SCP – Smart Cushion Pin with press clamping force measurement

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

The Smart Cushion Pin combines precision clamping with real-time force monitoring to optimize press performance. Wireless IR data transmission from up to 120 individual pins enables visualization and control of forming forces directly on master PC—without altering existing press workflows.

Use in Press Machines

Smart Cushion Pins are designed to prevent wrinkling and tearing during metal forming by delivering precisely regulated clamping force. During the tuning of the press process, tool and process parameters—particularly the clamping force between the pin and the sheet metal—must be optimized. If the force is too low, material wrinkles; if too high, cracks can form. With Smart Cushion Pins, operators can finely control material flow into the forming zone to ensure consistent, defect-free parts. Examples of forming errors due to non-optimal sheet metal clamping forces:

Picture 1 – Clamping force too low – wrinkling, clamping force too high – cracking

Picture 2 – Examples of forming errors due to suboptimal sheet metal clamping forces

Efficiency & Process Optimization

According to research by RWTH Aachen, conventional tryout processes can account for 21% of total tool cost. Smart Cushion Pins significantly reduce this through accurate, real-time insight into the actual contact forces between the die and sheet metal. This enables faster tuning, lowers rework costs, and reduces tool adjustment times by up to 30–50%. A digital “force map” is calculated and displayed for every press stroke, aiding tool setup, process monitoring, and predictive maintenance.

Operator-Friendly Design

For end users, Smart Cushion Pins function just like conventional cushion pins—simply insert them into existing press table holes. With no extra installation steps, adoption is seamless. Force data is automatically captured each stroke and presented as both numerical values and intuitive graphs.