Stamping with 3D tool

An important part of a German subcontractor’s success is its in-house tool production. Kleiner Stanztechnik GmbH produces more than 60 highly complex progressive forming tools a year. And since switching to VISI for 3D tool design, Kleiner now has an integrated process chain based on 3D data, covering everything from quotations, through to design and NC programming.

Combining extensive experience of high-performance stamping tools and precision stampings with new technologies and developments, Kleiner manufactures parts for the automotive, plastics, electrical, medical technology and electronics industries. Kleiner operate Bruderer and Haulick & Ross presses running up to 1,200 strokes per minute, and can process strips with a width of up to 320 mm and a thickness of 0.06 to 4 mm on 38 hydraulic presses with a pressing force of up to 250 tonnes. The product portfolio extends from micro-stampings to populated lead frames, which replace the commonly used printed circuit board. Examples of their expertise in complex precision stamped parts are: snap domes with spots of gold for buttons and switches. The small amount of gold used by the spot galvanisation delivers an immediate cost saving.

In the field of renewable energy and electric mobility, Kleiner offers solutions for high current contacting of hybrid and electric vehicles’ photovoltaic systems. A recent example of this is plug coupling for charging electric cars, in which Kleiner designed and manufactured electrical contact elements in the signal and high voltage areas. This included replacing the plug connectors, originally designed as turned copper components, with stamped parts.

As well as the electrical and insulation design, the challenge had been to optimise the geometry of the parts in such a way that they could be produced easily with a progressive tool, which Kleiner also design and manufacture. “We design new projects exclusively in 3D using VISI, which is tailor-made for our type of work,” says Head of Design Ego Kugele.

Around three years ago an increasing workload prompted them to improve on their existing system for faster tool design. That, coupled with the fact that they needed a more advanced system to handle circuit boards and functions for the strip layout, meant that design switched exclusively to 3D, through VISI.

“We originally trialled a fully parametric system, but the system constraints we not very suitable for efficient tool design. We subsequently trialled VISI and were immediately comfortable with the design process, not just because it's extremely easy to use, but because the special modules for stamping tool design were already well established in the market and the software gave an impression of being well-engineered,” explains Ego Kugele.

The company which is based in Pforzheim, Germany, now has VISI Modelling and the cutting and stamping tool module VISI Progress, for processing, strip layout and tool construction, installed on 14 workstations in the design department, along with one other workstation used for quotations. There are three further VISI Machining installations in the production department for programming the milling machines.

Once the tool design is complete, manufacturing begins with all programs created using VISI Machining (with the addition of VISI-PEPS Wire for 2 and 4 axes planned for later in 2013) for the Agie and Hurco CNC machines. A third VISI Machining workstation is used to drive a highAdidas Yeezy