Featured this issue:

ScrewFeeding Basics
Product Spotlight: Bosch C-Exact 4
Summer Holidays

ScrewFeeding Basics

Have a production line bottleneck? Common fastener or multiple screws of the same type in a product? A screwfeeder can increase production by up to 40% based on 5000 screws/day. If it’s a bottleneck on the line, the amount you do in a day is of less consequence. Sometimes screwfeeders are a necessary piece of equipment for line balancing.

The gain of the screwfeeder is the potential for massive increases in production – the dark side, is the loss of production. If it breaks down, you now have to compensate for the 40% increase you previously gained.

If you’re considering a screwfeeding application, here are a few things to keep in mind…

The screw should meet a ratio of 1 to 1:5 considering head diameter to overall thread length – if the ratio is less, either you track feed at expensive costs or they tumble and get stuck in the escapement tubes.

Other considerations: Are the parts flexible? Do they align properly? Is there nose diameter restrictions? Or does it have to get down into a pocket or well? Will the escapement tube be in the way? Do you have to turn the unit to allow the spring loaded nose to open up? Does your current process involve a stationary or moving part and how big is it? And finally, perhaps most importantly, do you have good quality, sorted screws?

Answer yes to any of these questions and it’s better to walk away before you spend a lot of money and have to answer to your boss on why nobody will use the feeder.

If you can meet the criteria, a screwfeeder is an excellent way to increase efficiency.

The feeder itself is a fairly simple device consisting of a vibrating bowl, escapement device, blow feed tube, and a hardened jaw set, which connects to the drive tool. High end models will have a PLC.

All screwfeeding assemblies are recommended to be used with a torque arm, to compensate for their weight. The arm can restrict mobility, so planning and part layouts are essential ingredients for success.

Balancers, on average, don’t work really well, considering overall ergonomics. Pistol grip applications make it worse – and in general, inline tools should be used whenever possible.

Finally, either an air tool or DC tool for feedback is placed on the end to drive the screw to final torque.

Sometimes, an acoustical box keeps the environment quiet, and as a nice extra, keeps the dust and dirt out. So many options, which your sales representatives have to answer to provide as trouble free solution as possible.

There is no such thing as a jam-free feeder. As we say on all our articles, you always get what you pay for. Good quality products always begin with a good solution and the weakest link will always break. Or the option recommended, and required, is almost always declined for monetary reasons -don’t be frugal when you’re trying to increase production..

Screwfeeders in particular can create problems for any number of reasons. Know what you’re buying and who you are buying it from. Many manufacturers are just buying feeders from other companies and branding it their own. It’s an extra step in the chain and bound to cost you money and service issues. Everybody likes to believe they provide good products, but only a proven track record should be used as a guide. Get References!

Product Spotlight: Bosch C-Exact 4

Precise and stable under load.

Whether assembling computers, electronics, sub-assemblies or any ESD sensitive items, the new C-EXACT is the right tool for the job. Bosch put the new family of C-EXACT through rigorous testing and we required it to run for one million screws at full load without failure. Machine capability tests required it to maintain a Cmk > 1.67 at a tolerance of +/- 10% as per ISO 5393 testing procedures. That makes the C-EXACT among the most accurate tools in the world.

Summer Holidays

Everybody takes them (at least we hope). It’s the time of year when a cold beer on a lake in our muskoka chairs allows us to forget about all the daily grind we put up with during our seemingly endless winter months. We hurry to get all the loose ends tied up and projects covered before we leave, but how to get away? How does Europe shut down for 4 weeks every July?? How can we function?? How can the plant function without us??

Well, the truth is – they can if they are forced to and there’s a plan while you are absent.

Tips to get away:

• Throw your cell phone in the garbage or vacation in a remote enough area where cell phones don’t work.
• Don’t leave an alternative number for work
• Don’t ever call in to work for “urgent” messages
• Stock up on alcoholic beverages. Always have enough alcohol in you so you can’t drive.
• Pick somebody you want to be your replacement while you’re away.

If you are going away with the process not planned, you better have somebody competent in the background in your absence. If everything is ready to go, then put somebody you want to fire in charge. That way, if they make mistakes, you can provide an easy exit strategy for them when you get back.

Whatever you do, enjoy. We wait too long to get away – too long to enjoy the holiday and the summer.