Cycle times slashed

Simon Gill, manager, explains: “We acquired the TruPunch 3000 for a couple of reasons: Our automated TRUMPF 3530 laser cutting machine was up to capacity; and secondly, our existing punching machine (not TRUMPF) was past its best. "We had seen the advantages of automated load/unload on our TRUMPF laser cutter and wanted the new punching machine to offer the same."

The TruPunch punching head always holds just one tool – this can be a standard tool for punching, cutting, forming or marking, or one of TRUMPF’s MultiTools which combine up to 10 different punch inserts in one tool adapter. No matter which tool is loaded, the punching head can rotate it 360° to any angle, regardless of its shape, size or placement in the magazine. Fewer tools are needed and unnecessary tool changes eliminated. At the same time, TRUMPF says part quality is increased since nibbling is not required.

Typical sheet thickness processed by the new punching machine at Ernest Gill Manufacturing ranges from 0.7 to 3.0mm, largely from materials such as zintec, CR4 mild steel, galvanised steel, stainless steel and aluminium. Batch sizes are in the realm of 100-off.

Gill continues: “One of the advantages is that we can now run 3000 x 1500mm sheets, which means we can standardise on material size. On our previous punch we sometimes had to buy specific sheet sizes, so we have more flexibility now.”

“The TruPunch 3000 features TRUMPF SheetMaster load/unload automation with integrated tool changer and duplex cart system which enables us to leave it running unmanned overnight. On the first night it ran from 20:00 until 06:00 the next morning without stopping, producing a job that took 58 hours using our previous punching machine – a near six-fold reduction in cycle time. Furthermore, one of the small MultiTools on the TRUMPF recorded 250,000 hits on that night alone, which just shows how hard the machine worked.”