森田 昇

The microfactory is the downsized manufacturing system for small products, which has a potential to reduce the energy consumption, to save occupied space and to increase the flexibility for changing products. As one of the component of the microfactory, the micro press machine has been developed, which has a small progressive die and a compact roll feed device. Its dimension is only 111mm wide, 66mm deep and 170mm high, but it has the maximum press force of about 3kN. The micro press machine can process from the metal strip of 120μm thick to housing cover of the miniature bearing using four blanking and two bending included in single die set. However, the power train of the micro press machine, which consists of AC servo motor and timing belt, might not have enough stiffness especially for fast press condition. Again, it might cause the change of the punching speed. To confirm and discuss this, the punching speed was measured by liner potentiometer. As a result, it has been clarified that the punching speed is almost zero at the moment before the blanking.