Kistler unveils NCFC electromechanical joining module
Kistler is adding the NCFC electromechanical joining module to its portfolio, providing a solution for clinching and riveting applications, and also for assembly and joining processes that require force-displacement monitoring.
The NCFC requires little installation space, so weight and center of gravity design are optimised – particularly for robot arm applications.
Clinching (also known as press-joining) is an efficient and reliable joining process that is becoming increasingly attractive to industrial manufacturers because it requires no additional components, such as rivets or bolts. And unlike drilling or welding, clinching does not generate any heat input. Clinching requires less energy and maintenance effort than spot welding; depending on the material and process, the strength values of clinched joints are often equal or sometimes even higher, and the processes can also be controlled with greater ease and accuracy.
Kistler presents in cooperation with BTM the electromechanical joining module that is specifically optimised to meet the requirements of the clinching process. The combination of Kistler technology with BTM's application know-how in clinch tooling and pliers allows customers to benefit from a servo press based on cutting-edge technology that offers high-precision, energy-efficient part joining with assured quality. Due to the compact lightweight design, the servo press is ideal for use on robots and stationary or mobile portals. The design allows short distances between workstations (small center distance) and the servo press is fast and easy to handle. Visualisation, control and documentation with the proven maXYmos NC process monitoring system does not require an additional industrial PC. Overall, the new NCFC electromechanical joining module allows for improved quality and lower consumption of resources, as well as reducing CO2 emissions compared to conventional systems.
BTM's expertise played a key part in the cooperation partnership with Kistler, providing a solution for customers to switch to electromechanical clinching. An electromechanically operated clinching system offers significant energy savings as compared to pneumatic or pneumohydraulic alternatives. In this solution, the servo press is controlled by the proven maXYmos NC process monitoring system from Kistler. With continuous force-displacement monitoring by the integrated sensor, positions can be approached reliably, flexibly and at high speed; the solution also includes an additional traverse mode with safely reduced speed. The system ensures control and transparency for each individual production step at all times; deflection compensation for the mounting bracket also allows very precise setting of the residual base thickness (as the quality characteristic).
The new NCFC (2163A) joining module from Kistler will be offered in two versions with nominal joining forces of 55 kN and 80 kN respectively. As well as the robot arm application, the NCFC servo press can also be operated as a stationary version or as part of a complete clinching system from BTM. Clinching delivers benefits in line with key industrial trends: resource and energy efficiency, transparency, and automation – as well as possibilities for joining components made of different materials. Given these advantages, electromechanical joining systems are set to see significant growth in sectors such as electrical engineering, white goods, refrigeration and air conditioning technology. The world's mechanical engineers and manufacturers could use the clinch solution from BTM and Kistler to boost the economic efficiency, quality and transparency of their assembly processes – and the digitalisation of clinching marks another step along the road to Industry 4.0.