October 2008: act/cut, the only programming software that manages rotating lift systems

For some time already, punching centers, as well as laser cutting machines, could be equipped with automated evacuation systems using suction cups. These systems reduce the need for manual intervention and increase the machines productivity. Until recently, the lifts had one translation axes, two at most, but Rainer, the Italian manufacturer, has started offering an evacuation system in which the suction cups bearing yoke is able to rotate by 90° steps. There is dual benefit to such a device. On one hand, more cups activation solutions can be calculated for a part, therefore simplifying the handling of the parts ; on the other hand, the different orientations of a same part in a nesting that would be set at 0°, 90°, 180° or 270° can be unloaded on the same stack, therefore streamlining the palettization process.

Unloading parts with suction cups can also be performed by a robot, able to position the cups array at any angle. Very well adapted to the laser cutting of elaborately shaped parts, this method is already in use at Remmert, Germany, with Bystronic machines.

Nevertheless, for such systems to perform at the top of their capability, they have to be managed by programming software able to modelize and control them! act/cut already programmed the classical suction cups evacuation devices. Always looking forward to stick to the latest technological processes, Alma integrated this new feature to its software; act/cut is therefore the first machine programming solution able to manage rotating unloading devices.

These devices can be set at the level of the individual part or at the level of the nesting. They may be used in “full auto” mode (without using the rotation feature) or interactively, with the software assistance.When using the feature interactively, the user rotates the virtual yoke and moves it along the X and Y axes in order to position the suction cups above the parts to unload. The cups that can be activated are then automatically identified by the software. If the available cups are not deemed sufficient to lift the part (according to its computed weight), the user is warned and can then modify the angle or position of the lifting device in order to find an acceptable evacuation configuration.