Glossary

Anisotropy

The property by which the value of a physical quantity (hardness, tensile strength, speed, refractive index, etc.) in a material is not the same in all directions.

Anti-vibration mounts

Used to isolate machines from their supporting structures so that mechanical vibrations are not transmitted, but are absorbed by the anti-vibration mounts as quickly as possible.

Anti-vibration pads

Anti-vibration supports made of elastomer designed to absorb vibration.

Back-geared press

The back-geared version enables high-tonnage production at lower speeds thanks to a helical gear reduction between the intermediate shaft and the eccentric shaft.

Ball lifters

Hydraulically actuated roller/ball system installed in the press bolster to allow very heavy dies to be moved manually with minimal effort.

Bending

Mechanical operation in which forces are applied to deform a workpiece.

Blanking

Auxiliary function of safety light curtains that allows objects to enter the protected field without stopping the machine.

Blanking

Sheet-metal shearing operation carried out by plastic deformation and fracture.

Bottom dead center (BDC)

Point at which the moving part of the die, during its stroke, is closest to the bolster of the eccentric mechanical press.

Burr

Defect produced by sheet-metal blanking.

Calibration

Operation in which an instrument is adjusted to improve its precision and accuracy.

Coil

Sheet-metal coil/strip.

Coil camber

Lateral curvature of the strip, measured as the deviation of the strip centerline from the ideal straight line.

Coil hold-down arm

Hold-down arm.

Coil inner diameter

Inner diameter of the sheet-metal coil.

Coil loading cradle

Decoiler accessory that facilitates coil loading. Suitable for large coils.

Coil outer diameter

Outer diameter of the sheet-metal coil.

Coil side guides

Keep the coil laterally contained and ensure correct unwinding.

Coining

Plastic compression operation. Generally not recommended on eccentric mechanical presses.

Cold sheet-metal forming

Stamping of cold sheet metal at room temperature.

Connecting-rod eccentric

Eccentric component of a mechanical press which, by changing its relative position with respect to the press eccentric shaft, allows the stroke to be adjusted.

Connecting rod

Mechanical element of the drive connecting the eccentric shaft to the slide/ram.

Control station

Two-hand control.

Conveyor belt

Belt used to remove scrap or finished stamped parts.

Counterbalance cylinders

Pneumatic system designed to balance the weight of the moving part of the die and optimize the press drive cycle.

Crimping

Joining operation based on interference between two different but adjacent parts.

Cycle time

Time required to produce one punched and cut-to-length part; the interval from one press stroke to the next.

Decoiler

Device that feeds material to the straightener/feeder through rotation of the mandrel.

Deep drawing

Process in which sheet metal is plastically deformed into a box-shaped or cylindrical form.

Destacker

Supplies the feed line with blanks to be processed by picking them one at a time from a stack, ensuring consistent single-sheet feeding.

Die

Tooling die.

Die

Tool used in a press for one or more operations such as forming, drawing and blanking.

Die cushion

Optional press equipment installed beneath the bolster. It can act as an ejector when parts remain stuck in the lower half of the die, or as a blank holder for drawing operations.

Die height

The height of the die. It is measured from the upper surface, which rests against the slide/ram surface, to the lower surface in contact with the press bolster. A distinction is made between "closed die" with the slide at BDC (bottom dead center) and "open die" with the slide at TDC (top dead center).

Die loading arms

Roller-equipped supports that facilitate loading very heavy dies onto the press bolster.

Drawability

Ability of a sheet material to undergo plastic deformation by deep drawing.

Eccentric shaft

Main shaft of a mechanical press that converts the rotary motion supplied by an electric motor into reciprocating motion for stamping operations, through the slide or ram.

Ejection force

Force used to eject the finished part from the die.

Electrical console

Houses the press electronic components, PLC and safety modules. It is a freestanding unit separate from the press.

Electrical control cabinet

Houses the press electronic components, PLC and safety modules.

Electric motor

Main motor of the eccentric mechanical press, used to drive the entire mechanism.

Electronic cams

Electronic system that uses an encoder to generate output signals, simulating multiple mechanical cams.

Encoder

Electronic device used as a transducer for the angular position and rotational speed of shafts.

Feed

Feed or feeder: the machine feeding system used to advance sheet-metal coil strip.

Feeder

Machine feeding system used to advance sheet-metal coil strip.

Feeder with integrated straightener

Before feeding the strip into the eccentric mechanical press, this device straightens it using a multi-roll system. Compared with a conventional layout in which the straightener is separate from the feeder, this configuration reduces the footprint of the feed line. Suitable for stamping operations at medium speeds and feed pitches.

Flywheel

Metal wheel that stores inertia (kinetic energy). Its rotational energy helps prevent excessive or sudden speed variations caused by the stamping operation.

Flywheel press

The direct-drive/flywheel version allows higher production speeds because there are no intermediate reductions between the motor shaft and the eccentric shaft.

Gripper feeder

Strip-feeding device that uses pneumatically or hydraulically actuated grippers.

Hold-down arm

Consists of a movable metal arm and a wheel that presses on the strip, making it easier to insert a new coil strip and safely restart production.

Hot sheet-metal forming

Stamping of heated sheet metal.

Hydraulic clamps

Hydraulic devices for easy and convenient clamping of the die to the eccentric mechanical press.

Hydraulic expansion

Feature of the decoiler: mandrel expansion is hydraulically actuated.

Hydraulic or hydropneumatic clutch

Hydraulic clutch that allows a high number of press engagements per minute with virtually zero wear.

Hydraulic power unit

The hydraulic power unit supplies pressurized oil to the hydraulic circuit for the various press functions.

Hydraulic press

Press that uses the pressure of a fluid, generally hydraulic oil, to generate force for compressing and compacting materials.

In-die tapping unit

Device that can be integrated into the die to tap plain or drawn holes during the stamping operation.

Inclinable press

Press that can be tilted to facilitate discharge of finished parts by gravity.

Inverter

Electronic variable-frequency drive that allows the speed of an eccentric mechanical press to be adjusted by varying the frequency.

Knock-out bar

Metal-rod ejection system integrated into the slide of an eccentric mechanical press. Its function is to release a stamped part that remains stuck to the upper part of the die.

Load cells

Load sensors. They are used to simulate press operation under load. Through a PC interface, force curves are acquired and analyzed.

Loop control

System for controlling strip-loop height. Its function is to reduce operating speed or stop selected machines in the stamping line.

Lubrication

Roller or spray lubrication system that facilitates stamping operations.

Manual expansion

Feature of the decoiler: mandrel expansion is performed manually by the operator using a manual mechanism.

Material optimization

Stamping strategies used to save material by reducing scrap.

Measuring wheel - encoder wheel

Wheel placed on the strip surface downstream of the feeder and rotated by strip movement. Used to measure feed pitch.

Mechanical cam

Component mounted on a rotating shaft whose profile actuates dedicated limit switches. This generates output signals that can be used by the system.

Motorized decoiler

Motorized device that feeds material to the straightener/feeder through rotation of the mandrel.

Motorized slide adjustment

Motorized device that makes slide adjustment easier.

Operator console

Pedestal or console.

Pilots or pilot pins

In progressive dies, accurate positioning of the coil strip relative to the die can be ensured by pilot pins that enter reference holes pre-punched in earlier die stations.

PLC

Programmable Logic Controller – processes and controls the digital and analog signals from sensors installed in the system.

Pneumatic clutch

Spring-applied pneumatic clutch.

Press base

On inclinable versions, this is the floor-mounted base on which the press frame is installed.

Press capacity

Press force (tonnes).

Press clutch

Unit of the eccentric mechanical press that transmits motion from the flywheel to the rest of the drive mechanism.

Productivity

The number of parts produced per unit of time; inversely proportional to cycle time.

Programmable safety light curtains

Optoelectronic safety devices designed to protect the press working area. Programmable functions make it easier to use the press for single-cycle production with manual loading and unloading. The cycle starts automatically after one or two accesses, selectable from the press controls. During the cycle, any further interruption of the beam safely stops the press.

Progressive die

Die comprising two or more progressive stamping operations. The complete sequence of operations produces the finished part.

Punch

Die component that, driven by the eccentric mechanical press, performs a punching or blanking operation.

Punching

Blanking/punching operation performed during stamping.

Rated speed

Speed at which the press can deliver its rated capacity.

Remote assistance

Technical support provided remotely by specialists who can access and work on the system.

Remote service

Technical support provided remotely by specialists who can access and work on the system.

Riser plate

Additional plate whose sole purpose is to reduce the bolster-to-slide distance.

Rolled product

Material obtained through rolling processes.

Roll feeder

Strip-feeding device using two superimposed rolls whose rotation advances the strip.

Rotary table

Rotating table that feeds a different workpiece under the die at each press stroke.

Safety light curtains

Optoelectronic safety devices designed to protect the press working area.

Scrap

Sheet-metal waste generated by stamping.

Scrap removal

System for removing scrap generated by the stamping process.

Shear

Tool used to cut sheet metal, scrap and stamped parts.

Sheet-metal strips

Sheet-metal coils/strips.

Sheet metal

Metallic material supplied in sheets or strips.

Single-cavity die

Die with a single cavity that forms the part to be produced.

Slide

Slide or ram. The moving part of the press. The moving half of the die is attached to its lower surface.

Slide adjustment

Adjustment of the slide, by acting on the screw between the connecting rod and slide, to set the bolster-to-slide distance and adapt the press to the die being used.

Soundproof enclosure

Fully encloses the stamping line, reducing the system noise level.

Spring anti-vibration mounts

Anti-vibration supports consisting of one or more steel springs housed in a casing.

Stainless steel

Stainless-steel sheet.

Stamping

Metal-forming process for sheet and similar products, mainly including blanking and drawing.

Stamping line

Production line consisting of a decoiler, straightener, feeder, eccentric mechanical press and die.

Straightener

Machine normally positioned between the decoiler and feeder, or integrated into the feeder, and consisting of a series of rolls. Its function is to remove the curvature induced in the strip by coiling.

Strain gauges

Electronic system used to measure the press working force and the distribution of the applied forces across the bolster.

Strip loop

Area between the decoiler and straightener, and between the straightener and feeder. It acts as an accumulator to balance the different operating speeds of the machines feeding the eccentric mechanical press.

Stroke

Length of the reciprocating movement of the slide in an eccentric mechanical press.

T-slots

T-shaped slots machined in the bolster and slide surface for securing the die.

Throat depth

On a C-frame press, the distance between the machine centerline and the frame at the rear of the bolster.

Tie rods

Optional structural reinforcement system for particularly demanding operations.

Tie rods

Structural reinforcement tie rods.

Tolerance

Permissible range within which a dimension or operation may vary relative to the nominal drawing value.

Tool

Die or part of a die.

Top dead center (TDC)

Point at which the moving part of the die, during its stroke, is farthest from the bolster of the eccentric mechanical press.

Transfer

System used to move the workpiece through the die.

Transfer press

In this press, the workpiece is moved step by step by a transfer system through successive stations.

Two-hand control pedestal

Mobile two-hand control station.

Working stroke

Distance from BDC (bottom dead center) within which the press can deliver its rated force.

Zig-zag feeder

Feeder with lateral movement for multi-nesting production, reducing scrap.