GERB vibration control systems typically consist of spring elements and Viscodampers and are ideal for forging hammers and presses

Forging Hammers

Today, direct spring support of forging hammers is the international standard in the forging industry. In these cases, spring elements and Viscodampers? are installed directly below the hammer. Elastic support of forging hammers is becoming more important, since high-precision testing equipment and machine tools are installed next to these hammers.

The direct spring support is a standard solution for all anvil hammers. Only in the case of counter-blow hammers and in those cases where minimal hammer motions are permitted, it becomes necessary to add a concrete block as additional mass.High-quality springs and Viscodampers are combined in one unit. These have been designed for the hard, in many cases 3-shift forging process, in other words for high dynamic loads and millions of load cycles.

Direct spring support can be used for most forging hammers, with the following advantages:

• Considerable reduction in cost and construction time, owing to the elimination of the foundation block and the considerably smaller foundation pit
• Taking into account standard soil conditions , reduction of vibration by at least 85% compared to rigid foundations
• Improved production cycle, since machines (hammers, furnaces, presses) can be installed in close proximity to each other, and
• Elimination of settling and tilting.

Presses Press operation may cause high vibration levels by speed change, slide impact or when cutting material. Such vibration may become unacceptable in the workshop itself and/or surrounding areas. In addition, high-frequency components of the vibration signal may excite structure-borne noise in adjacent rooms.

GERB spring units in combination with Viscodampers can considerably reduce such vibration levels and structure-borne noise typically measured in velocities. A spring supported system - in this case a press - with a vertical natural frequency of approximately 3 Hz and about 30% of velocity-proportional critical damping will usually lead to a 90 % reduction of vibration velocities compared to the expected velocities in case of a conventional installation. Such a large reduction of vibration levels improves not only the working conditions for plant personnel, but also the living conditions of residential neighbours.

Spring units combined with Viscodampers will not only guarantee stability for the machine, but also ensure that the machine quickly returns to zero motion after each stroke hence even automated feeding will cause no difficulties.

Since the dynamic forces transmitted from the press to the sub-foundation are greatly reduced by the vibration isolation system, the design of the sub-foundation can be limited to the static loads which will lead in a major way to lower construction cost of the foundation. Measurements made in advance can determine whether a new press will cause unreasonable vibration levels in the surroundings and if the press needs vibration control. The reduction of vibration levels by spring support can also be predetermined.

Spring support is, however, not only a matter of vibration control for the surrounding. Vibration measurements on presses themselves and long time practical experience have shown that wear and tear of the press will also be reduced by spring support resulting in less maintenance and a longer lifetime of the press and especially its dies.

The company is participating in BLECH INDIA 2013 - an Exhibition for Sheet Metal Working, 17th-20th April, 2013 at Bombat Exhibition Centre, Mumbai

(Gerb Vibration Control Systems Pvt Ltd, Noida. Tel: 0120-2511601-3. Fax: 91-120-2512757. Email: gerbindia@vsnl.com)