EoW March 2013

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Feature
Die drawing & lubricants
March 2013 48
Lab investment
for UKfirm
As part of its ambitious expansion plan
and commitment to quality and service,
leading wire drawing lubricant specialist
Metalube has acquired almost £60,000
worth of new laboratory equipment.
With a £40,000 investment, the Mettler
TGA/DSC is a laboratory highlight. This
cutting-edge instrument carries out
simultaneous differential scanning
calorimetry and thermogravimetric
analysis in a single test enabling the
evaluation of oxidative stability and
evaporation rates under a variety of
conditions.
Technical director Chris Nettleship said:
“This new Mettler TGA/DSC is particularly
good news for wire and tube drawing
manufacturers. It allows us to study the
ageing of oils and therefore extend the
service life. We can also investigate how
lubricants behave during the annealing
cycle, working alongside customers to
optimise product and processes. This all
results in enhanced tube quality.”
Another recent addition to Metalube’s
lab is an £18,000 Reichert M2 friction
and wear tester. This latest model
with variable speed and load allows
the company’s chemists to study the
frictional and wear reduction properties
of Metalube’s wire drawing products
(copper and aluminium).
Mr Nettleship added: “Investment is key
to our growth and ensures that Metalube
continually provides the class of products
that meet our customers’ needs. We are
100 per cent committed to quality and
innovation. This requires equipment that
meets 21st century demands.”
Metalube Ltd – UK
Website:
Cost-effective
solutions
Tecnofil has been designing and manufacturing wire-working machinery since 1994,
offering cost-effective solutions in the wire industry. The latest developed machine is
the ADR-4.
Tecnofil ADR-4 is a machine for fully automatic reworking of tungsten carbide dies,
using CNC technology to give the highest productivity, reliability and die geometry
precision.
The line is composed of:
• input die magazine holding up to 20 pieces
• electronic control panel with PLC and touch screen to set working parameters
• fully automatic die shifting along the three work stations (cone grinding, cone
polishing, cylinder calibration)
• fully automatic identification and selection of input/output dies
• automatic diamond paste feeding.
ADR-4 line works as follows:
1° Station – Cone grinding: The line picks one die from the magazine and inserts in
the rotating pliers; the machine automatically sets the contact point and then starts
grinding the dies. The control of die diameter is made by adjustable steps to get
highest precision level.
2° Station – Cone polishing: The die is picked from grinding station and is delivered
to the rotating pliers of the polishing station. Diamond paste is automatically inserted
in the die, then the machine sets the contact point and starts polishing the die.
The polishing pin can be automatically reground after the desired number of cycles.
The control of the die diameter is made by adjustable steps to get the highest
precision level.
3° Station – Cylinder calibration : The die is picked from the cone finishing station
and delivered to the rotating pliers of the cylinder calibration. The diamond paste is
automatically inserted in the die, then the machine sets the contact point and starts
polishing the cone by vibration and position control. The re-worked die is placed in the
finished die magazine.
Technical features: Die diameter range from 0.4 to 6mm, production speed:
50 dies/hour.
Tecnofil SpA – Italy
Website:
40 years’ experience
Die Tec is an established Mexican
company with 40 years’ experience in the
manufacture of wire drawing dies and
special tools for the wire, tube and bar
drawing industry.
The company also works with stamping
dies and special tooling that requires
high quality materials to improve
productivity and extend life expectancy.
All tools are manufactured under the
worldwide known brand of “Diamex”.
Die Tec International – Mexico
▲ ▲ The ADR-4 from Tecnofil