50 percent less energy consumption, longer die service lives and greater precision: these are the benefits offered by Schuler Beutler’s newly developed MSC-2000 automatic blanking press with ServoDirect Technology. The new machine generation features two electrically coupled, freely programmable pressure points without gear transmission. By linking the pressure points in the press uprights, the machine’s rigidity has been significantly increased. The innovation has now received the “Award to EuroBLECH” in the category blanking by the trade magazines blechnet and MM MaschinenMarkt.

“The MSC-2000’s highly precise and efficient part production opens up new perspectives for blanking and forming businesses – while at the same time being extremely good value for money,” explains Joachim Beyer, the Chief Technology Officer of Schuler AG. “The drive concept represents a leap in innovation, as it offers the complete functionality of ServoDirect Technology and allows flexible adjustment to all conceivable die functions and forming processes.”

Play-free and lubrication-free drivetrain
The play-free and lubrication-free drivetrain consists of a highly dynamic servo motor, brake module and eccentric shaft with conrods, knuckle-joint and slide. The new MSC-2000 automatic blanking press uses two such drivetrains facing each other – synchronized via the drive control – which deliver a press force of 2,000 kilonewtons.

“There are pre-programmed profiles for knuckle-joint standard, blanking, coining, bending and drawing processes,” explains Adrian Achermann, General Manager of the Schuler subsidiary Beutler Nova. After adapting the slide motion to the workpiece, the servo direct drive also enables the user to raise the speed – and thus also the output performance in oscillating mode. Thanks to the freely programmable slide movement, dies can also be set up quickly in production.

The drivetrain’s reduced mass moment of inertia increases the dynamic response of the slide movement. Together with the lack of gear transmission and the use of roller bearings, this cuts electrical power consumption by more than 50 percent. Users can also confirm this whenever and wherever they so wish: press data can be accessed from anywhere, for example via smartphone.

In its anniversary year, Schuler AG has landed one of the largest orders in its 175-year history. FAW Volkswagen Automotive Co. Ltd. has ordered three press lines with ServoDirect Technology and three tryout presses for testing and setting up dies for its facilities in China. The servo press lines will be used mostly to produce car body parts, such as hoods and doors. The order is worth over € 150 million.

It is the first time that FAW Volkswagen has invested in equipment with ServoDirect Technology. Compared to conventional mechanical press lines, productivity is around 20 percent higher while energy consumption is significantly lower. “We are registering a growing interest in servo technology, also on the Chinese market. The order underlines our leading role in forming technology,” explains Stefan Klebert, CEO of the Schuler Group. Thanks to their electronically regulated motors, presses equipped with ServoDirect drive technology not only guarantee high output performance, but also increased flexibility and energy efficiency, as well as reduced part costs.