Clutch-Brake Retrofit

In most cases, the key assembly on any mechanical stamping press is the clutch-brake. This is what starts and stops the press. It is the heartbeat of the press, so to speak.

How well the press starts and stops typically depends heavily on the clutch-brake’s condition. If the press starts and stops well, particularly in single-stroke applications, it can directly affect the stamper’s throughput and ROI.

“Pinch point” describes the current status of clutch-brake maintenance. It is caused by a combination of external and internal pressures. Internal Pressures can include the skilled worker shortage, which has created a reduction of skilled and trained workers to perform rebuilds.

Just-in-time and lean manufacturing practices limit the stock of spare parts. Older equipment can break down more frequently without planned downtime, and replacement parts are often obsolete.

These pressures do not allow for unplanned or planned downtime, lengthy maintenance efforts, or long part delivery times. Therefore, rebuilds with long lead times and high costs are no longer widely accepted. Inevitably unfit machinery leads to uncontrolled downtime and an inability to meet production requirements. This expands costs beyond what most stampers can afford.

So how can management decision-makers and plant managers address this pinch point effectively?

There is another, better option: to Retrofit the Clutch-Brake, Not Rebuild...

Download and read the entire article, with a step-by-step process and informative case study, in the issue of STAMPING JOURNAL magazine, starting on page 32.