A FAIR SHAKE

For over six decades, Toledo Tool and Die (TTD; Toledo OH) has been a leading manufacturer of metal stampings and assemblies ranging from chassis stampings to Class A surfaces. Their 80,000 sq ft facility uses presses ranging from 75 tons to 600 tons for either line or progressive die operations.

TTD recently approached Press Automation-Fluidline (Toledo, OH) in looking for an improved method to remove scrap from their stamping press. Press Automation-Fluidline, the representative of Magnetic Products, Inc. (MPI; Highland, MI), recommended that TTD consider an M-50 electric shaker. This shaker is maintenance free and runs on simple, plug-and-play 110 VAC. Moreover, the unit runs at less than .5 amp draw, making it the most economical shaker in the world to operate.

MPI loaned TDD an M-50 for a free trial in its facility. The electric shaker features an AC brushless motor. This is the first shaker to come complete from the factory with a universal T-slot mounting kit that adapts to fit virtually all press bed T-slot configurations, whether metric or standard. The T-Slot mounting kit enables the unit to run in either forward or reverse.

The system uses six linear bearings on three Thompson shafts to run at a fixed conveying speed which is factory preset at the optimum setting. There are no buttons, dials switches or other items that can be tampered with during production which may slow the performance of the unit. The shaker is constructed from heavy duty T6061 Billet aluminum and has a 36 in wide aluminum extrusion cross bar. It has a 50-lb tray weight capacity. No air or lubrication required.

Once in place, TDD staff quickly realized that this shaker was the perfect solution and determined that several more similar units were needed immediately. TTD had been using air-powered shakers for a number of years, with normal, limited success. Air shakers are known to require frequent maintenance, to be noisy and to perform inconsistently. TTD?s current air shaker was known for being extremely inefficient and consuming vast quantities of air. In comparison, the new shaker was a big hit.

Larry Kubiak, TTD production manager, says, ?The new electric shaker has already proven to be more reliable than any other shaker we?ve seen. We don?t intend to buy air shakers ever again, and will continue to replace them with these new electric shakers, until we have one on every press.?

These patent-pending electric shakers are not new to the industry. Thousands of units have been sold since their introduction in 2005. As these electric shakers boast a near-zero failure record in the stamping market, a number of similar success stories exist.

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Toledo Tool & Die, Inc., 105 W. Alexis Road, Toledo, OH 43612, 419-476-4422, Fax: 419-476-9944, www.ttd.cc.

Press Automation-Fluidline, 2008 Holland-Sylvania Road, Toledo, OH 43615, 419-535-1313, Fax: 419-535-1319, www.pressauto.com.

Magnetic Products, Inc., P.O. Box 529, 683 Town Center Drive, Highland, MI 48357, 248-887-5600, www.mpimagnet.com.