Metal fabrication refers to manufacturing processes that use tools to bend, form, saw, cut, and assemble metal sheets, plates, and blanks into a finished product. Fine motion control is critical for fabricating precision metal components, making it important to choose reliable, high-quality motion control components from a reputable provider.
HIWIN is a leading manufacturer and distributor of linear motion and motion control products. Using the latest motion technology, HIWIN creates ballscrews, linear motors, linear guides, and many other motion control components to help our customers reduce production times, enhance equipment accuracy, and increase overall production capabilities.
HIWIN Products in Metal Fabrication
HIWIN offers a variety of motion control solutions to facilitate fast and accurate metal fabrication while improving overall product quality. From cutting and sawing to bending, forming, and assembling, our motion control products ensure optimal equipment performance in every situation.
Cutting and Sawing
Cutting and sawing are two primary metal fabrication processes that benefit from HIWIN motion technology. Manufacturers use cutting tools and saws to remove material from metal sheets or bar stock. Precision machine shops use computer numeric controlled (CNC) machines for most cutting processes to ensure accurate cuts within tight tolerance requirements. Operators program computer software to guide the tools and workpiece using linear motors, linear guides, and ball screws. Using quality motion control components from HIWIN allows CNC cutting and sawing tools to move freely with an exceptional degree of speed and accuracy.
Bending and Forming
In bending and forming operations, manufacturers use compressive force to shape metal. Bending and forming operations are increasingly performed by CNC machines to improve accuracy and part-to-part repeatability. The extreme pressure necessary to bend metal requires reliable, accurate control. HIWIN’s linear guides and ballscrews provide ideal performance in bending and forming applications where precision under high loads is critical.
Assembling
During assembly, manufacturers turn disparate component parts into finished goods through welding, riveting, or otherwise connecting them together. Automation has gained popularity as a solution for repetitive assembly tasks as the capabilities of automated assembly technologies improve. Assembly equipment typically relies on linear guides, linear motors, and ball screws to provide quick, dependable motion. HIWIN is pleased to offer a variety of motion control components to keep your assembly operations running smoothly.
Linear Motors in Automation
As linear motors become more common, manufacturers have seen the benefits of quicker, more easily controlled moving parts and tooling. The stability and versatility of linear motors eliminates backlash and allows users to contour and interpolate metal components with ease. HIWIN linear motors operate with exceptional accuracy and stability to quickly complete detailed manufacturing processes.
Linear motors operate with very little vibration, which significantly enhances the accuracy of small cutters. Without disrupting the cutter’s motion, a linear motor will keep the workpiece and tools moving smoothly to ensure optimal load and speed. Machines with linear motors benefit from higher speeds, greater precision, and lower vibration than conventional motors.
Linear motors require less maintenance than more traditional motors, and they prolong tool service life by reducing wear and tear. The component parts within linear motors are not in contact, which significantly reduces the potential for wear over time. Linear motors provide smoother, more efficient motion with less friction and energy usage, further reducing overall operating costs.
Linear motors have been used in many industries for decades, but the metal fabrication sector has been slow to accept them. As CNC technology and automation become increasingly common in machine shops and other manufacturing facilities, more metal manufacturers are turning to linear motors to provide faster, more efficient production. While many metal fabrication companies still depend on the tried-and-true combination of rotary motors and ballscrews, this method lacks the versatility and speed of linear motors. Linear motors move more quickly than traditional rotary equipment and users can more easily control the flow of materials by accelerating and decelerating as needed.
Superior Motion Control for Your Metal Fabrication Operations
At Hiwin, we are committed to providing state-of-the-art motion control solutions to enhance the speed, accuracy, and efficiency of metal fabrication operations. To learn more about our motion control technology, please contact us today.