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Tonnage Monitoring
A tonnage monitor - also called a load monitor - is a system that measures the force exerted by a press during the working portion of its cycle. The controller compares the actual generated load to a group of preset limits called setpoints. If the measured load exceeds a setpoint limit, the controller signals the press to stop.
Why Install a Tonnage Monitor?
Since the tonnage monitor can detect anything that causes a change in press loading, it picks up where your die protection system leaves off.
While die protection systems using discrete sensors prevent damage caused by predictable malfunctions such as misfeeds or non-ejected parts, the tonnage monitor can protect the press from the myriad other problems that you would not install a specific sensor to detect.
If you wish to run your presses unattended, you need both. The tonnage monitor is your "insurance policy".
Wintriss Tonnage Monitors
Wintriss manufactures tonnage monitors for every press application from simple one-button, two-input load monitors for secondary applications to 4 to 8-input tonnage signature analyzers for double action presses, and everything in between.
Strain Links
Tonnage monitors use sensors called strain links that are mounted on the frame of the press in known locations where strain is proportional to load. The strain links measure the deflection of the press frame, or the amount the frame deforms, under load.
Wintriss has manufactured our own strain links for over 50 years. The same strain links are used on all of our tonnage monitors. Our strain links are rugged, easy to install, and require no periodic calibration after the initial installation.
The Repeatability Limit
It is normal to see gradual changes in the peak tonnage value over the course of a job. To avoid nuisance stops, your high and low tonnage setpoints must allow for this variation. This makes it impossible for a load monitor with just high and low limits to react to small variations in tonnage. Fortunately, there is a third setpoint type called the Repeatability Limit.
While gradual tonnage changes are normal, abrupt changes - even small ones - almost always indicate a problem. The repeatability limit is the maximum allowable change in tonnage from one stroke to the next. This limit can be set to a very precise value (often in tenths of tons). All Wintriss tonnage monitors include the repeatability limit. without causing nuisance stops.
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