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Volume 1 Number 3 / Editor: Steve Scheinpflug / September 1997 |
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 Latest Post Etch Punch Development Tech Talk Shots From Our Shop New Products (LAP Software) Happy Anniversary Expressing Your Interest Free Samples
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There is no one single answer to this question. It would be simpler if there were only one material type, one material thickness, and one accepted hole standard. Since this is not the case, we generally throw out something like "it depends". Barring any operator mistakes, such as misaligning the punch (failure to use the adjusting handle) or shearing the punch (misaligning the panel causing the punch to strike the panel edge), one can expect to see production runs of from 80,000 to 110,000 between sharpenings.
What causes the variance is different combinations of types of material, thickness of material, clearance between the punch and die and general condition of the OPE.
The guideline for clearance is, the more clearance between punch and die, the greater the amount of punching one should expect before sharpening. The problem is, the more clearance, the worse the punched slot will appear, possibly having burrs and glass fibers.
Die clearance is, in fact, more of a function of material thickness than anything else. Through experience Multiline has selected clearances for materials as follows:
When you are punching material at the end of this range (0.031", 0.062", 0.093") you will receive more wear upon your punches and the life expectancy will be diminished. The ideal would be to have the exact right clearance for the material you wish to punch. Cost prohibits this so in most cases you will be running with a compromise.
The Multiline sharpening service might enable you to hone in the proper amount of cycles you can make on your material and on your machine. Our skilled people can evaluate and advise if your punches have been sharpened too soon or if you have not sharpened soon enough. We will work with you to get the maximum life at the lowest cost.
One final word about machine condition. Keeping your OPE in top condition offers you a tremendous payback in increased production and less downtime. Multiline's service department will be happy to establish an effective maintenance program with you. Home | About Us | Staff | Directions | Products | News | Trade Shows | Literature | Employment | Contact Us
© 1997 Multiline Technology
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uestion: How often should I sharpen the punches in my OPE?