Electromagnetic punch presses with feedback device
An electromagnetically driven punch press is described. The punch press has an engine plate and a die set and a ram between the engine plate and die set. The engine plate has an assembly fixed thereto having a solenoid with windings that create a magnetic field when a current is applied. The engine plate has a feedback means positioned on the engine plate to provide real-time data on the position and velocity of the ram with respect to said engine plate.
1. An electromagnetically driven punch press comprising an engine plate and a die set and a ram between the engine plate and die set, said engine plate having an assembly fixed thereto having a solenoid with windings that create a magnetic field when a current is applied, said magnetic field forcing an armature through the windings causing said ram to move towards said die set, said engine plate having a feedback means positioned on said engine plate and a signal means on said ram, said feedback means being adapted to measure the distance and direction of travel of said signal means thereby providing real-time data on the position and velocity of the ram with respect to said engine plate; said feedback means being connected to a controller, said controller comprising a processor and an amplifier, and wherein said feedback means measures the velocity of said ram and adjusts the amount of current applied to said solenoid, to thereby adjust the velocity of the ram.
2. The press according to claim 1 wherein said solenoid generates heat during continuous operation of the ram, and current to the solenoid is increased to continue to permit the ram to punch at a set velocity and time interval.
3. The punch press according to claim 2 wherein the feedback means includes an optical switch and said signal means is a flag.
4. The punch press according to claim 2 wherein said feedback means is a linear transducer.
5. The punch press according to claim 4 wherein said linear transducer is a string pot.
6. The punch press according to claim 4 wherein said linear transducer is a draw wire sensors.
7. The punch press according to claim 4 wherein said linear transducer is a string encoder.
8. The punch press according to claim 4 wherein said linear transducer is a yo-yo sensors.
9. The punch press according to claim 2 wherein said feedback means is a linear potentiometer.
10. The punch press according to claim 2 wherein the feedback means is a digital encoder.