided to replace its aging fabrication equipment, they turned to Buds Machine Tools for help in recommending new machines that could solve a range of production issues.

Based in Salt Lake City, Utah, Alumasteel fabricates structural steel trusts, conveyors, equipment supports, chutes, pipes, hoppers and other components for the oil exploration and industrial mining industries.

THE CHALLENGES

Alumasteel’s fabricating process typically works with carbon steel, stainless steel and aluminum in thicknesses ranging from light gauge up to ½ inch. The workflow is a mix of both high and low-volume parts with turnaround times ranging from several days to just a few hours.

Tight part tolerances are important to Alumasteel’s customers since often times the equipment is being assembled in the field so parts have to be durable and go together easily. The ability to maintain close tolerances is essential especially for parts used in duct and chute applications.

Alumasteel builds parts to customer specifications. This requires fast turnaround on custom programming and prototyping.

Trimming time from the production schedule translates directly to Alumasteel’s bottom line.

OUR SOLUTIONS

AFTER EVALUATING ALUMASTEEL’S PRODUCTION NEEDS, JORGENSON’S EXPERIENCED APPLICATION TEAM RECOMMENDED A 14-FT. 440-TON JMT BRAND PRESS BRAKE WITH A 4-AXIS BACKGAUGE AND 10-FT. ½ INCH JMT BRAND PLATE ROLL. THESE JMT MACHINES OFFER ALUMASTEEL SEVERAL ADVANTAGES.

The new JMT press brake is equipped with segmented tooling and a multi V tooling die. This tooling configuration allows the operator to change the set-up in a matter of minutes. The press brake ram has a chain and peg configuration so the ram can be used to lift and change the tooling. -- The 3-D visual graphics show areas of interference. Designs can be adjusted before the parts go into production, which streamlines the process and saves time.

The heavy-duty construction of JMT press brakes provides for improved accuracy along the entire bend length of the machine. JMT press brakes are rated to tolerances of 0.0004 inches; the width of a human hair! A better part out of the press brake means a better fit up for downstream processes. -- If a part is out of tolerance, the compenent is not going to assemble properly for welding and other processes, which in turn would require handwork to correct the problem.

Custom specs and job parameters can be entered off-line, then are easily recalled by the machine operator using the press brakes’ CNC program and 3-D visual graphic display. When prototyping designs, operators can use the off-line feature to draw and model part bending geometries for multiple bends. -- The 3-D visual graphics show areas of interference. Designs can be adjusted before the parts go into production, which streamlines the process and saves time.

The press brake accuracy and repeatability coupled with the ease of programming are helping to save Alumasteel production time. The back gauge is programmed through the controller, which eliminates the need to stop the machine and manually adjust the back gauge with each part change. -- With the new press brake Alumasteel was able to just dial the job in each time and the part is really close the first time. On some parts, Alumasteel has been able to reduce production time by as much as half.

The Results