Common attributes for the majority of our equipment
AIM’s programmable CNC steel wire bending machines have revolutionized the engineering of wire bending. The AccuForm line of equipment not only increases productivity, but they are simple to operate. Advanced servo technology enables the machines to operate at very high speeds without sacrificing accuracy and repeatability.
The majority of the equipment and components that we manufacture are currently organized in three sizes, depending on the wire diameter capacity. For Details please see: Wire diameter Range, Wire Tensile Strength Capacity.
The AccuForm Modular line consists of components that are interchangeable within the same size. The major components that comprise the AccuForm Modular line are as follows:
- Turntable
- Straightener
- Feeder
- Bender:
a) 2 dimensional
b) 3 Dimensional - Complimentary Accessories such us punching, chamfering, threading, drilling, piercing etch.
Depending on the assembly of the above components, each AccuForm Modular machine can currently have up to 32 axes. These machines take wire directly from coil, straighten it, bend it, and cut it to create wire products designed with the use of our software package that provides flexibility and simplicity in setup. Programming is quick and easy. All you need is to enter the lengths and angles of your product, view the design, edit if necessary, and begin production!
In addition all models are offered with a Turret Option (-T), which adds one servo axis per bending head, for automatic and programmable bending tool-changer along with a second bending pin.
On sizes 1 & 2, standard feeding speeds exceed 120 meters per minute (393 feet/minute) and bending speeds exceed 1800 degrees per second. The smallest resolution of the wire feeder is 273 pulses per millimeter (6.93 pulses per thousandth of an inch) and the resolution of the bender is 1450 pulses per degree. The published accuracy of the servo controllers that we use is ±1 pulse and the accuracy that we publish for the length is ±0.06 millimeter (±0.0025″) and for the angle ±0.03 degrees. We supply this accuracy in order to include wire and tooling imperfections that mean that the better the wire we supply to our machines, the better the output product will be. The accuracy and repeatability of our machines are exceptional. Parabolic and S-curve positioning profile gives smoother acceleration and deceleration minimizing shape distortion while achieving higher speeds at the minimum possible power. Furthermore our Ultra Option in most cases doubles or triples the production rates from our standard models and grants our equipment the title of the highest speeds in the market.
On our “Four Wheel Drive” feeders all four rollers are driven allowing the machine to feed the wire with lower pressure, which means no marking on the wire and capability of tighter radii generation. Using V-groove rollers we are able to cover more than one wire diameter per groove and by using two V-grooves per roller we double that capacity. Only three sets of rollers are needed to cover the whole machine range. The power transmission is accomplished with high torque belts and in some cases, precision planetary gearboxes; NO adjustments needed.
AccuForm machines come with “true Wide-Range straighteners”. A two-plane straightener with V -groove double row ball bearing rollers is installed in all of our equipment. Each plane contains two different roller sizes in two different center distances from each other. For wire diameter that falls lower than half of the wire range of the machine we use all of the rollers. For the top half of the wire range we use only the large rollers. This design makes the adjustment easy and efficient eliminating the difficulties one could have for the lower or upper end of the wire range. It is almost like having two wire straighteners incorporated into one. A quick release adjustor bar on each straightener minimizes changeover time. By using these preset-able straightener bars, changeover time can be as short as ten minutes allowing for a quick and easy wire diameter change. Wire diameter change can be accomplished even faster with our optional Automated Indexing Turret System (AITS), which can hold up to six straighteners.
Double action hydraulic cutter for strong and fast cuts: All of the hydraulic cylinders installed in our machines are double acting, providing fast and powerful motion for the extra heavy duties of the machines, such as the cutting of the wire. In general our machines incorporate simple design and easy access / world wide available parts. Simplicity, robustness, functionality and speed are our basic principals when it comes to engineering. Easy tools changeover makes the setup quick and efficient. Clear drawings can be supplied, upon request, so that our customers can easily manufacture their own tools such as cutters, rollers, bending pins and all consumables. However we have an excellent reputation of customer support and spare parts delivery. In most cases we will even design your custom tools at no cost.
Here at AIM we use robust engineering for long life / low maintenance. We use enclosed type brushless servomotors along with precision planetary gearboxes. We install over-temperature, over-current and over-voltage protection for all critical components. All bearings used are oversized and double sealed for longer life expectancy and lower maintenance. The design of the AccuForm machines has incorporated the maximum safety standards and life expectancy factors. All machines are backed by a two-year parts and labor limited warranty, the most comprehensive in the industry. Excluded are the parts that “touch” the wire (such us cutters, rollers), although all of these parts are made out of the hardest tool steels and heat-treated to 55°-65° degrees on the Rockwell scale. Parts that we purchase from other manufacturers carry their own warranty (OEM-warranty). For example the precision gearboxes made by ALPHA® have 5-years warranty. We always install the best quality parts available and we never sacrifice quality for price. Even after the warranty expires and within common sense rules, we provide technical support free of charge.
The newest Windows® 2000 Pro Version support Video conferencing as a standard. No extra fees, no contract needed! You can also use Video Teleconferencing over your existing LAN through the Internet or you can just watch your equipment performing from the convenience of your office through a PC.
Software Animation and Machine simulation utility allows the user to view an animated production simulation of a part before the machine even produces it! This way the user can easily verify the programs for mistakes and errors. A Collision detection feature is added, so that the user can prevent program miscalculations and rearrange part flow for optimum production without problems.
Our pioneering feature: “Dial-A-Service™” allows access to any machine worldwide. Our customers simply connect the machine to a telephone line or an Internet gateway and the machine’s computer connects to AIM’s Technical Support department. Diagnostics can be completed within minutes.
Our SmartEditor™ program has a standard DXF import feature that can import your DXF Files directly and convert them into part files on your screen. We also provide the first buyer of our equipment Lifetime Free Upgrades on our software. Since we compile our own software, all suggestions and program change requests are fulfilled regularly and free of charge, taken that the requested change or improvement is beneficial for the majority of the users and falls within our expertise.
SmartEditor™ provides statistical analysis with the touch of a button! Let the computer figure it out: production rates, production time, shifts, days, how much wire will you need, how many spools of wire, including the time you need to change the spools. All the factors involved are parametric and can be customized to fit every need. Using our SmartEditor™ Office version (available upon request for our customers) one can use the “EZ-Quote” analysis from the office without even running the product. Production statistics are saved automatically, locally on the machine or on a network computer, for review and analysis needed frequently on ISO 900x companies.
A new Bar Code Label option was introduced on November of 2004. SmartEditor® can print bar code labels after every container completion. Initially the label that SmartEditor® supports is 4” x 6” (103 x 153 mm). More sizes will become available later. AIM machines are able to print a label after production of a defined number of pieces along with the containers option capability. The label or sheet can be “dropped” in a container box or printed directly on the container using special printer, after the order/container is processed.
This automation can be used in conjunction with a conveyor: After a container/order production is finished, and SmartEditor® prints the label (customer defined data). Customer can select different bar code standards and elect/define sequence numbers and information to be printed.
