PA Industries Precision AirFeed User Manual
PRECISION
AIR FEED
®
INSTALLATION
& OPERATING
INSTRUCTION
MANUAL
P/A INDUSTRIES INC.
OVER FORTY YEARS EXPERIENCE
Since 1954, P/A engineers have been designing
and building equipment for the Metalforming Industry.
Our commitment to provide innovative production
equipment of the highest quality is second to none.
CUP SEAL DESIGN
P/A is the only air feed manufacturer that provides
low maintenance, high-cycle life cup wiper seals on
the main cylinder. Every quality-built air cylinder uses
the same technology as P/A. Cup seals reduce
friction and heat which increases cycle life and
performance by a conservative factor of 50 times.
U.S. PATENTS
The leader in pneumatic press feed patents in the
world is unquestionably P/A Industries. Todays design
is covered by a combination of the following patents:
3,329,327; 3,462,056; 3,485,430; 3,561,657;
3,583,268; 3,561,309; 3,847,320; 4,051,987;
4,195,161; 4,310,114; 4,160,518; 4,076,161;
4,095,733; 4,140,261; 4,175,688; 4,290,541;
4,261,238; 4,277,997; 4,207,999; 4,267,950;
4,329,897; 4,351,462; 4,399,937; 4,444,346;
4,531,662; 4,619,390.
Other patents pending and foreign patents are not
included above.
CONTENTS
P/A believes in providing the best production
performance air feed available anywhere in the world
today. To prove that we are the BEST, a serialized
Repair Certificate is
enclosed with each
air feed. This can
be used at any
time for a
“no-charge” repair.
Please keep this
valuable
Certificate with
your records
and return to
P/A with the
feed for our
FREE REPAIR
SERVICE.
AIR FEED FEATURES .................................................... 2
MOUNTING THE AIR FEED ........................................... 4
AIR POWER SUPPLY CONNECTION
TO THE FEED ............................................................ 5
FEED LUBRICATION ...................................................... 5
PRESS FEED TIMING .................................................... 6
AIR FEED SEQUENCE ...................................................7
CONTROLLING THE FEED
Mechanical Actuation .................................................. 8
Remote Pneumatic Actuation ..................................... 9
Remote Electric Actuation .........................................10
Repeater Control System .........................................11
FEED LENGTH ADJUSTMENT .................................... 11
MATERIAL ADJUSTMENT ............................................12
SPEED CONTROL ........................................................13
THREE PILOT RELEASE METHODS .......................... 14
FEEDING SHAPED MATERIAL .................................... 15
PROTECTIVE COVERS ...............................................15
MODEL AX PARTS LIST ...............................................16
MODEL AX EXPLODED VIEW ..................................... 17
MODELS CX, DX PARTS LIST ..................................... 18
MODELS CX, DX EXPLODED VIEW ........................... 19
MODELS FX, HX, LX PARTS LIST ...............................20
MODELS FX, HX, LX EXPLODED VIEW ..................... 21
ACTUATION METHODS ............................................... 22
PILOT RELEASE ACTUATION METHODS .................. 23
TROUBLE SHOOTING CHART .................................... 24
1
AIR FEED FEATURES
FASTER SPEEDS
Our patented system sequences
high speed models up to 400 cycles
per minute at full two inch pitch.
VERSATILE
Coil stock can be fed in any direction
or angle at any time during the
machine cycle. A single feed can
push or pull through long or short
progressions. A variety of stock
widths and thicknesses can be fed at
different speeds and feed lengths.
Two or more strips can be
simultaneously fed by the same feed.
INEXPENSIVE
The cost of P/A feeds are 65% to 90%
less than conventional roll or slide
feeds. With savings like that you
should consider leaving the feed
permanently mounted on the tool
to decrease set up time and increase
productivity.
Surveys show that Contract Job
Shop Stampers prefer P/A air feeds
because they are the easiest and most
economical way to change from one
job to another.
Actuating valve or optional
remote actuation controls feed
motion and clamp sequencing
Speed adjustment screw
controls feed head velocity
and material inertia
Two (or four) drilled
holes provide easy
mounting to die shoe,
bolster, or mounting
bracket
Oversized air inlet
eliminates air pressure
volume problems
Air silencers greatly
reduce noise to enhance
the operator’s environment
Modern Cup Wiper Seal (instead of “O” Rings) maintains
clean piston assembly and significantly increases cycle life
Body constructed of hard-coat
anodized, aircraft aluminum for weight
reduction and minimal wear characteristics
Replaceable steel wear
plates protect feed surface
from material edges
Two shock absorbers
automatically control feed
head and material inertia
Main piston
rod is hard
chrome plated
and ground
Twin
external air
tubes are
stainless steel.
2
AIR FEED FEATURES
Nylock hex nut used in aircraft engines
to absorb vibration and eliminate loosening
Shock absorber stops
slamming and reduces noise
High strength, chrome plated, steel
guide rails maintain feed head alignment
throughout its stroke
Large adjusting screw and lock nut
provide vernier feed length control
Combination stock dampener and
adjustable guide rollers provide
vibration free material to the feed
Counterbored holes and
precision ground shoulder
screws provide coarse feed
length adjustment and secure
rigid alignment
SIMPLE INSTALLATION
Our feeds are extremely easy to mount.
Two (or four) mounting bolts and a single
air line connection are all that’s necessary.
A compact, clean design permits the P/A
Air Feed to be mounted right on the die set.
QUICK SET-UP
Adjustments are quick, simple and positive.
To change feed length, turn the adjustment
screw to the desired pitch between positive
stops and tighten the locknut.
PATENTED DESIGN
Technologically the BEST air feed on the
market today! U.S. Patent No. 4,444,346.
REPEATABILITY
Consistently holds ±.001" (.025mm) stroke
after stroke. The most precise press feed
available at a reasonable cost.
HANDLES VARIETY OF MATERIALS
Paper, plastic, foil, fabric, wire, tubing
...you name it and P/A will feed it. Highly
polished materials or extrusions, preformed
or irregularly shaped materials – all can
easily be adapted with special clamps.
3
MOUNTING THE AIR FEED
Its compact design will allow this Feed to be installed
on the Die or Press Bolster, or on many types of
machines, at any angle, including upside down or
vertical. Use two (or four) minimal clearance HoldDown Bolts to solidly fasten the Feed as close to the
Work Station as possible. NEVER use ‘C’ clamps as
the Feed may move or shift position.
CORRECT
NOT
CORRECT
Mounting directly
on the Die is
recommended
for “Just-In-Time”
production and
to reduce set-up
time.
The top of the Feed Wear Plate should be level with
the lower Die Face and the front of the Feed square
and centered with the tool.
A mounting
bracket provides
easy vertical
adjustment for
tools with different
stock line
heights.
The Feed can be
moved from
press to press, or
die to die, in a
matter of minutes.
4
AIR POWER SUPPLY CONNECTION TO THE FEED
A single air line connection is all that is needed for
maximum power with minimum air consumption. We
strongly recommend that an oversized air hose be
connected to the Feed with a water separator type
filter and air line oiler.
The use of a 3-Way On/Off Exhaust Valve will make
minor adjustments and strip insertion easier.
RECOMMENDED AIR LINE CONNECTION
TO ELIMINATE MOISTURE AND PARTICLES FROM MAIN LINE
Set the Air Pressure Regulator between 80 and
120 PSI (6 to 8 Bar).
FEED LUBRICATION
Fill the air line lubricator with a good grade of
hydraulic cylinder oil, like Shell Tellus 32. Set for one
drop per minute to properly clean and lubricate all
internal parts.
NEVER use Spindle Oils, Motor Oils, Solvents,
WD-40, or Stock Lubricating Oils. Use of these types
of oils will cause Feed performance to deteriorate, as
well as premature wear.
5
PRESS FEED TIMING
The Reciprocating Linear Motion of the Feed Slide must
be timed to the press crankshaft rotation for optimum
performance. The Actuating Valve’s vertical motion
controls the sequencing of the Stock Clamp, Feed
Clamp, and the Feed Slide.
To understand how the rotary crankshaft and linear
Feed Slide motion work together in a Press Feed Cycle,
it might be helpful to visualize a Clock Face. The
position “Top Dead Center” of the Ram Stroke would be
12 o’clock, half way down would be 3 o’clock, “Bottom
Dead Center” is 6 o’clock, and moving half way up
would be 9 o’clock.
The optimum Feed cycle requires two thirds of the
crankshaft rotation (240 degrees) to feed the material
into position. During the remaining 120 degrees, the
Feed Slide returns to the Stop Screw for more Material.
As soon as the Stamped Part has been ejected and the
Punches are clear of the Die (approximately 8 to 8:30
on the clock), the Feed Clamp will grip the Stock and
then the Feed Slide will begin moving towards the Feed
Body.
CAUTION: To properly complete a Feed Stroke, the
Feed Slide must have enough time to contact the Feed
Body before 4 o’clock and then return to the Stop Screw
before 8 o’clock during the 360 degree crankshaft rotation
otherwise erratic short feed progressions will occur.
6
Another method of controlling the Feed Timing is
to use the Remote Electric or Pneumatic Actuation
Systems to suit the Press and Part applications.
These methods require the same 240° feed and 120°
return timing cycle.
AIR FEED SEQUENCE
Actuating Valve up
•
Feed Slide forward
•
Stock Clamp open
•
Feed Clamp closed
•
Actuating Valve down
•
Stock Clamp closes
•
Feed Clamp opens
•
Feed Slide moves back
•
Feed Slide rests
•
against Stop Screw
Stock Clamp closed
•
Feed Clamp open
•
AT TOP OF
PRESS STROKE
AT BEGINNING OF
NON-FEED STROKE
AT END OF
NON-FEED STROKE
Actuating Valve up
•
Feed Clamp closes
•
Stock Clamp opens
•
Feed Slide moves forward
•
AT BEGINNING OF
FEED STROKE
7
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