November 2020 Volume 2

FORGING RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY

The next step is to fix the dies on the mandrel using screws. Afterwards, four screws, which attach the dies to the bodies and sliders of FDFD are unscrewed and the device is opened. The mandrel with the dies fixed on it is removed from the working space of FDFD. The second mandrel with required set of dies, which have been fixed on it upfront, is placed in the working space of the forging device and then the bodies and the sliders of FDFD are brought together until there is a contact between new dies, bodies, and sliders. Then, these new dies are attached to the above mentioned elements of FDFD using four screws from one side of the device (see Figure 6). Further, the screws on the mandrel are unscrewed in order to disengage dies from the mandrel, and then the mandrel is removed from the working space of the device. As the operational experience in Korean company SeAH has shown, all dies can be changed simultaneously using this system in seven to ten minutes.

Figure 7: View at the side of FDFD where quick mounting system mechanism is located.  This design scheme of FDFD comprises special catches, which are used to quickly fix and unfix a forging device to a top press cross beam or to the top die of a press, which has a flat working surface. The mechanism, which actuates the catches, is operated using an electric or pneumatic power-wrench. A worker connects the power wrench with an input shaft of this mechanism, starts it, and watches for the engagement of the mechanism with the top press cross-beam or with the press top die to happen. Then, the power-wrench is disconnected. The time required to attach a FDFD to the top press cross-beam or to the press top die is usually three to four minutes. Also, our company has developed mechanisms for quick (one to two minutes) attachment of FDFD bottom body to a working table of a press. Such systems are efficiently used in forging production.

Figure 6: View at the side of FDFD where screws of quick die change system are located.  3.2 Systems to Fix FDFD to the Movable Press Cross-beam and to theWorking Table of the Press There are many different systems for mounting the tooling onto movable press cross-beam and onto the working table of the press, which can also be used for attaching FDFD. But it can be the case that these mounting systems do not fit for the installation of FDFD. Therefore, we have to develop our own design solutions to mount FDFD into forging presses. Thus, our company has developed and incorporates a quick FDFD mounting system to a top press cross-beam or to the top die of a press, which has a flat working surface (see Figure 7).

FIA MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2020 113