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The RDX Process

First, the die man brings the die and places it in an empty cradle.  The die will remain in this cradle and be moved robotically until it is placed in the die slide by the operator.

Using a key punch, the operator enters the die number.  If there is an existing production formula from the Visual Optimizing System, it will be activated.  If not, the operator will prepare an initial formula and activate it.

The die is then automatically moved into the scheduling area by a gantry robot.

The press operator chooses which die is to be placed in an empty die oven.  The robot places the die in the oven where it is heated to the temperature required by the formula.

When the operator requests the next die to be run, the robot moves the die from the oven to a heated holding area.  Maintaining the temperature of the heated die while waiting to be used is critical.  If uncontrolled, die temperature will drop by about 5ºC every 10 minutes in air, and 10ºC every minute in the die slide.

After it leaves the heated holding area, the press operator moves the die from its cradle to the die slide using eye bolt/crane previously employed.  The RDX system requires no change to existing handling equipment.