Device for Gripping and Guiding the Front of Hot Extruded Aluminium Profiles: Design – Manufacture – Operating Trials

Abstract

In the work, an original device for gripping and guiding the front of hot extruded aluminium profile (s) was proposed. It replaces manual gripping operation of aluminium extrudates with an automated one without the involvement of the press operator with a translation into enhanced workplace safety, improved geometric stability of the guided profiles on the press run out table and increased productivity of the production process. The idea and design of a laboratory device was presented and the results of laboratory test were shown. It was revealed that for a 2500 T press, in order to achieve a 50% time reduction in automated gripping compared to manual gripping, the automated gripping must be carried out at a metal exit speed of at least 3.3 m/min. The assumptions of applying the proposed device in industrial practice were discussed.