In the design of modern automatic punching and bending machines, mechanical cams are increasingly being replaced by electronic cams. This is because electronic cams are much more flexible than mechanical cam drives. This becomes particularly apparent when product parameters need to be  changed. With mechanical cams, the entire cam has to be replaced in such cases – a process that is, of course, very costly. Electronic cams, on the other hand, allow the new parameters to be easily programmed in with minimal data. In addition to the greater flexibility offered by electronic cams, there is another advantage: electronic cams allow significantly higher cycle times than mechanical versions, thus increasing the productivity of the machine.

Electronic cams in punching and bending technology

Electronic cams are an integral part of modern machines in process technology. They have long been established as drive technology and are known to offer a number of advantages over other processes. The principle of electronic cams is based on the calculation of motion profiles, which are transmitted to the machine's control system as tables or parameters. A system using electronic cams requires powerful software to achieve optimum motion sequences. This is the only way to ensure that the machine operates smoothly, effectively and with low wear. The fact that a control system using electronic cams can also generate extremely high forces is demonstrated by the 2000 kN NC press from schmale. The machine is conveniently operated and programmed by entering just a few items of data via touchscreen. In a fraction of a second, the machine then generates the electronic cams required to control the servo-electric axis. When designing the system, schmale deliberately developed a user interface that delivers the desired results in a simple and transparent way. This makes it possible to work with the new technology quickly and conveniently from the very first commissioning, without the need for lengthy training periods.