Servo technology turns press design upside down

Instead of pushing the tool down from above as a conventional press does, Schuler’s Twin Servo Technology (TST) uses two large servomotors below the bed of the press to pull the tool down. This gives a number of significant advantages in terms of the power requirement, force distribution and rigidity that reduce costs, give better quality parts and enhance die life.

Compared to a conventional press, the construction of the TST press is much simpler. A traditional press has a crown at the top housing the motor and gearing, a side frame to support the crown and linkages to connect the drive from the motors to the press slide that holds the top tool. In the TST press the drives are connected through a low ratio gear to tie rods that pull down the slide.

There is no crown and no side frame. This means that when the press force is applied there is 30% less elastic deformation of the structure of the press – potential energy that is released when the tool breaks through the strip. This drastic reduction in cutting impact gives better quality parts and is gentler on the die. The press is also much more rigid – again giving better quality and die life.