“In order to join galvanized sheets, we recommend clinching”, says Marco Unger, Sales Representative at TOX® PRESSOTECHNIK in the Swabian town of Weingarten. “Here, the zinc layer can run with the joining process, post galvanizing as in spot welding is not required, and there is no area of corrosion,” says Marco Unger. The end customer wanted to optimize his processes, and specified the processing sequences in detail: The operator places the component on an XY table, moves away from the monitored danger zone, and presses the start button. The PLC now runs through the joining program. For this, first of all, the table is moved to the desired position. The compensating slide then moves the tongs upwards, so that the die is aligned positive-locking below the sheet. The punch of the TOX® Machine Tongs is aligned from the top and joins the sheets. The tongs are then moved down, and the table is positioned for the next joint.
“Two experts developed a complete solution from one source here in their respective area,” says Frank Stattaus, Account Manager at MiniTec in Schönenberg-Kübelberg of Rhineland Palatinate. For clinching, TOX® PRESSOTECHNIK supplied machine tongs of type TZ 05 with compensation carriages and internal control. The TOX® Powerpackage RZK is used as drive. MiniTec acted as general contractor for this project, and developed an XY table with flexible base frame. A protective fence with light curtain provides safety. A higher control unit monitors the approach of the different components and joints.
The combined solution has paid off for the end customer. The sheets can be clinched process-reliably and permanently, without creating any issues with corrosion later. Currently, 14 components of different sizes are joined on the system with a varying number of clinching points. Furthermore, the end customer has become more flexible: The system can be programmed quickly and smoothly for new components.
