EuroWire January 2018

Technology News

Expertise on hand from Die Quip

THE economic pressure on wire mills has resulted in reviewing all non-production overhead costs including in-house die shops. There are many issues to consider when looking at outsourcing the re-working of dies. Reduction of overhead is often the motivating reason to close an internal die shop. It is not possible to dispense with all the personnel since someone will need to keep track of inventory to prevent running out of dies. An inspection programme must be implemented to ensure the quality being supplied, to prevent premature failures and inconsistent results, and to be able to qualify different suppliers. This will require at least one operator in the die shop or added to the quality department. Since few wire mills inspect incoming dies, Die Quip has found inconsistencies with the dies’ internal geometry, complete non-confor- mance to specified die angles and bearing lengths and poor surface finishes.

▲ ▲ The MGF 200 from Die Quip

The key to operating a successful internal die shop is equipment that makes it easy and accurate to set the geometry of the die the same every time without operator influence; proper training to understand the correct procedures for reworking worn dies into high quality dies; and die designs to match the reductions, material and equipment. Die Quip has the machines, training programmes and design knowledge to make in-house die shops a production tool, not an overhead expense. Die Quip Corp – USA Website : www.diequip.com

With outsourced or throw-away dies usage increased since operators rarely inspect dies that have limited wire drawn through them for wear; they are just discarded with worn dies. Shipping costs increase since every die must be shipped to the mill, and when there is an emergency, next-day air charges quickly add up. An internal shop can quickly produce dies to meet a customer’s demand for a new size, reduce lead-time by not waiting for a supplier, and the ability to adjust die geometry to solve drawing problems. These abilities will reduce scrap and make the mill more efficient.

Quality inspection on drawing line Contrôle Mesure Systèmes has developed a special version of its eddy current rotating head, RotoETscan HV, suitable for line drawing inspection for a diameter range of 0.8 to 10mm. This system, easy to install on the production line, integrates a turntable (cassette) adapted to the product diameter. Eddy current probes (two or four) installed inside the cassette rotate at high speed (18,000rpm) around the wire, while the product translates into the rotating head. The nozzles, inside the system, ensure proper centring of the wire during inspection. Connected to the EC instrument Zet@Master, it detects longitudinal defects >50μm on the product, but can also be combined with other CMS equipment, such as magnetising or demagnetising units, for a complete product inspection. Contrôle Mesure Systèmes – France Website : www.cmseddyscan.com HEADING TO DÜSSELDORF? SEE THE LATEST EXHIBITOR LISTING ON PAGE 56

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January 2018