#Product Trends
Measuring angles – easily and faster
For producing sheet metal parts, the German agricultural machinery manufacturer RAUCH relies on the automatic angle measurement device from the Austrian industrial automation expert KEBA and greatly values the flexibility of the system.
Angle control is critical in the sheet metal bending process. The tolerance limit for angular deviations is very low, especially when the subsequent manufacturing steps are almost entirely automated. But such deviations are inevitable, particularly in series production. Factors such as variations in the sheet metal thickness, rolling direction or quality of the bending tools can negatively affect the angle result.
To enable the immediate detection of angular deviations during the production process, sheet metal processing companies typically work with automatic measuring devices that are integrated in the press brake. These systems are usually very expensive and can only be used on machines from the specific manufacturer. They cannot be transferred from one press brake to another. Another disadvantage: The control and intervention process of an integrated angle measuring system tends to extend the duration of the sheet metal bending process.
If there is no integrated measuring system, then manual spot checks are done using analog or digital protractors. Using these instruments is very time-consuming since they have to be correctly positioned, which requires specialist expertise.
Save time in quality control
To save valuable process time, the agricultural machinery manufacturer RAUCH has recently started using a new measuring device for sheet metal processing - the KeMes angle measurement device from automation specialist KEBA.
This compact measuring device is based on innovative measuring technology and offers simple installation via magnets so that it can be used on almost any sheet metal bending machine, regardless of the manufacturer. When attached directly to the upper tool, the device uses a laser to measure the angle of each bent section automatically and without interrupting the production process.
The user-friendly device can also be used to check angles manually. In contrast to other handheld measuring devices, it offers one clear advantage: Thanks to a sophisticated measuring method, the angle measuring instrument or other measuring tools do not have to be positioned on the workpiece any more, which saves a considerable amount of time.
An innovative company relying on an innovative solution
The family-run company RAUCH is a global manufacturer of agricultural and municipal technology which has always relied on innovation. 400 national and international patents and patent applications, as well as numerous awards, speak for themselves.
This renowned manufacturer of agricultural machinery, fertilizer technology and municipal engineering equipment has been using the KeMes angle measurement device for several months now and is extremely enthusiastic about the results. "From the very beginning I was impressed with the measuring technology used in this device, which allows contactless measurement for increased flexibility. Our employees no longer have to set the sheet metal part aside for angle checking. You can already see whether the angle is correct during bending or directly in the upward stroke of the machine," says Martin Herrmann, shift supervisor for mechanical processing at RAUCH. “The angle measurement device gives us consistent quality control during the production process.”
The laser measuring device also provides an extra advantage for colleagues who work with the automatic bending cell and who must also manually check parts bent by the robot for quality assurance. Here, the operating principle of the new angle measuring instrument provides employees with a great ergonomic advantage. Martin Herrmann comments: “My colleagues are now able to stand more freely when measuring the large, sometimes very heavy, parts manufactured on the robot. Previously they often had to stand under the suspended load when checking the angles, with poor visibility of the area to be measured. With KeMes, you can simply take a 'blind measurement' and the angle appears on the display.”
For agricultural machinery manufacturers, sheet metal processing plays a central role, since bending or forming is usually one of the first manufacturing steps for machines with working widths of up to 36 meters. Maintaining angular dimensions is especially important with regard to the subsequent steps.
Improved safety for the inspection of sheet metal parts
The new angle measurement device has also improved quality control at RAUCH.
When manufacturing critical components, every single part needs to be accurately checked to ensure that only good parts are further processed. With KeMes on the machine, we now have more certainty for this 100% inspection, which also gives us a stable series production process,” says Martin Herrmann.
RAUCH is now using two KEBA angle measuring instruments in production: "We have successfully integrated the new measuring instruments into our production processes. One of the devices is a permanent part of the equipment for our automatic bending cell. The second device is used on our conventional press brakes - primarily in the production of parts that need to be combined in a reliable manner for further processing”
In the manufacture of RAUCH high-tech products, quality assurance is especially important, and an angle measurement system you can depend on is essential - in keeping with the RAUCH slogan of "Precision is our passion."
