Boosting efficiency and safety with servo-electric presses

 For almost 20 years, Meccatronica Automazioni S.r.l. has been manufacturing full-electric presses specialised in moulding composite materials. Nowadays, the Italian company offers a wide range of standard machines called E-Form from 5 t to 200 t. These fully electric presses provide a level of control and accuracy far superior to traditional hydraulic presses, making them ideal for high-precision applications in sectors such as aerospace, automotive, defence, biomedical and sport.

Customisable press cycles

E-Form presses are fully programmable and characterised by extreme precision and repeatability of work cycles.

The large, state-of-the-art HMI interface allows management of all the functions of the machine and each individual station composing the press. In particular, various working parameters can be set, such as positions and approach speed, but also detachment speed (pre-opening). The material thickness can also be calibrated with an optional alarm output, if the quota is exceeded. The machine can be set to partially reopen for degassing and the waiting times between steps can be customised. Th at last part can be very useful, for example to preheat material. Last but not least, up to 10 pressing phases can be defi ned and each one tailored to the user’s needs:

• force and application ramp;
• upper and lower temperatures, associated transition ramp;
• duration of the phase;
• target position;
• conditions for moving to the next phase.

The parameters can be stored in the section “work programs”, archived and called back to memory.

Energy efficiency

One of the most significant advantages of the E-Form series is its energy efficiency, unlike the traditional hydraulic presses which are known to waste energy during operation. The E-Form presses, by utilising a fully electric system, drastically reduce energy consumption – up to 80% less.

To monitor the power usage of the E-Form XL1-80, current and voltage data were read directly from the machine’s switch, complementing all other consumption data. The average power was calculated over an interval of approximately 2 min, with a constant pressure of 1 to 80 t.

Reducing maintenance and improving work quality

Meccatronica presses require significantly less maintenance. Less maintenance means lower downtime, fewer spare parts, but also reduced operational costs. In addition, the presses were designed with the operator’s well-being in mind. The machines are quieter, cleaner and more intuitive than traditional hydraulic machines, providing a more comfortable working environment. The ease of use, combined wiThergonomic and compact design, ensures that operators can manage the machines more effectively and with less physical strain.