In the world of manufacturing, technology is always advancing. One of the trends is the move toward servo. Servo-driven equipment utilizes electric power over the old standard of pneumatics or hydraulics.
Keeping up with industry trends is important, as older technologies may become obsolete and harder to support. Orbitform continues to offer pneumatic and hydraulic powerheads for assembly because these do have their place and aren’t going away any time soon. We also offer a full line of servo-driven powerheads and there are a few reasons to make the shift to servo-driven assembly equipment.
5 Reasons to Use Servo-Driven Assembly Equipment:
- Precision Forming Speed and Dwell Control – Using servo-driven equipment for your assembly process allows for precise control of the process, including the forming speed and dwell. This high level of precision results in increased consistency of high-quality parts.
- Form to Any Distance and/or Force – Servo-driven assembly equipment offers process monitoring to allow for precise measurement and fine tuning of the process, as well as the ability to form to a specified distance or until a specified thrust is exerted by the equipment. This gives manufacturers greater control of the process by programming the equipment for the unique application requirements. This also allows for forming multiple part heights within a part or across multiple parts.
- Fluctuations in Plant Air Pressure – Pneumatic equipment requires a certain level of air pressure, or PSI, to run properly. For example, Orbitform’s pneumatic powerheads are rated for 100 PSI. If a manufacturing facility has lower air pressure or air pressure that fluctuates, pneumatic equipment may not have the same level of precision in the forming process. This can result in finished forms that are out of tolerance and/or inconsistent. Servo equipment eliminates this issue as it doesn’t require air at all.
- Lower Cost of Ownership/Utility Costs – Servo-driven equipment often has lower utility costs than pneumatic or hydraulic equipment. The cost of air can add up, especially if you have other equipment that requires air, and hydraulic equipment can be more expensive to maintain. Additionally, dirty air or leaky hydraulic fluids can introduce additional maintenance costs.
- Clean Room Applications – For some manufacturers, their parts must be kept clean from contaminants during assembly, such as electronic components or medical devices. In these instances, pneumatic or hydraulic equipment could introduce dirty air or hydraulic fluid into the parts. Servo-driven equipment eliminates the need for air or fluids, helping to maintain an assembly area free from contamination.
To support manufacturers looking to switch to servo-driven assembly equipment, Orbitform offers a full line of servo-driven powerheads and bench machines that can be used with any of our cold forming process including orbital forming, radial forming, and roller forming. Our new PSV-1000 is the largest servo orbital riveter on the market, with a forming force capacity of up to 18,000 lbs. This allows for forming larger diameter material without the need for hydraulics.
Orbitform is continuously on the lookout for the latest technology and how we can improve our current assembly equipment. Our assembly experts take the time to understand every aspect of your application to ensure we are using the right technology and equipment to meet your requirements. Contact us today to discuss updating or improving your current assembly processes.