Link Systems designs, develops and manufactures electronic controls, related products and software for mechanical presses that increase productivity and operator safety. Link’s off-the-shelf products meet requirements for most standard applications. With more than 35 years of experience in the metalforming industry, in-depth engineering knowledge and extensive field work, Link is able to turn its standard products into integrated solutions tailored to the needs of even the most complex stamping operations. The company, owned by the engineers that make its products, also provides ongoing service and support to older generation equipment.
Link Systems’ electronic controls, related products and software for mechanical presses significantly increase productivity and operator safety. Photo Courtesy of Norlen Inc.
Link’s product options have the capability to meet the demands of all mechanical press applications.
Manual Operations:
Manual fed operations for presses 30 to 4000 tons.
Link 5100 Press Clutch Brake Control provides:
Compliance: Retrofits press controls so stampers can become compliant with OSHA and ANSI standards for operator safety at an economical pricepoint.
Press Diagnostics: Link clutch brake controls provide diagnostic messages in English or Spanish. These diagnostic messages address everything electrical on the press. If the press won’t operate, this control is able to tell the operator why.
Process Control: The 5100 offers four programmable limit switches, four digital die protection channels, and a tonnage monitor
Progressive Operations:
Coil fed progressive stamping for presses 30 to 4000 tons.
OmniLink 5000 Press Control provides:
Compliance: Retrofits press controls so stampers can become compliant with OSHA and ANSI standards for operator safety.
Diagnostics For Press & Auxiliary Equipment: Link controls provide diagnostic messages in English and Spanish. These diagnostic messages address both the press and all auxiliary equipment such as feedlines, scrap systems, die lube equipment etc. In addition to the ability to control the auxiliary systems, advanced control functions can monitor each component of the stamping system and provide the operator with a constant status on the press, auxiliary equipment and subsystems. If the press won’t operate, this control is able to tell the operator why.
Process Control: This fully integrated control has the capability to monitor and control the entire stamping system, not just the press.
Programmable limit switches control the timing of auxiliary equipment. These tell the feed when to advance, the sprayers when to spray etc.
Die protection monitors up to 80 sensors. These sensors monitor critical events such as part ejection, feed progression, end of stock, scrap ejection etc. If a monitored event does not operate as designed, the press is stopped before damage to the tooling occurs.
Tonnage monitoring with signature analysis for any size press. The tonnage, both forward and reverse, generated through the entire stroke is continuously monitored. That tonnage is compared to control limits and the process is stopped if a variation outside of the control limits is detected.
Analog sensors to measure parts are supported. This allows real time, 100 percent inspection of critical dimensions of the part dimensions in the tool itself.
Set-up Reduction Features: Control options can also assist with a wide range of set-up reduction features including:
- Automatic shutheight setting
- Automatic counter balance setting
- Automatic die cushion setting
- Hydraulic overload pressure setting
- Servo feed and transfer automation parameter settings
- Automatically turn scrap systems on and off
Transfer Operations:
Stamping operations using press-to-press or large bed transfer systems.
OmniLink 5000 Press Control provides:
Compliance: Retrofits press controls so stampers can become compliant with OSHA and ANSI standards for operator safety.
Diagnostics For Press & Auxiliary Equipment: Link controls provide diagnostic messages in English and Spanish. These diagnostic messages address both the press and all auxiliary equipment such as feedlines, transfer systems, robots, scrap systems, die lube equipment etc. In addition to the ability to control the auxiliary systems, advanced control functions can monitor each component of the stamping system and provide the operator with a constant status on the press, auxiliary equipment and subsystems. If the press won’t operate, this control is able to tell the operator why.
Process Control: This fully integrated control has the capability to monitor and control the entire stamping system, not just the press.
Programmable limit switches control the timing of auxiliary equipment. These tell the feed when to advance, the sprayers when to spray etc.
Die protection monitors up to 80 sensors. These sensors monitor critical events such as part ejection, feed progression, end of stock, scrap ejection etc. If a monitored event does not operate as designed, the press is stopped before damage to the tooling occurs.
Tonnage monitoring with signature analysis for any size press. The tonnage, both forward and reverse, generated through the entire stroke is continuously monitored. That tonnage is compared to control limits and the process is stopped if a variation outside of the control limits is detected.
Analog sensors to measure parts are supported. This allows real time, 100 percent inspection of critical dimensions of the part dimensions in the tool itself.
Set-up Reduction Features: Control options can also assist with a wide range of set-up reduction features including:
- Automatic shutheight setting
- Automatic counter balance setting
- Automatic die cushion setting
- Hydraulic overload pressure setting
- Servo feed and transfer automation parameter settings
- Automatically turn scrap systems on and off
Process Controls
OmniLink II Press Automation Control
 Programmable limit switches control the timing of auxiliary equipment. These tell the feed when to advance, the sprayers when to spray etc.
Die protection monitors up to 80 sensors. These sensors monitor critical events such as part ejection, feed progression, end of stock, scrap ejection etc. If a monitored event does not operate as designed, the press is stopped before damage to the tooling occurs.
Tonnage monitoring with signature analysis for any size press. The tonnage, both forward and reverse, generated through the entire stroke is continuously monitored. That tonnage is compared to control limits and the process is stopped if a variation outside of the control limits is detected.
Analog sensors to measure parts are supported. This allows real time, 100 percent inspection of critical dimensions of the part dimensions in the tool itself.
Set-up Reduction Features: Control options can also assist with a wide range of set-up reduction features including:
- Automatic shutheight setting
- Automatic counter balance setting
- Automatic die cushion setting
- Hydraulic overload pressure setting
- Servo feed and transfer automation parameter settings
- Automatically turn scrap systems on and off
LinkNet Pressroom Monitoring Software:
The control can perform real time automatic data collection as well as provide metrics to identify areas for improvement and chart progress. |
