Always the same cycle with always the same travels and setup times of hours and days are a thing of the past. The flexibility of the modular CNC transfer bending machine BQ 10 is hard to beat. Each individual transfer of the workpiece can be separately adjusted. Therefore, also tooling times and times for resetting the machine are considerably reduced. The BQ 10 is ideally suited for the production of fasteners and bent wire parts that require further processing steps.
Versatile and individual
Flexible, fast and full of possibilities. The BQ 10 is a new type of CNC transfer bending machine for wire diameters between 3 and 10 mm. The machine can process round and shaped wire. The BQ 10 has up to four stations with modules for bending, forming, flattening and die cutting. A thread roller can be integrated between the infeed, straightening and cutting-off station and the body module that holds the processing stations.
The production sequence
The BQ 10 starts like most bending machines. As usual, the wire from the coil is fed in by feed rollers and is straightened by rollers. After the straightening process, the wire is cut to a length between 80 and 800 mm before the production process is continued. All stations can be installed as required by the production process. The transfer system passes the cut-off wire sections from one processing station to the next. Type and order of the production steps are freely configurable. Aside from the CNC slider modules that feature different forces for bending, flattening and die cutting, also the well-known WAFIOS CNC bending technology of our universal bending machines can be employed. Optional equipment, for e.g. rotary straightening, CNC chamfering or thread rolling, enable additional processing steps.
Variable transfer system
The entire transfer system consists of five individual, patent-pending transfer modules. They can be programmed individually and independently of each other. Each standard transfer module is equipped with three CNC axes for cross displacement, longitudinal displacement and vertical displacement. As an option, the gripper can be equipped with a rotary axis. Thus, travels may vary from one station to the other. There is no longer any dependency on predefined depth gauges when setting up the various processing stations.
Simple programming with EasyCNC
EasyCNC is the enhancement of the WAFIOS programming system WPS 3.2 EasyWay. It enables the operator to program the different modules separately in an easy and logical way.
Previously, production speed depended on the revolution of the main shaft. CNC technology, however, enables the programming of individual modules independently of time. Thus the cycle time only depends on the slowest production step. At the BQ 10, this time-sensitive production step can be optimized with CNC technology.
Short tooling times
Changing to a workpiece that has already been produced on the machine before, means that the machine and the production is at a standstill during the tooling process. Conventional transfer bending machines require the individual modules to be installed with millimeter accuracy as they have to match transport travels perfectly. They are adjusted manually which requires a lot of time. Correct adjustment can take several hours. Time during which the machine cannot be used for production. The BQ 10's transfer system with individual transfer modules is the solution to this problem. The individual modules can be installed offset to the original position. Due to programmable CNC axes, the transfer system offers quick adjustment to new positions also within existing programs. This saves time and work.
One machine, multiple possibilities
The transfer system's flexible travels enable the production of workpieces of one family within a shortest period of time on the BQ 10. Lengths or additional bends can be set up and produced easily with the transfer bending machine while other production steps, like flattening, die cutting or thread rolling remain the same.
"The BQ 10's modular structure enables its adjustment to individual production solutions. No matter whether there are multiple bending stations or different production steps involved. The bending machine cannot only be set up easily for production, it can also be converted quickly for different workpieces", says Stefan Fries, Head of Automation Technology.
The slightly different bending machine
The BQ 10 differs from other bending machines due to its unique and variable transfer system. In addition, the BQ 10 offers a high output and produces ready-to-install products thanks to the four variable production stations. Many individual processing steps and time-consuming changes to different machines are not required anymore.
A future-proof system
Already today, bent parts made of round as well as shaped wire with up to 10 mm diameter can be produced. Other stations as well can be transferred to the modular system and thus expand production possibilities. In the future, the transfer bending machine can be used in other areas as well.