Quality Control for More Precision in Press Hardening and Hot Forming - PRESS-CHECK
Quality Control for More Precision in Press Hardening and Hot Forming - PRESS-CHECK InfraTec´s PRESS-CHECK automatically monitors and records position and temperature distribution of parts during press hardening and hot forming and thereby facilitates meeting CQI-9 standard requirements in the automotive industry and can prevent expensive tool damage.
Quality Control with PRESS-CHECK
- Automatic sorting of sheets, detection of misplacement and press shut down if necessary
- Logging and evaluation of all collected data and reporting to the master control system via industry-standard interfaces
- The flexible structure and data interface make InfraTec´s PRESS-CHECK easy to integrate
Thermography in Use in Press Hardening and Hot Forming
The automated test system PRESS-CHECK works with two or more powerful high-resolution infrared cameras for continuous measurement of the two-dimensional temperature distribution on the parts before and after the hot forming or hot stamping process, ultimately enabling full compliance with the specified thermal process parameters.
As a result, you manufacture parts with the designed microstructure and a corresponding local hardness distribution. The thermographic-based, two-dimensional monitoring of process temperatures during the hot forming or hot press stamping process ensures a consistently high production quality, with distinct advantages over merely selective temperature measurements on reference points offered by pyrometers, for example.
The process-specific temperature limits for the differently shaped metal parts can be managed in special parameter sets, also called recipes. Stampings with different thermal signatures during the hot forming process are recognized and can be automatically sorted out, so your wastage rates fall considerably. Furthermore, the system checks whether the sheets are placed into the press in the expected number and correct position. In doing so, it can also detect blanks that are incorrectly placed on top of each other (double sheets). If necessary, the press can be stopped automatically, e.g. to avoid expensive damage to the tools.
PRESS-CHECK is linked to the supervisory control system of the respective press, and transmits data as well as the classification of all pressings in real time, thus avoiding slowing down of the hot forming process. With InfraTec´s PRESS-CHECK you can manage the various molds and associated parameter sets automatically, even creating logs. This makes InfraTec PRESS-CHECK universally usable for all applications running on the press without the need for additional equipment and setup time. With highly reliable components, special protective housings, a flexible design and industry-standard data interfaces, the PRESS-CHECK test system can be easily integrated in your press processes.
PRESS-CHECK: For End-to-end Quality Control and Trouble-free Operation During Press Hardening
Quality Control for More Precision in Press Hardening with PRESS-CHECK – Car Parts
Why Monitor the Process of Press Hardening?
Automotive low weight components demand a precise microstructure and corresponding local strength distribution. Good reasons to monitor the process of press hardening by the use of infrared cameras.
Thermography in Use in Press Hardening and Hot Forming
The automated test system PRESS-CHECK from InfraTec serves to control the production process during press hardening. It is equipped with several infrared cameras, which monitor the furnace exit, the moment before and after pressing as well as the cooling of the pressed parts. Thus, a complete temperature measurement and position monitoring is easily possible - high-level quality control due to thermography.
Quality Control for More Precision in Press Hardening with PRESS-CHECK – Car Parts
Thermography in Use in Press Hardening
Features and Benefits
- Infrared cameras optimized for temperature control at the furnace exit, before and after hot stamping or hot forming
- Monitoring of the entire surface of the sheet instead of point measurements
- Presence detection, position recognition, double sheet detection
- Fully automatic, process-synchronous operation
- No additional setup time
- Increases process efficiency and safety by automatically sorting sheets or stopping the press to prevent damage
- Temperature measurement and classification of sheet metal parts
- Adaptation to different press manufacturers through flexible system structure and data interface
- Control of multi-zone components (tailored tempering) for partial press hardening in one process step
System Structure
PRESS-CHECK Software
- Parameter setting, monitoring, operation, representation, evaluation and reporting by the software
- Automatic test mode for temperature, loading and position control
- Ease of use via intuitive user interface
- Easy parameterisation and setup
- User management
- Data and recipe management
- Automatic data transfer to supervisory control system
- Easy integration into QM systems
- Scene-based, geometric and thermal characterization of the heat-treated sheet metal blanks at the furnace exit after hot forming or hot stamping
- Automatic inline detection of components, even if they are only partially visible
- Automatic adaptation to variable process speeds
- Dynamic measuring field (ROI) - creation "on the fly" to determine the position and thermal data according to the component recipes
- Statistical data analysis of position information for automatic adjustment of the sheets’ furnace loading position
- Transition zones of multi-zone components are detected, geometrically and thermally measured
Defect Patterns of a Moulded Part
Automated Monitoring in Running Operation
Case Study for PRESS-CHECK Solution
Active Further Development
In addition to automotive manufacturers, globally operating service providers in the field of press systems increasingly rely on thermography-based measurement technology. They cooperate with other market participants, establish competence centers and drive forward the development of modern pressing. Through active participation in such projects, InfraTec's PRESS-CHECK solution is always up to date with the latest technology. Here you will find examples of such co-operations.
TELOS Global
TELOS Global
TELOS Global offers unique services to automotive hot stampers in the United States. With its fully automated production plant, with a tool and die shop and a team of engineers that cover the complete range of expertise in the field of press hardening of steel, the company counts among the most innovative turn key suppliers in this market. The competence center in Caryville / TN serves as an industry hub for R&D, fabrication or modification of dies, production intend prototyping and lay off production of series components. The production line at TELOS – probably the largest line in North America – unites such experienced equipment suppliers as Eisenmann, Strothmann and Macrodyne. In 2018, this line has been completed by InfraTec with the technology that ensures temperature monitoring and positioning of the press hardened components during the manufacturing process.
