Efficient Plant February 2018 - 27
feature | human/machine safety
Pros and Cons of Advanced Press-Brake Safeguarding Methods
New vs.
Retrofit
Machines
Light Curtains (LCs)
Laser-Based AOPD
Camera Vision System
Available for both with some manufacturers.
Available for both with some manufacturers.
Less expensive
Pros
Less setup time tooling or part changes
Newer LCs have programmability and
Faster production with smaller work pieces.
Difficult to bend parts with flanges
Higher price
features to allow bending of difficult parts.
Cons
Box bending or bending with flanges
'Muting Abuse' makes machine unsafe by
Setup time associated with tooling changes
Slower production with smaller work pieces
Does not work with all tooling (larger radius
over-muting and blanking.
With older LCs, smaller-parts bending is
possible, but complicated (sequence-step
mode at operation).
8. There should be no easy way to disable
the safety system without special tools.
9. If the safety system is disabled there
should be a clear indication that it is
disabled.
10. The operator and setup person should
be properly trained in the operation of
the safety system.
A LASER FOCUS ON SAFETY
The laser AOPD, is the newest entry in the
press-brake-safety-solution arena. Invented
in 1998 as an alternative to light curtains,
the systems were first used in the European
Union before coming to the United States as
a retrofit solution for existing press brakes.
Today, these systems have become standard for many press brakes, on imported
machines and those manufactured in the
U.S. Because of their close proximity point
of operation, laser AOPDs are best suited for applications such as box bending,
bending with flanges, or where light-curtain
effectiveness is diminished due to excessive blanking or muting. Inclusion of laser
FEBRUARY 2018
Restrictions on safe use with tooling
or flattening dies)
Unable to protect operator for most step-
bending applications.
AOPD technology in the B11.3 is a welcome
addition to the standard that now gives
press-brake manufacturers, dealers, and
users a clear guideline for implementing
this technology safely (see B11.3 sub-clause
8.8.7 - Close Proximity Point of Operation
AOPD Safeguarding Device).
The biggest advantage of AOPD is that
operators can hand-hold parts close to the
dies, while using a foot-switch to actuate
the machine-cycle-something that's almost
impossible to accomplish safely with a light
curtain. Another advantage is seen in the
machining of larger-piece parts with tall
side legs, a task that would be difficult using
a vertically mounted light curtain for safeguarding. Such applications often require
excessive "Channel Blanking," which often
allows hands and fingers to become too
close to the dies.
SELECT THE RIGHT
SAFEGUARDING SOLUTION
Light-curtain systems restrict operator
access to the point of hazard, whereas laser
AOPD protects the point of hazard. But
that doesn't make AOPD perfect for every
application. Nor is it an either-or situation
between the two approaches. There are
advantages and drawbacks to both systems.
In fact, the two technologies can be used on
the same machine-and often are.
For example, light curtains provide for
die configurations, such as compound
bends that a laser AOPD won't handle.
This is done to ensure that safeguarding is
provided for all die setups. For die setups
where neither light curtains or AOPD can
offer effective safeguarding, but the part can
be machined in a fixture-in-place manner,
i.e., without hand-support, a two-hand
control can be used for safeguarding. The
table at the top of this page sums up the two
systems. EP
This information was provided by Carrie
Halle, a vice president of Rockford Systems
LLC, Rockford, IL. To learn more about these
technologies and other machine-safeguarding
solutions, visit rockfordsystems.com.
EFFICIENTPLANTMAG.COM |
27
http://www.rockfordsystems.com
http://www.EFFICIENTPLANTMAG.COM
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Efficient Plant February 2018
Maximize CMMS, EAM Use
Tribology Program Fills Skills Gap
Caring For Bearings In Extreme Environments
Press-Brake Safeguarding Matters
Oil Systems Need To Breathe
SAP: Kicking Bad Habits
Advice For Automated Substations
Good BOMs Boost Maintenance Efficiency
Smarten Up About Rotor Analysis
Heed These Signs of Inefficiency
Implementations
IIoT
Efficiency Insight
Editorial
On The Floor
Solution Focus
Products
Showcase
Efficient Plant February 2018 - Cover1
Efficient Plant February 2018 - Cover2
Efficient Plant February 2018 - 1
Efficient Plant February 2018 - 2
Efficient Plant February 2018 - 3
Efficient Plant February 2018 - 4
Efficient Plant February 2018 - 5
Efficient Plant February 2018 - Editorial
Efficient Plant February 2018 - 7
Efficient Plant February 2018 - Implementations
Efficient Plant February 2018 - 9
Efficient Plant February 2018 - Maximize CMMS, EAM Use
Efficient Plant February 2018 - 11
Efficient Plant February 2018 - 12
Efficient Plant February 2018 - 13
Efficient Plant February 2018 - Tribology Program Fills Skills Gap
Efficient Plant February 2018 - 15
Efficient Plant February 2018 - 16
Efficient Plant February 2018 - 19
Efficient Plant February 2018 - 20
Efficient Plant February 2018 - Caring For Bearings In Extreme Environments
Efficient Plant February 2018 - 22
Efficient Plant February 2018 - 17
Efficient Plant February 2018 - 18
Efficient Plant February 2018 - 19
Efficient Plant February 2018 - 20
Efficient Plant February 2018 - Caring For Bearings In Extreme Environments
Efficient Plant February 2018 - 22
Efficient Plant February 2018 - 23
Efficient Plant February 2018 - Press-Brake Safeguarding Matters
Efficient Plant February 2018 - 25
Efficient Plant February 2018 - 26
Efficient Plant February 2018 - 27
Efficient Plant February 2018 - Oil Systems Need To Breathe
Efficient Plant February 2018 - 29
Efficient Plant February 2018 - 30
Efficient Plant February 2018 - SAP: Kicking Bad Habits
Efficient Plant February 2018 - Advice For Automated Substations
Efficient Plant February 2018 - Good BOMs Boost Maintenance Efficiency
Efficient Plant February 2018 - Smarten Up About Rotor Analysis
Efficient Plant February 2018 - Heed These Signs of Inefficiency
Efficient Plant February 2018 - On The Floor
Efficient Plant February 2018 - 37
Efficient Plant February 2018 - IIoT
Efficient Plant February 2018 - Solution Focus
Efficient Plant February 2018 - 40
Efficient Plant February 2018 - Products
Efficient Plant February 2018 - 42
Efficient Plant February 2018 - 43
Efficient Plant February 2018 - 44
Efficient Plant February 2018 - Showcase
Efficient Plant February 2018 - 46
Efficient Plant February 2018 - 47
Efficient Plant February 2018 - Efficiency Insight
Efficient Plant February 2018 - Cover3
Efficient Plant February 2018 - Cover4
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