What is edge milling?

Lotte explains. The last application of our machines: edge milling. In this blog Lotte tells you all about it. Starting with the basics: “Edge milling is the application of a bevel or radius at a certain angle on a metal workpiece. With a milling machine, pieces of metal are removed from the original product until the product has the desired shape, also known as machining.”

 

Why edge milling?

“The application of bevels has great advantages. The welding edge provides a larger welding surface, which allows the welding material to adhere in more places. This improves the connection between the two sheet metal parts and also improves the weldability.

Besides milling a weld edge, it is also possible to mill a radius on your product, from R=2 to R=8. The application of a radius is desirable when a product is to be powder coated or galvanised. When the radius is not large enough, the coating will not adhere well and the metal may come through the powder coating too strongly. The reason for this is that the surface to which the coating can adhere is not large enough.”

 

How to edge mill?

“Edge milling can be done in different ways. Firstly, there are small, handy machines. Also called handheld milling machines. However, here you have a greater chance of mistakes and much trouble with vibrations. In addition, these machines are quite heavy to work with.

Secondly, there are handheld table milling machines, such as the TopEdge from Q-Fin. Using such a machine reduces the risk of errors. You can also work much lighter and there is less vibration.

The last possibility is computer-controlled milling, also known as CNC milling. This involves working with pre-programmed computers, which makes it possible to mill very efficiently, reliably and precisely. This way is used when it comes to large series of the same design and rarely with sheet metal work.”

 

Besides the TopEdge for edge milling, Q-Fin specialises in developing, building and selling machines for deburring, edge rounding and finishing sheet metal parts. Discover our extensive range online or come and have a look in our showroom in Bergeijk!

 

Edge milling is just one of the applications that our machines can help you with. In our previous blogs, Lian & Lotte tells you all about our other applications.

SMOOTHING THE EDGES

Q-Fin continues its journey from start-up to 'scale-up' with imminent surface-finishing product launches, new investments and an increased focus on automation and handling.

Dutch manufacturer, Q-Fin Quality Finishing Machines, specialises in the development, production and sale of machines for deburring, rounding and finishing sheet metal parts, as well as installations to extract grinding dust. The surface-finishing specialist aims to introduce at least two new innovations every year and is currently building a second hall, for handling solutions, at its new premises in Bergeijk, The Netherlands. It is part of a group of four companies which support Q-Fin with materials such as steel parts.

Founded in 2013 by Anton Bax and Koen de Waard, with a combined thirty years of experience in deburring and machine construction, it has already picked up several awards. These include the surface-finishing technology prize at EuroBLECH 2018 in Hanover and, in 2019, a Blechexpo award for its F200 XL small parts machine. This year, the F1200 XL with SmartLink was nominated for the Technishow Innovation Award.

Q-Fin unveiled three new surface-finishing machines, as well as networked software, at the Blechexpo trade show in Stuttgart last November. At this October’s EuroBLECH sheet metal exhibition in Hanover, Germany (25-28 October 2022), the surface-finishing specialist intends to launch a new ‘all-in-one’ SER1200 Multibrush deburring system.

The new SER1200 Multibrush deburring system will be launched at EuroBLECH 2022

Q-FIN's showroom at Bergeijk, The Netherlands

Strategic vision

“Our turnover has almost doubled every year since our set-up (except for the

last two pandemic years). We are no longer a start-up but are firmly evolving into a ‘scale-up’. By 2025, in terms of turnover, we want to be one of the top European producers of deburring machines. In terms of machine technology and Industry 4.0 innovations, we believe we are already in the top three,” explained Joost Kouwenbergh, Business Officer, Q-Fin.

“Continuous innovation in software and handling solutions around our machines, as well as further development of the German market, is essential to reach this target. We almost doubled our annual machine output from last year and support 1200 Q-Fin machines across Europe, Australia and the United States for customers,” he added.

The German market is a key strategic focus for the company. It has gained a foothold in the country by establishing its own sales office in Düsseldorf in 2019, with two account managers and a dealer in the south of Germany. In the meantime, many machines have also been installed in Germany.

“We mainly focus on Europe i.e.

The Netherlands, Benelux countries and Germany, in particular. We always exhibit at Blechexpo and EuroBLECH, two important exhibitions in Germany. Over the last three/four years, we have focused strongly on the German market and have also invested in more engineers (there are now eight engineers out of a total workforce of 35 people). Half of our turnover is from the Benelux countries, but the German market is about 7/8 times larger. The growth, for us, will mainly be focused in Germany,” continued Joost Kouwenbergh.

Its head office, with showroom and demonstration centre, is based at Bergeijk (Noord-Brabant), The Netherlands. All its machines are assembled there, although all metal components, after engineering, are sourced from its sister companies in the group.

The last two years of the COVID-19 pandemic affected the company’s turnover but also taught it new ways to communicate with its customers which it still employs today (such as online machine demonstrations).

“The second half of 2021, when the first exhibition in Holland took place after the pandemic along with two events in Germany (including Blechexpo last year), helped a lot. In the last quarter of 2021, our sales exploded as customers had been waiting until then to make their investments,” added Kouwenbergh.

The SER1200 Multibrush deburring system

Innovation in focus

Q-Fin has set itself the task of introducing at least two technology innovations every year.

In 2020, for example, its Q2S reversing unit (for automatically turning sheet metal) went into the test phase with a customer. Several reversing units have since been sold. Last year, the company developed a machine for removing slag from metal parts which had been cut by plasma or oxyfuel. It also unveiled three new surface-finishing machines, as well as networked software, at the Blechexpo trade show in Stuttgart last November. This year, Q-Fin will announce the world premiere of a new deburring machine, the SER1200 Multibrush deburring system, at EuroBLECH in Hanover, Germany (25-28 October 2022).

“Innovation is very important for us, as is the continuous development of our machines. We are always looking for opportunities to improve/upgrade our machines, as well as to launch new technologies,” Kouwenbergh told ISMR.

The fully programmable, ‘all-in-one’ SER1200 Multibrush deburring system provides flat sheet-metal parts automatically with a wide range of finishes: deburring; grinding; edge rounding; oxide removal; directionless finish; line finish and Radius 2. All machining stations are individually adjustable and programmable for reproducibility of products and to eliminate the risk of operator errors.

“The machine is very fast (our edge rounding is two-five times faster than our competitors) and can provide a non-directional finish. It can also perform 2mm edge rounding. We won a prize for this machine at Blechexpo for its ability to provide Radius 2 finishing on steel products. The new machine can now process parts with a maximum width of 1200mm and is fully automated. It has a smarter structure, uses much less energy and can also be connected to an ERP package or scanner, so that the machine is no longer dependent on settings by the machine operators,” added Kouwenbergh.

The first two SER100 machines have already been sold prior to the official launch. Both will be sent to Dutch customers.

Market and user trends

Q-FIN sees much larger demand for automation and handling around its machines, as well as Industry 4.0 compatibility.

“Sheet-metalworking companies are still extremely busy right now. They have more orders than they can handle. It is very hard for them to find skilled staff and operators. Our machines help them address that challenge as they can be operated by just one person. That is why there is extra interest in deburring machines, and all the handling around the machines i.e. factory layout, material feeds etc. On production lines, from laser cutters to deburring machines, customers are using more robots; labelling machines and Industry 4.0 connectivity, for example,” outlined Kouwenbergh.

“We have picked up lots of new orders, as well as larger orders. One key trend we see is that bigger companies are investing in more comprehensive deburring lines (featuring two large machines; a turnaround table in between for double-sided part deburring; feeding conveyors and/or cobots). This saves a lot of labour and increases the amount of products produced each hour so that return on investment for these lines can be one or two years,” he continued.

Q-Fin sold three large deburring lines with turnaround units last year. The lines comprise two deburring machines; two extractors; a turnaround unit and two input/output conveyors.

“The value of these lines is three to four times the value of a single machine. Around 75% of the machines that we now sell feature a return conveyor and input/output table. That is a huge increase compared to two years ago,” he added.

However, challenges such as high fuel/ energy prices; the war in Ukraine; supply-chain issues and ‘hard to get’ parts/electroniccomponents; increasing delivery times/prices and plummeting stock levels are currently hitting many manufacturers. In this respect, Q-Fin points to the lower power consumption of its machines (saving high energy costs).

“This new machine will be our focus over the next two years. We will also invest more in software and handling around our machines over the next two years. We do our own software development. Intuitive operation is crucial: the machine must work as autonomously as possible (including operations such as loading and unloading),” he continued

Brushes, speed and pressure determine the power and efficiency of a deburring machine. This is what Q-Fin terms as GrindingPOWER®. It works on the principle of the more compact the machine, the less throughput time. Add this to high throughput speed of the machines and the result, it told ISMR, is significant savings in terms of labour hours. Q-Fin’s R&D efforts are focused on improving process control around the machine.

“Innovation is in our blood. At Q-Fin, we like to do things differently. We incorporate the right proportions of force, abrasive material and speed into our machines. This essential combination is what we call GrindingPOWER®,” Kouwenbergh told ISMR.

The newly developed HMI user interface

Q-Fin Knowledge Club

Q-Fin has set up all its machines in working order so that customers can test their own products by appointment at its Experience Centre in Bergeijk.

“At Q-Fin, we are convinced that people are more successful when they work together, which is why we founded the Q-Fin Knowledge Club (QKC). Our engineers, office employees and mechanics get together once a week to open up new horizons and to keep innovating, improving and optimising,” Kouwenbergh told ISMR.

“We act as a knowledge centre for grinding and deburring techniques. Our customers can come to us for advice, such as the right use of brushes and grinding belts or for information on the correct machine settings. New customers can test our machines in our Experience Centre or we can put them in contact with other customers for references.”

Continuous innovation of machines and processes is part of the company’s culture, as it expands its knowledge levels and shares this knowledge with users of its machines.

 

SER100 Multibrush benefits

Q-Fin has summarised the benefits of the new machine as follows:
■ All-in-one machine.
■ More grinding contact surface with fewer brushes.
■ Compact, low-maintenance unit.
■ High product reproducibility.
■ Less than half the power consumption.
■ Directionless finish is possible.
■ Large radius on steel is possible
■ Simple and intuitive operation via HMI screen.
■ Reduction of human production errors.
■ All stations are automatically adjustable and programmable.

 

Automated deburring line

Q-Fin installed an automated deburring line at Willems Baling Equipment in Hapert, The Netherlands, last year. A novel feature is a rotating unit to automatically turn large workpieces or heavy sheet-metal parts. This enables the parts to be deburred and edgerounded on both sides, in one pass, rapidly and with high finishing quality.

The reversing station is for two-sided finishing of sheet metal parts (up to 600mm, 1200mm and 1500mm wide). The Q2S turnaround station provides batch-wise, double-sided finishing at high throughput speeds. The system can be controlled by one operator. The Q2S turnaround unit is now part of the deburring line at Willems. It is positioned between two F1200 deburring machines.

The operator loads the 3m-long and 1200mm-wide table in front of the first machine. He enters the correct settings on the control panel on the front machine, which allows him to control the entire system. Sheet-metal parts pass through the first deburring machine and are deburred and edge rounded on one side. They come out the back of the machine and are conveyed straight into the turnaround unit.

A sensor registers that all parts are in the reversing unit. The two tables in the turnaround unit are next to each other and a carousel turns them at 180 degrees. All parts are then fed into the second F1200 deburring machine to process the other side of the parts.

“At Willems, the deburring line is set up so that the operator initiates the turnaround unit. This way, he gives himself time to load the system on one side and unload it on the other. He can work at his own pace and still achieve high throughput. By choosing two deburring machines and a reversing unit, Willems can now process parts batchwise,” concluded Q-Fin.

The automated deburring line at Willems Baling Equipment. This includes two F1200-MAG deburring and edge-rounding machines, two WES600 wet operating extractors; two IOC1200-driven input/output conveyors and the Q2S1200 turnaround station.

 

Reference: International Sheet Metal Review

What is microjoint removal?

Lotte explains, the Q-Fin applications. Last time, Lian discussed the most frequently asked questions about oxide layer removal. Microjoints are sometimes used when cutting metal sheet parts. In this blog, Lotte answers the most frequently asked questions about these microjoints.

“A microjoint is the connection between the cut material and the residual sheet. Microjoints are a convenient way to keep small cut parts connected to the sheet, by not cutting through a small part of the product contour. The product thus remains in the sheet and does not fall into the cutting bed. This prevents products from ‘falling through’. Also long, narrow products, which can be deformed by heat input, are fixed in this way, so that they have less deformation. The biggest advantage is that all small products can be lifted off the table in one go. This saves a considerable amount of time for unpacking and thus handling costs.

 

The use of microjoints is mainly used for smaller products cut from thin stainless steel sheets. When laser cutting fine sheet metal, the cut stainless steel parts are often held in the sheet by these microjoints. After cutting, the products are broken out of the sheet and a ridge remains on the product. This sharp protrusion, a small burr as it were, on the outer edge of the product is not desired for various reasons.”

 

Why remove microjoints?

“Microjoints are a detrimental consequence of this chosen processing method. Firstly, the product does not look smooth with a protrusion. If that is not reason enough, the sharp microjoint can also injure your employees, a possible coating will not adhere properly and dirt can get stuck behind the protrusion. Enough reasons to remove the microjoints. But how?”

 

How to remove microjoints?

“How do you remove microjoints easily and quickly without undesirably altering the contours of the product? There are several possibilities. For example, you can remove the microjoint with a manual grinder. However, this requires a steady hand to ensure that you do not inadvertently alter the contours of the product. You can also choose to remove the microjoints with a standard grinding belt. The disadvantage of this is that the product is rounded off undesirably. You can also choose a smart manually operated machine, such as the SkipJoint from Q-Fin. This allows you to remove the microjoints safely, quickly and with very little effort. In contrast to grinding away microjoints with a standard grinding belt, the product is not rounded off in an unwanted way.”

Besides the SkipJoint, Q-Fin is specialised in developing, building and selling other metalworking machines. Discover our extensive product range!

 

The removal of microjoints is just one of the applications our machines can help you with. In our next blog Lotte will tell you all about edge milling.

UNE MACHINE D'ÉBAVURAGE ET DE FINITION OFFRE DE NOUVELLES POSSIBILITÉS À UN GUICHET UNIQUE

Oxycoupage, découpe au laser, pliage, laminage de tôles, cintrage et sciage de l'acier, de l'aluminium, de l'acier inoxydable et d'autres métaux... : toutes ces disciplines font partie des activités de base de Verhoestraete. Ce guichet unique pour les solutions métalliques situé à Roulers est principalement spécialisé dans les solutions jusqu'à la taille XXL, mais décharge également les clients dans la réalisation de projets globaux plus complexes. Avec sa propre ligne de finition, le fabricant vise à élargir encore les services qu'il offre à ses clients. Grâce à la F1200 XL compacte de Q-Fin, il peut désormais également ébavurer, arrondir et rectifier les pièces en une seule passe.

Texte et photos: Johan Debaere

Verhoestraete est un guichet unique qui est surtout spécialisé dans les solutions jusqu'à la taille XXL, mais qui décharge également les clients pour la réalisation de projets totaux plus complexes.

Verhoestraete compte plus de 110 ans d'expérience dans le domaine du métal et du travail des métaux. Sur un site de 70 000 m², l'entreprise dispose non seulement de 8 000 tonnes de matériaux et d'environ 2 000 articles en stock, mais sa zone de production de 23 500 m², avec plus de 30 machines d'usinage différentes, est le « terrain de jeu » idéal pour plus de 60 employés expérimentés possédant un énorme bagage technique dans le domaine du travail des métaux. Après la production, les pièces sont livrées aux clients en flux tendu par quatre camions de l'entreprise.

« En fait, nous nous concentrons sur la production de pièces non courantes. Les clients peuvent bien sûr s'adresser à nous pour des composants de base simples, que nous pouvons alors généralement livrer de stock. Cependant, nous continuons là où d'autres s'arrêtent et nous nous concentrons principalement sur des éléments plus complexes jusqu'à la taille XXL et avec un stock et une expérience technique pour des matériaux moins courants, comme l'acier anti-usure, l'acier haute résistance, l'acier Corten, l'aluminium, le laiton... Il peut s'agir de pièces uniques, de petites séries et de volumes plus importants », explique Yves De Smet, responsable de la qualité, de la prévention et de l'IT. « Nos clients proviennent des secteurs les plus divers : l'agriculture, la construction de machines et de silos, la construction de remorques et de conteneurs, les chemins de fer, le secteur des transports, et même le gouvernement et la défense... Un département distinct se consacre à la production de conceptions architecturales et artistiques, telles que les éléments de façade, les escaliers en colimaçon, l'art, le design haut de gamme... »

Le spécialiste a récemment investi dans une machine d'ébavurage et de finition F1200 XL de Q-Fin. Yves De Smet et Olivier Denys, en compagnie de Patrick van Scherpenseel du fabricant de machines, devant le nouveau système.

L'homme et la machine

Pour répondre avec souplesse aux demandes des clients, Verhoestraete dispose d'un parc de machines étendu, comprenant notamment trois oxycoupeuses équipées de six chalumeaux pour des tôles d'une épaisseur maximale de 300 mm, trois lamineuses de tôle d'une largeur maximale de 3000 mm et d'une épaisseur maximale de 35 mm, et trois découpeusqes laser d'une portée maximale de 12000 x 3000 mm.

« Sur nos sept presses-plieuses, nous pouvons usiner différents métaux de toutes les épaisseurs et de dimensions XXL jusqu'à plus de 9000 mm et 1000 tonnes. Nous disposons également d'une scie à ruban circulaire et semi-automatique pour couper des tubes, des poutres et des profilés droits ou en onglet, de deux cisailles pour la coupe jusqu'à 8000 mm et le cintrage de profilés fait également partie des possibilités. En fin de compte, nous sommes un guichet unique de solutions métalliques pour nos clients », explique De Smet.

« Pour cela, cependant, les machines adaptées ne représentent que la moitié du chemin, car nous attachons autant d'importance à nos collaborateurs. Les usinages simples sont commandés par le logiciel, les plus complexes par nos collaborateurs eux-mêmes. Nos opérateurs règlent eux-mêmes les bons paramètres de leur machine pour obtenir un résultat parfait. Cela requiert le savoir-faire technique nécessaire. Aujourd'hui, il n'est pas si évident de trouver des personnes aussi compétentes, mais heureusement, nous pouvons compter sur une équipe de collaborateurs fidèles. »

La F1200 XL garantit l'ébavurage, l'arrondissement et la finition de parties de tôle d'une largeur maximale de 1200 mm en un seul passage.

Cette machine-outil est équipée d'une commande intuitive Hartrol, qui facilite la vie des opérateurs.

Un degré constant de finition

Verhoestraete a été de plus en plus sollicité pour assurer le traitement de surface également. En collaboration avec un certain nombre de partenaires expérimentés, l'entreprise peut s'occuper du sablage, de la galvanisation, de la galvanisation, du laquage humide, du laquage en poudre, etc. La direction a également décidé au début de cette année d'investir dans sa propre ligne de finition. Après une évaluation approfondie des différents systèmes disponibles sur le marché, elle a opté pour la F1200 XL de Q-Fin. Cette machine compacte combine l'ébavurage, l'arrondi et la rectification-finition de parties de tôle d'une largeur maximale de 1200 mm.

« Nous voulons toujours garantir à nos clients un degré constant de finition. Auparavant, la finition était effectuée manuellement à l'aide d'une meule, ce qui entraînait parfois des déviations et augmentait considérablement le délai d'exécution », raconte Olivier Denys, l'un des quatre opérateurs de la nouvelle machine.

« Avec cette unité, nous pouvons ébavurer, arrondir et/ou finir en une seule passe. La première station est constituée d'une unité de rectification avec une bande abrasive qui élimine les bavures et/ou les points de pénétration de la surface. Les deuxième et troisième stations sont équipées de quatre brosses oscillantes à rotation croisée, qui cassent ou arrondissent les arêtes vives de la pièce. Enfin, la quatrième station comprend une deuxième unité de ponçage, qui nous permet d'appliquer une finition linéaire sur la pièce avec une bande abrasive plus fine ou de finir la pièce avec une bande de scotch-brite. Les tables séparées pour l'approvisionnement et le retrait des pièces augmentent l'ergonomie et l'efficacité. Nous avons également choisi de combiner la machine avec un système d'extraction humide pour une élimination optimale des matériaux résiduels. Un entretien régulier et approfondi garantit une qualité élevée et constante, et prolonge la durée de vie des machines. »

Les tables séparées pour l'approvisionnement et le retrait des pièces augmentent l'ergonomie et l'efficacité

Patrick van Scherpenseel, account manager pour la Belgique et les Pays-Bas chez Q-Fin, ajoute : « Cette machine travaille jusqu'à cinq fois plus vite que les machines comparables. Elle dispose de quatre stations d'usinage, dans un design particulièrement compact, et est livrée avec toutes les options, y compris le réglage automatique de la hauteur des agrégats de meulage et de ponçage. Cette unité est livrée de série avec quelques programmes fixes, mais les opérateurs peuvent facilement ajouter leurs propres programmes. La brosse est changée en six secondes, les bandes abrasives en deux minutes, après quoi l'étalonnage peut commencer. Plus besoin de faire des essais, car vous obtenez un résultat parfait dès la première pièce. Comme Verhoestraete traite de nombreux matériaux différents, le choix s'est porté sur un système assisté par le vide. » « La finition n'est pas une tâche mineure pour nous, car tout doit pouvoir être livré rapidement et parfaitement. Nous sommes extrêmement satisfaits de cet investissement », conclut Yves De Smet. « Nous sommes entrés en contact avec Q-Fin par l'intermédiaire de LVD, fournisseur de nos plieuses et du dernier laser à fibre Phoenix de 10 kW. Ils nous ont aidés à effectuer les premiers tests et nous ont mis en contact avec Q-Fin. Ils ont pu livrer cette F1200 XL très rapidement et également l'installer et la mettre en service en une journée. Ils étaient également chargés de la formation de nos quatre opérateurs : une formation de base lors de la mise en service et une formation technique approfondie après quelques semaines et en fonction de nos questions. Chez Q-Fin, ils connaissent leur métier. Nous pouvons toujours leur adresser toutes nos questions. Plus encore : ils font leurs propres essais sur des pièces afin de pouvoir montrer à leurs clients comment réaliser un usinage pour un résultat optimal. »

Le client a choisi de combiner la machine compacte avec une extraction humide pour une élimination efficace des matériaux résiduels.

 

What is oxide layer removal?

Lian explains. Last time she discussed the most frequently asked questions about dust extraction. After cutting steel sheets, in addition to metal slag or burrs, there can also arise an oxide layer on the edges of cut steel. This oxide layer can be removed later in the process. In this blog Lian will tell you all about it. Starting with: What is oxide layer removal?

“An oxide layer is the hard layer that remains on the cutting edge after cutting, because the material has reacted with oxygen. This is often the case when plasma and laser cutting steel sheet parts with oxygen. This black-coloured layer of oxide on the cutting edges of the parent material is also called oxide layer or laser oxide. These two terms are often used interchangeably, but all mean the same thing. Also the term ‘mill scale’ is sometimes used, but that is a misunderstanding. The mill scale of a product is located on the top and bottom of the plate part.

 

Why remove oxide layer?

“An oxide layer on sheet metal parts has several disadvantages. First of all, this layer makes the coatings adhere poorly to the cutting edges. As a result, it can flake off and thus reduce the lifespan of your products. In addition, an oxide layer causes weaker welds and increases the chance of welding defects.
When your products have to be coated or welded, it is therefore necessary to remove the oxide layer.

 

How to remove oxide layer?

“Removing an oxide layer can be done in various ways. For example, you can grind it away, steel blast it or remove it chemically. Another option is to let the product rust deliberately. This more or less dissolves the oxide layer and can be easily removed by sanding. Nowadays, in addition to these options, there is something new on the market: machines with brushes with a specially developed wire filling. By passing your parts through these machines, they automatically remove the oxide layer. Afterwards, other processes can be carried out, such as rounding off or applying a finish.

To determine the optimal removal method for your products, you need to take into account several factors:
- The thickness of the oxide layer
In general the following can be stated: The thicker the material, the thicker the oxide layer and the more difficult it is to remove.
- The size of your product
In the automatic machines parts can be processed up to a certain size. Do you have a wider or higher product? Then you should look for alternatives.”

With the machines developed by Q-Fin, in combination with the right brushes, you can easily remove this oxide layer of your sheet metal parts up to 1500 mm wide. For this purpose we recommend brushes with a specially developed wire fill. These brushes enable optimal oxide layer removal and guarantee clear metal cutting edges.

In Q-Fin’s machines these brushes can be combined with other machining methods for the optimum result. Discover all the possibilities of our extensive range!

The removal of oxide layer is just one of the applications our machines can help you with. In our next blog Lian will tell you all about removing microjoints.

What is dust extraction?

Lian explains. Last time she discussed the most frequently asked questions about radius 2 rounding. A lot of dust is generated when working on metal parts. That is why Q-Fin developed two machines to extract this grinding dust. Lian tells you all about it. “The word dust extraction says it all. It is the extraction of the grinding dust that is released when working on a metal surface.”

 

Why dust extraction?

“Grinding, deburring, rounding and finishing are common and necessary activities in the metal industry. All these activities produce a considerable amount of dust that can cause health problems and is a nuisance and pollutant in the working environment. It is therefore of great importance to properly extract this metal grinding dust. A clean working environment not only increases the health and safety of your employees, but also contributes to higher productivity.”

 

How to extract dust?

“In many cases it is possible to extract the dust at the source. Whether it is a hand tool or a stationary machine. Depending on the size of the machine, different extraction techniques can be used.

There is also a difference between wet and dry filters. With wet filters, the grinding dust is drawn through water. For reasons of fire safety and to prevent the risk of explosion when extracting aluminium grinding dust, we recommend these wet extraction systems to every sheet metal working company that grinds or deburrs. It is not for nothing that a fire in a metal company almost always starts in the extractor or in the pipe work. Also, replacing the filters in a wet working exhaust system is not necessary.”

Q-Fin specialises in developing, building and selling various machines. We also have 2 wet working exhaust systems in our assortment. Discover these and other machines online or drop by our showroom in Bergeijk!

Dust extraction is just one of the applications our machines can help you with. In our next blog Lian will tell you all about removing oxide layer removal.

What is radius 2 edge rounding?

The Q-Fin applications, Lian explains. Last time she discussed the most frequently asked questions about removing metal slag. Earlier in this series she discussed the edge rounding of sheet metal parts. This edge rounding can be done with different radiuses, including radius 2. Lian explains what this entails and why it is sometimes necessary. “A radius is a straight line running from the centre of a circle to the edge, half a diameter. When you round off sheet metal parts, you create an edge with a certain radius. Radius 2, also known as R2 or R=2, means a radius of 2 mm.”

 

Why radius 2?

“Rounding metal sheets has a number of advantages: The product becomes more manageable and safer to work with, therefore work can be done more smoothly, and sharp edges cause poor adhesion of paint or coating, which can flake off and cause rust. Also called corrosion.

How big the radius specifically needs to be differs per application, often this is standardised, for example as P2 or P3. Since, among others, the Dutch government uses radius 2 as a general rule for public installations, this is often used. The question is whether such a steep rounding is really necessary. Does the radius have to be 2 in order to prevent sharp edges and to be able to realise a protective layer on the edges that is as thick and strong as the layer on the rest of the surface? This discussion is particularly important because it takes a lot of effort to reach R2. But is that still the case today?

 

How to round off with radius 2?

“This can be done in several ways. Firstly, by milling, but that is very expensive. Secondly, the sheet metal parts can be rounded off with abrasive techniques, such as sanding and grinding. This can be done manually or by machine. The manual application of a radius 2 is very labour-intensive and therefore very costly. When machining the edges, many machines require the sheet material to be fed through the machine several times. If this is at all possible due to the shape and contours of the sheet metal.

 

The Super Edge Rounder

At Q-Fin we thought this could be done better. That is why we developed the SER600, Super Edge Rounder. This machine was designed and built specifically for, as the name suggests, achieving a large edge rounding (R2) on steel. In a single pass, this machine realises a radius of 2 mm on the edges of a sheet or strip. This makes it 5 times faster than similar machines!

Q-Fin specialises in the development, construction and sale of deburring machines and, in addition to the SER600, has developed other specific machines for machining metal sheet parts. Discover our extensive product range!

Edge rounding with radius 2 is just one of the applications that our machines can help you with. In our next blog Lian will tell you all about dust extraction when machining metal parts.

Lian explains, the Q-Fin applications. Last time, she discussed the most frequently asked questions about finishing sheet metal. Many steps precede this final step in the metalworking process. So does the removal of metal slag. In this blog Lian tells you all about it. What exactly is metal slag? “A metal slag is a stony piece of waste that forms when metals are melted. These metal slag creates differences in height on the products, which gives an undesirable result. That is why these slag is removed.”

 

How do metal slag form?

“When cutting steel using plasma cutting or gas cutting, slag can form. Melted steel accumulates at the cutting edges of the product. These processing methods are usually used when cutting thicker steel plates. A number of factors influence slag formation. For example, alloys containing a lot of carbon will result in more slag formation. But the material temperature, surface properties and material composition also determine the amount of slag formation.”

 

Why remove metal slag?

“As indicated earlier, metal slag causes unevenness in metal parts. This does not contribute to the strength and protection of metal, but is rather a form of waste. Also, metal slag does not look attractive or professional. Finally, it makes it difficult to apply an adhesive coating to the surface. Reason enough to remove the slag. But how?”

 

How to remove metal slag?

“Although metal slag can also be removed manually, with hammer and chisel, this is done less and less often. It is time-consuming and unsafe for the production worker.
Nowadays, more and more machines are available for the removal of metal slag. Special slag remover brushes are used for this purpose. These brushes can be placed in the Q-Fin deburring machines for example, to remove slag quickly and easily. We have also designed a free-standing 600 mm and 1200 mm wide deslagging machine, specially for slag removal. By placing this machine in front of a deburring machine, you prevent the removed slag from ending up in the deburring machine. This is beneficial for the life span of the deburring machine.

At Q-Fin we continue to innovate continuously to create the best machines for you. Discover our extensive range online or drop by our showroom in Bergeijk.

Lian explains, the Q-Fin applications one by one. Last time she discussed the most frequently asked questions about the edge rounding of metal parts. Another essential application in metalworking is the finishing of metal parts. What is it? And why is it so important? Lian explains.

“By metal finishing we mean the final finishing of the metal parts. In the production of metal, irregularities occur as standard. The finishing of metal makes sure that these irregularities are removed. This can be done in various ways.

 

Why finishing?

“This final step in the production process of metal parts contributes to the protection and aesthetics of the products. It improves the appearance of the parts and thus their durability. It also makes the parts wear-resistant and corrosion-proof. A smooth surface is easier to clean and requires less maintenance. So it’s ideal for industries where hygiene is a top priority.”

 

How to finish?

“Finishing metal can be done in various ways. Although it used to be done by hand, for example with a flex-tool, machines are increasingly used nowadays. These automatic machines are set up for your specific requirements. Any desired finish is possible. Also with the finishing machines of Q-Fin. I will now explain a number of possible finishes for you.”

 

Line finish grinding

“Line finish’ is the most common finish for metal, especially stainless steel. Stainless steel parts with a line grind finish, popularly called ‘brushed’ or ‘satin’, are usually used for visible work: products such as extractor hoods. Surface grinding is usually indicated by a grain size that indicates how finely the surface has been ground. The larger the number, the finer the grit of the grinding belt. For example K320 stands for a 320 grit finish, this means that there are 320 grits on every square centimetre.

Q-Fin machines enable you to give products from 10 mm wide to 1500 mm wide the grinding structure of your choice. A finish with Scotch-Brite or Trizact is also possible. Changing the grinding belt is a snap thanks to the quick-release system.



 

Grinding without direction

“Directionless grinding is a form of brushed finish for sheet metal work. The term says it all - there is no direction in the grinding structure. This directionless grinding finish is very popular among architects and machine builders. This is because they can use the ground products in all possible directions. It is a finish that is particularly used for stainless steel. Directionless grinding is also known as eccentric grinding, orbital grinding, whirling or quivering. Because the scratches on the product run in all directions, the product is much less susceptible to scratching than a plate polished in line, and can be touched up afterwards.”

 

Polishing

“Metal sheet parts can be ground as smooth as a mirror. If a metal product is to have a mirror-like or high-gloss surface, polishing is the way to go. In this process, the surface is first smoothed step by step with progressively finer abrasives. This preliminary process involves grinding to K800. Then the actual polishing begins. Here, practically no material is removed any more, but the surface is “refined” by means of polishing pastes. Visually, a lot changes: the matt finish is transformed into a shiny surface. The surface roughness is increasingly reduced, which has all kinds of technical advantages.

 

As indicated earlier, Q-Fin specialises in developing, building and selling finishing machines. In our showroom in Bergeijk we would like to demonstrate the possibilities. Come and visit us or discover our extensive range online!

Finishing is just one of the applications that our machines can help you with. In our next blog, Lian will tell you all about removing metal slag.

In 2022 Lian, our Marketeer, explains our applications one by one. Last time she discussed the most frequently asked questions about grinding metal parts. Besides grinding, edge rounding of metal parts is becoming more and more the norm. In this blog Lian tells you all about it. First, what exactly is metal edge rounding? “By edge rounding metal workpieces we provide the sharp edges of these workpieces with a radius. Another word that is often used is edge breaking.”

Why edge rounding?

“Proper and accurate edge rounding is becoming increasingly important in the metal industry. This for several reasons:
- The product becomes more manual and safer to work with. Employees or end users no longer open their hands on sharp edges, so employees can work more smoothly.
- Sharp edges result in poor adhesion of paint or coating, which can flake off and cause corrosion.
- Current standards require a specific predefined radius, making edge rounding essential.”

 

How to round off?

“There are different ways to round off your metal sheet parts. Before special tools and machines were developed for this purpose, deburring and flap wheels were used. This made edge rounding a time-consuming and inaccurate process.

Today, specific hand tools are available on the market, including milling tools. These tools guarantee a faster and more consistent edge rounding than fully manual tools. However, the quality still depends on the person operating the tool. And the operation is labour-intensive and costly.

There are also several machines available, which apply a constant radius on metal parts in one pass. With maximum GrindingPOWER®, the right combination of power, abrasives and speed, such a machine provides the perfect edge rounding.



Q-Fin is specialized in developing, building and selling machines with maximum GrindingPOWER® that combine deburring, rounding and finishing. This way you not only get a hand-friendly product, but also a product that looks perfect. Discover our extensive product range!

 

Edge rounding is just one of the applications that our machines can help you with. In our next blog Lian will tell you all about finishing metal parts.

In 2022 Lian, our Marketer, explains our applications one by one. Last time she discussed the most frequently asked questions about deburring. One way to remove burrs, among other things, is grinding. In this blog Lian will tell you all about it. Starting with: What is grinding? “In short, it is a machining technique that removes material using a grinding belt or abrasive disc. This allows you to remove burrs or unevenness, smooth the surface or apply a certain grinding structure to the material.”

 

Why grinding?

“If you want to deliver products with a precise and smooth surface, grinding is a must. The smoothness of a surface also determines how much dirt can adhere to it and how easy it is to keep clean and to clean. These are important requirements when it comes to food and health, for example.” In addition, a smooth surface is important for further processing such as welding or bending.

How to grind?

“There is a lot to choose from when grinding metal sheets. Q-Fin has semi-automatic and fully automatic grinding machines in its range. But there are also manually operated machines such as angle grinders. With all these applications, you can choose the grit type and the roughness value to be used for grinding. I will be happy to explain the various options to you.

With which grit should I grind?

“In general, a distinction is made between coarse grit and fine grit. Coarse grit is often used to remove damage, contamination and hard scale from the sheet surface. After this, a surface finish can be considered, for which finer grains or a scotch-brite are used.
In general, coarse grit is used when the surface finish is not essential for the workpiece, when a large surface needs to be machined or when it requires a finishing such as powder coating for steel products. Also called pre-grinding.
Fine grit, on the other hand, is used when the surface finish is essential. For more precise machining of smaller surfaces, lower roughness values and products where the visual aspect plays a role, often stainless steel plate parts, fine grit is also used. This is called regrinding or finishing”.

 

What is the desired roughness?

“Grinding is possible in several degrees of roughness. Usually, the average roughness, indicated by ‘Ra’, is used. The roughness value after grinding a part is determined by the grit, the grinding speed and the amount of material removal.
The desired roughness can vary per product and material type. For example, as discussed earlier, in the food and health sector it is very important that a product is as smooth as possible.”

What kind of grinding belt(s) should I use?

“There are different types of grinding belts to choose from. For the application we talked about before, the surface grinding of flat sheet metal products, you can use grinding belts with a coarse or fine grain or a scotch-brite belt, as described. But that alone is not enough to make a choice. Various factors play a role in choosing the right grinding belt:
- What material are you going to process?
- What shape is the product to be grinded?
- How will the grinding belt be loaded?
- What base material should the grinding belt consist of?
- Are you going to grind wet or dry?
- Is the grinding belt water-resistant?
We are happy to help you answer these questions.”

Q-Fin specialises in the development, construction and sale of both semi-automatic and fully automatic grinding machines. And that with a speed of at least 3x more than comparable machines. Discover our extensive product range!

Grinding of metal sheet parts is just one of the applications our machines can help you with. In our next blog, Lian will tell you all about rounding metal parts.

In 2022 Lian, our Marketer, explains our applications one by one. This time she discusses the most frequently asked questions about deburring. Like, what exactly is deburring? Lian is happy to explain: “During the cutting of metal parts, sharp, raised edges or, in other words, burrs, can occur. The removal of these burrs is called deburring.”

Why remove burrs?

“Deburring workpieces has a number of advantages:
- Because the sharp edges are removed, injuries are prevented. It also makes the product more manageable.
- The material looks smoother and more beautiful.
- Dirt is repelled better.
- The material is more resistant to weathering.
- A possible coating will adhere better.
In short, you can’t avoid deburring your products if you want to deliver a high-quality product.”

How to deburr?

“Within the metalworking industry, two mechanical deburring processes are mainly used: manual or mechanical. I am happy to explain both processes to you.”

Manual deburring

“Here you can think of a metal file, angle grinder or Flex machine. The relevant deburring tools can be mounted as required. Manual deburring takes a lot of time and energy, is stressful and unhealthy for the operator and usually does not give a constant finish quality.”

Machine deburring

“Every year the range of deburring machines is extended. The method of deburring can therefore differ greatly from machine to machine and from manufacturer to manufacturer. There are manual, or semi-automatic deburring tables, but also fully automatic deburring machines with conveyor belt.
More and more companies are switching from manual to machine deburring. On the one hand because it is difficult to find labour in the current work climate. On the other hand, because customers demand a constant quality of finish. A deburring machine is also easy to operate and many times faster than deburring by hand. How much faster differs per machine manufacturer. The efficiency goes up, so the investment is earned back quickly.”

 

Q-Fin is specialised in developing, building and selling deburring machines. With our machines you get the best in the market: they are at least three times faster than comparable machines. Do you also want to deburr as efficiently as possible? Discover our extensive range!

Sheetmetal deburring is just one of the applications that our machines can help you with. In our next blog, Lian will tell you more about grinding metal parts.

DOUBLE-SIDED DEBURRING

Willems Baling Equipment invested in a Q2S double-sided finishing solution, with rotating unit, for its sheet metal parts production.

ISMR says: "A novel feature of the automated deburring line is a rotating unit to automatically turn large workpieces or heavy sheet metal parts."

Dutch deburring machine builder, Q-Fin Quality Finishing Machines, has installed an automatic deburring line at Willems Baling Equipment in Hapert, The Netherlands. A novel feature is a rotating unit to automatically turn batches or heavy sheet metal parts. This enables the parts to be deburred and edge-rounded on both sides in one pass, rapidly and with high finishing quality.
Willems Baling Equipment builds machines for the compressed packaging of bulky products. Typical machine products include bulk handling machines (such as gravel, coil, sand etc.); balers and log shavers. Willems supplies complete production lines to its customers, from production of the raw material to the complete packaging of the product in handy bales ready for sale on a pallet. Engineering, production, assembly, control and service of these production lines are carried out in-house as a total package. Willems values user-friendly operation, sophisticated logistics and maximum safety. Innovation is a key strength, as it continuously works on the development of new machine features and technologies.



Quality in focus
“We want to keep our reputation for high quality so we continuously improve and innovate,” explained Bram Willems, technical sales engineer at Willems, a family business. “We need the best machines to produce efficiently and with high quality. We therefore have a modern machine park, expanded in recent years, with a press brake, a 5-axis milling machine and the Q-Fin deburring line.” A lot of sheet metal parts are needed for the machines that Willems produces, including several large and heavy steel plate parts (up to 25mm thick). This is necessary because considerable force is applied when the products are pressed into bales. A high-quality finish is important for all these parts. “Willems builds to CE quality and no sharp metal edges are allowed. Part deburring is therefore essential. In addition, many parts must be rounded off before electrolytic galvanization and powder coating. All parts of a press installation that are exposed to the open air are, in any case, given a powder coating. By rounding the edges to a radius R1, the paint flows nicely and evenly over the entire sheet metal part. This ensures good adhesion, even at the edges, and prevents peeling and rust", Willems told ISMR.

The search for a solution
Willems already had a deburring machine for deburring and rounding off the large sheet metal parts, which processed the material on one side. Since the sheet metal parts had to be processed on both sides, the material had to be fed through the machine twice and turned in-between. This was done by hand or using an overhead crane, which took a lot of time and was strenuous work for the operators. It was also not one hundred per cent safe. "A crane can slip through the brake and that is dangerous," said Bram Willems. Willems therefore found an alternative solution for processing steel, stainless steel and aluminium parts at Q-Fin Quality Finishing Machines in neighbouring Bergeijk. He was searching for a machine that could process both sides of a part as well as deburr and round-off both sides in one go. However, this concept did not fit Q-Fin's philosophy, as Q-Fin account manager Patrick van Scherpenseel explained. "We like to do things differently. We differentiate ourselves by incorporating the right ratio of power, abrasive and speed into our machines. We call this essential combination 'GrindingPower' and, with it, we achieve the highest output and consistently high quality. This is our starting point and we did not want to dilute it by making concessions," he explained. "However, in a double-sided working machine, you do have to make these concessions. For example, you cannot push as hard with the brushes when working on the product from top and bottom. We therefore looked for a solution that added something to our machines, so that we can still work on both sides of a part in one pass without human intervention. That solution has become the Q2S turnaround unit."

The deburring process
The reversing station is available for two-sided finishing of sheet metal parts up to 600mm, resp. 1200mm and 1500mm wide. The Q2S turnaround station provides batch-wise double-sided finishing at high throughput speeds. The system can be controlled by just one operator. The Q2S1200 turnaround unit is now part of the deburring line at Willems. It is positioned between two F1200 deburring machines. The operator loads the 3m-long and 1200mm-wide table in front of the first machine. He/she enters the correct settings on the control panel on the front machine, which allows him to control the entire system. Sheet metal parts pass through the first deburring machine and are deburred and edge-rounded on one side. They come out the back of the machine and are conveyed straight into the turnaround unit. A sensor registers that all parts are in the reversing unit. The two tables in the turnaround unit are next to each other and a carousel turns them at 180 degrees. All parts are then fed into the second F1200 deburring machine to process the other side of the parts. At Willems, the deburring line is set up so that the operator initiates the turnaround unit. This way, he gives himself time to load the system on one side and unload it on the other. He can work at his own pace and still achieve high throughput.
By choosing two deburring machines and a reversing unit, Willems can now process parts batchwise. “There is a nice flow. This would not have been the case if a rotating unit and one machine had been chosen, into which all the parts would then have had to be fed back. That would mean waiting times,” said van Scherpenseel. “Now, the system works with batches in a continuous process which saves a tremendous amount of time.” The deburring line came with two IOC1200 driven input and output conveyors as well as two WES6000 wet operating extraction systems. The latter are placed on a platform high above the installation so that they take up no space and noise is minimal. Willems also installed an F200 XL machine for the rapid deburring, grinding and rounding of small sheet metal parts and a Skipjoint machine designed for the easy and safe removal of microjoints. Together, these machines form a complete system for deburring and rounding of sheet metal parts, which can be operated by one person. The company is also investing in its future. Due to continued growth, the adjacent plot to its factory in Hapert has now been purchased. The plan is to build a new industrial hall there to create more space for the production and assembly of machines.



 

Soucre: ISMR

The 4Innovators are back!

After a very successful first edition, at Q-Fin Quality Finishing Machines in Bergeijk, the four organising companies are launching a new date for the second edition of the 4InnovatorsDays. It will be held on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 17, 18 and 19 November 2021. This year, the 4InnovatorsDays will be held at a new location, namely at the Alblasserdam-based Valk Welding. In the industrial environment of this innovative company, the four permanent partners Q-Fin, LVD, Kumatech and Valk Welding welcome you and will show you their machines and innovations.

To offer the visitor even more innovation this year, the four organisers have asked a number of companies to join them and give their vision on the innovations that are now possible in the manufacturing industry. These participating guest partners are: MCB, Elfsquad, Togetr, Spartners and Lemtech. With this group of participants, the 4Innovators want to map the total process chain of companies active in the manufacturing industry. For each company the bottlenecks in the process chain lie somewhere else and at the 4InnovatorsDays there is a partner for each bottleneck who can offer a solution.

In conclusion, put it in your agenda, 4InnovatorsDays 17, 18 and 19 November 2021.

Radius measurement after deburring and edge rounding sheet metal parts

Shearing or laser cutting processes for metal parts often leave burr traces on the surface. This is the case with all sheet metal parts for example: steel, stainless steel or aluminium. In order to limit this type of irregularity, several burr standards have been defined by end-users of metal sheets. Additionally, burrs can end up in injuries or entail problems, paint and coating also adhere much better to products with a good radius. For these reasons Q-Fin Quality Finishing has installed a Quelltech radius measurement tool in their laboratory in Bergeijk, The Netherlands.

Q-Fin can now show the exact the amount of edge rounding of the products after deburring and finishing them on their machines to potential customers.

Particular challenges
The size of burrs that their customer are dealing with are in the micrometer range, and some of them may not be discovered by visual inspection. Furthermore, during deburring the metal parts may be subjected to deformation, so their dimensional integrity must be checked as well. For example, a customer needs a R2 (2mm) radius for a good adhesion of the coating.

Q-Fin can now set up their SER600 machine so that the products are finished with a radius of 2mm with a high throughput.

Q-Fin solution with QuellTech Laser Sensor
The robustness of a manual inspection cannot be compared with the speed and the repeatability of a 2D profile inspection by means of a contactless QuellTech Q4 laser scanner. In addition to the verification with respect to burrs and radius, QuellTech decided to fit a circle to the edge to see whether metal sheets still preserve their original form after deburring operation. This means that our inspection covers two tasks at the same time.

Benefits for the client
Thanks to QuellTech’s laser scanner, the customer is able to deliver parts not only in conformity with the edge rounding requirements of the end-user, but also maintaining their original form. Customer using this device can considerably reduce their inspection time and save on labor force.

You can make an appointment at Q-Fin where can they now have the ability to demonstrate that their deburring machines can give the exact radius that is required e.g. a radius R2.

Contact Q-Fin:

Q-Fin Quality Finishing Machines
Wilgenakker 8
5571 SJ Bergeijk
The Netherlands
T +31 (0)497 58 10 18

[email protected]
www.q-fin.nl

Sales Germany:

T +49 2112409078
[email protected]

 

Source: quelltech.de

After an first assessment by the professional jury, 15 exhibitors, including Q-Fin Quality Finishing Machines, have a chance to win one of the TechniShow Innovation Awards. The remaining candidates are all invited to present their innovation during the pitch day on February 11th.

The entries represent the latest trends in the manufacturing industry: digitization, automation, process optimization and solutions for more efficient production. “The expectation prior to the judging was that many entries would have to do with innovations in the pre- and post-processing process. A large number of innovations indeed focus on the pre- and post-processing. Think of online platforms, smart ways of fixation, automation for unmanned production, smart autonomous vehicles for internal logistics and so on. In addition, there were also innovations that monitor the production process and provide more output”, according to the jury. The entries were judged on six points: The extent to which the innovation contributes to smarter and faster entrepreneurship (Smart Industry), the economic impact of the innovation, the commercial added value, the societal impact, the extent to which the innovation is truly new and unique and the quality of the information provided. All in all, the jury was faced with a difficult choice.

This year, the awards will be presented in two categories. The first category is New Tech. These are innovations that were not previously presented at the TechniShow fair and that were introduced to the Dutch market in or after 2019. The second category is Dutch Technology (previously Made in Holland). In this category companies compete, which are originally Dutch and also produce their product in the Netherlands.

Dutch Technology category
Five companies have been nominated in the Dutch Technology category. These are in alphabetical order:

Cellro with the Xcelerate X20|R-C2|6S, a universal solution for automated processing of products on six sides;

ConstruSteel with the software Advanced Scribing for Tekla, with which the ideal marking can be applied to steel profiles and plates from the 3D CAD model;

Kumatech with the AGV vehicles Pallet Jack (pallet truck), Tractor Tom (tractor pallet size) and Dual John (tractor box size);

Leering Hengelo with the APS gantry drill with sub-axles, where the drill axles can carry out a machining operation independently;

Q-Fin with the Q-Fin F600 SP4 containing the combination of a planetary brush system with four counterclockwise/clockwise heads, which also oscillate, resulting in a smooth surface finish and uniform rounding of cut sheet metal.

Announcement of winners
After the pitches, the jury will select the winners in both categories. The winners will be announced during the Evening of the Manufacturing Industry on March 4th. All nominated innovations can be seen at the TechniShow, which will be held from 17 to 20 March in Jaarbeurs Utrecht, Netherlands.



Source: Metaalnieuws

Partnership between Q-Fin and LVD

Machine builder Q-Fin Quality Finishing Machines from Bergeijk started a cooperation with LVD, the Belgian manufacturer of machines and software for sheet metal working. The LVD sales people will actively offer Q-Fin deburring, edge rounding and finishing machines together with their press brake and laser cutting machines; they will become part of the LVD package.

The cooperation will be visible to the market for the first time during the open days of LVD in Gullegem on 3 untill the 5th of December. An Ultimate Set of Q-Fin (a F1200 deburring and grinding machine for sheet metal parts up to 1200 mm wide, a F200 XL for sheet metal parts from 10 to 200 mm wide and a WES6000 wet-operating extractor) and two table grinders will be demonstrated in the Experience Center of LVD in Gullegem, Belgium. Q-Fin employees will be present for explanations and demonstrations. Before the start of the technology days the first LVD sales employees will have been trained in Bergeijk. The Q-Fin machines will remain permanently in the Experience Center for demonstrations. They are a pilot project. If the experiences with this are positive, the cooperation will be extended outside of Belgium.

Package deals
LVD sales people will be trained on the Q-Fin machines and they will be given a place in the brochures of LVD. “The market is ready for package deals with a laser cutting machine and a grinding machine,” says LVD BeNeLux Managing Director Francis Vanneste. “Especially among customers who want to invest in an efficient cutting process, we see a demand for solutions for rounded and burr-free cutting parts. We are now able to meet this demand in a good way with the Q-Fin machines. We are convinced of the quality of these machines and can sell them flawlessly with our lasers.” Q-Fin’s director/owner Anton Bax also welcomes the partnership: “The fact that a major manufacturer of sheet metal working machines with an excellent reputation in the market and a worldwide sales network will be working with us offers enormous opportunities.



On the Q-Fin stand at the Blechexpo in Stuttgart, LVD CEO Carl Dewulf and Q-Fin director/owner Anton Bax confirmed their cooperation.

 

Blechexpo Award
The collaboration between LVD and Q-Fin was established shortly before the Blechexpo in Stuttgart. On this international exhibition Q-Fin presented the Super Edge Rounder SER600. This machine won the Blechexpo Award in the Surface Technology category. The jury praised the machine for its speed and the quality of its finish. The winning machine can deburr sheet metal in one pass and round the edges at R2. This can be done at a speed of 1 meter per minute.

 

Source: Metaalnieuws.nl

Q-Fin at the Blechexpo, 5 till 8 November 2019
In the first week of November Q-Fin was present at the Blechexpo in Stuttgart. The Blechexpo was a great success, not only for Q-Fin itself but also for the exhibition organization which again broke some records. The success of Q-Fin was partly due to winning the Blechexpo award in the surface finishing technology category.

Blechexpo/Schweisstec 2019 with Record-Breaking Dimensions
As expected, the 14th Blechexpo international trade fair for sheet metal working, together with the 7th Schweisstec international trade fair for joining technology, was an industry highlight and closed successfully with 1498 exhibitors from 36 countries. 41,152 visitors from a total of 113 countries took advantage of the trade fair duo, which in the meantime has grown to 108,000 square metres of exhibition floor space, in order to bring themselves up to date with regard to sheet metal, pipe and profile processing, as well as cutting, joining, forming and welding technologies, from the 5th through the 7th of November, 2019.

   

Blechexpo Awards 2019
Already for the fourth time, the “Blechexpo Award” was presented on the afternoon of the second day of the trade fair by “blechnet” trade journal in cooperation with event promoters P. E. Schall GmbH & Co. KG. The innovation prize was awarded to the most innovative exhibits in five different categories. With its MC 125 automatic stamping press, Schuler was the winner in the stamping and forming technology category. Kjellberg Finsterwalde Plasma und Maschinen won in the cutting technology category with its Q 3000 plasma cutting system. The winner in the joining technology category was Trumpf Laser- und Systemtechnik with their TruLaser Station 7000 – a 3D laser welding machine. The award for surface finishing technology went to Q-Fin Quality Finishing Machines for their SER600 Super Edge Rounder (a deburring and edge rounding machine). Last but not least, Cenit was distinguished in the handling and automation category for their cross-manufacturer cutting and joining software, namely Fastsuite Edition 2.

   

Q-Fin Super Edge Rounder SER600
The Super Edge Rounder from Q-Fin is a machine that deburrs sheet metal in one pass and provides the part with an edge rounding of R2, at a speed of 1 meter per minute. The SER600 is about twice as long as the regular F600 deburring machine in the Q-Fin range. This machine was specially developed for a radius 2 mm on steel products by means of five machining stations in the machine. The secret is mainly in the brushing principle, the way of brushing. The first two rows of brushes apply pressure from above. Brushes three and four work on the sides, the combination ensures the perfect rounding of 2 mm on a product.



 

Resource: blechexpo-messe.de

Metaalcenter Driessen located in Weert is one of the Q-Fin users from the very beginning. After 4 years of loyal service, owner Antal Driessen thought it was time to switch his machines for the latest versions. The Q-Fin deburring machines are the machines with which he can save the most money, says Antal. He is so enthusiastic about it that he even wrote a blog about it:

Today the big changeover trick took place at Metaalcenter Driessen B.V.

The company Q-Fin B.V. came to replace our old grinding/rounding machines and wet extractors with new ones.



An F200 XL was replaced by a new version of the F200 XL with some new options and of course the new “look”. This machine is only used for laser-cut products from stainless steel and aluminium to provide rounded cutting edges and a re-grinded surface. This machine is equipped with a vacuum system, so that the stainless steel and aluminium products remain perfectly fixated on the conveyor belt during the processing.



An F200 was replaced by a new F600 also with the new look. This machine is only used to provide laser-cut steel products with rounded cutting edges and a re-grinded surface (directionless brushing). This machine is equipped with a magnetic support system, so that the steel products remain perfectly on the conveyor belt during processing.



A bit of training in operating convenience and maintenance is of course also part of the job. Through this training we have been refreshed and updated to take account of the new possibilities. We are ready for it again! As of tomorrow we are back in full production!

Dust-free grinding for a healthy working environment is certainly not new to us. However, also the extraction we had for the two “old” sanders, have now been replaced by a new extraction with double capacity. Of course, this extraction is only activated during the grinding process.



The suction is switched on automatically during the deburring process. This makes the operation both energy efficient and healthy for our working environment.

All in all a beautiful set to look at and a pleasure to work with!



By supplying your products in a user-friendly manner, these too will become a pleasure to work with within your organisation.

Also, a “lace rounding” ensures a better adhesion of a lacquer or coating. This in combination with our oxide skin free products (steel up to 12mm oxide skin free), the perfect solution for a tightly lacquered result!



The 600mm wide machine (F600-MAG) for steel laser cut products!



The 200mm wide machine (F200 XL-VAC) for stainless steel and aluminium laser-cut products.

Bron: LinkedIn

Radius 2 rounding on cut parts in one pass: 3x SER600 operational

In June, Q-Fin installed the first three SER600 machines at customers. They had already been sold before the company in Bergeijk had built them. A sign that there is a great need for this deburring machine that can grind a Radius 2 in one pass on sheet metal parts up to 600 mm wide. This was already evident at the end of last year when Q-Fin announced the launch of this machine in the form of a large number of reactions.

“The market is really waiting for it”, we hear from Product Manager Joost Kouwenbergh of Q-Fin. “Especially the steel processors with thicker laser, plasma and oxyfuel cut products that need to be galvanized and/or powder coated. They are increasingly confronted with R=2 rounding standard, for example in constructions for the government, but also in the petrochemical industry. With the SER600 we are responding to this. We did not modify an existing machine, but developed and built this machine solely to be able to get a Radius 2 on steel. Less is also possible, a R=1 or R=1,5 is in many cases sufficient, but R=2 now also can be achieved.”

“A Radius 2 means optimal edging coverage”, explains service engineer Erik Cox. “The rounding is such that a layer of lacquer or zinc on the corners is just as adhesive as elsewhere on the product. This prevents oxidation. Corrosion always means extra maintenance costs. And it can also be dangerous because it can affect the stability of a product. Just think of bridge parts that are not in sight. If corrosion can occur there for an unseen length of time, it can eventually weaken the bridge.”

Q-Fin is not the only one in the market who claims an R=2. Yet this machine is unique, says Erik. “The crux is the combination of 2 different brushing techniques. This allows it to reach R=2 in one passage at 1 meter per minute. Other machines can’t do that. That makes a big difference in production speed, while the quality is constant.”

High emergency’ with prototype compensated
Jos van den Besselaar Constructie in Udenhout, Van der Sluis Technische Bedrijven in Genemuiden and Staalservice Zuidbroek in Zuidbroek are the first companies which have purchased an SER600. “One of these customers even had such a ‘high need’,” says Joost, “that we have already completed a large series of products with our prototype machine in Bergeijk for them. In this way, we were able to help the customer move forward without already having the machine in place. Normally at Q-Fin we deliver the machines with 2-3 weeks delivery time, but the first three still had to be built, while the demand was already there. So that took a little longer in this case. In the meantime, we have the following three machines under construction, for which there is already a great deal of interest.”

Operators can easily set up their own machine
Erik is responsible for the installation of the SER600, often together with a wet-acting extractor and associated piping. “Including a training for the operators, this will take about a day,” he says. “The installation is similar to that of other Q-Fin machines, only the SER600 has five instead of three machining stations. This makes the machine a lot longer and the explanation takes a little more time. What is the same is its simplicity and ease of use. Operators can work with it immediately after training and can also set up and adjust the machine themselves. They don’t have to wait for a workshop manager or foreman to arrive or something like that. They also get the instructions as a manual and we watch when they finish their first products. We really help the operators on their way.” At Q-Fin, they have service for the customer, who they prefer to call ‘partner’. The installation therefore includes aftercare. “We always come by after a few weeks, or earlier if desired, to answer questions, to do things, to help a new operator move forward, whatever is needed. And in between, you can always call. That’s what we’re for,” says Erik. “Customers are always welcome to join the QKC (Q-Fin Knowledge Club) every Wednesday afternoon in Bergeijk”, adds Joost. There they can ask questions and they can also bring their own products to finish on our machines. It doesn’t matter which machine they have and whether it’s just two weeks old or two years old. Just give us a call and we’ll take care of it.”

Why not earlier?
The best part of the installation work comes at the end, says Erik. “These are the reactions of the operators when they see the results. They really appreciate the clean, consistent quality, even at the smallest recesses, and the great speed. Especially when they come out of a manual situation, that’s a world of difference. On average, our machines then go four or five times faster. And don’t forget other aspects. Working with a handheld machine, for example, puts a lot of dust, noise and vibrations on your hands, so that’s another area where the operators benefit enormously. It is also difficult to find people who are willing to do this work. The most frequently heard comment is: “Why haven’t we bought such a machine before?”

Joost nods: “ You get immediately used to the quality and speed. Then you can’t go back. It’s like switching to a faster computer. After an hour you are so used to it that the old situation in which you might have been for years is no longer conceivable. Customers don’t want without the machines anymore.”

The reactions during the installation of the first SER600 machines were also extremely positive, says Joost. At a customer he even saves 4 men. They are now doing the same deburring work with 1 man instead of 5. “We expect the same tenor from the next customers who have already registered”.

Visiting address and Experience Center:
Wilgenakker 8
5571 SJ Bergeijk
The Netherlands

Tel. 0497-581018
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.q-fin.nl

Q-Fin Quality Finishing Machines introduces the new SER600 Super Edge Rounder. This machine is specially designed to apply a 2 mm radius on steel in one pass, with a speed of 1 M/MIN.

There is a lot to do about a 2 mm edge rounding (r = 2 mm). The question is whether such a substantial rounding is really necessary to prevent sharp edges, or more important to apply a protective layer (for example, when powder coating or galvanizing) on ​​the sides, which is as thick and strong as the layer on the rest of the part. This discussion is particularly important because it requires a lot of effort to get a R2. A lot of material must be machined; for R2 about a hundred times more as for R0.2. Nonetheless, the central government uses Radius 2 as standard for public installations in which sheet metal is used as a general rule. This edge rounding must therefore be achieved. This can be done by milling, but this is very expensive. The material can also be removed by abrasive techniques (sanding and grinding), both manually and mechanically. The manual application of a radius of 2 mm to is very labour-intensive and therefore increases the cost price. In case of rounding the products with a deburring machine, the material has to be run through the machine several times before reaching a R2 rounding. In many cases it is not even possible due to the shape of the product or characteristics of the machine.

Specifically built for R2

Q-Fin introduces the SER600 that can apply a 2 mm radius on steel in one pass. "This is not a standard machine that can also give a large edge rounding, but a machine that is specifically built to put a R2 on steel", emphasizes Joost Kouwenbergh, Product Manager at the machine builder in Bergeijk. "If you want extreme finish results, you need to do something special. That is why we have developed this unique machine. "

The SER600 has a considerable size. It is about twice as long as the regular F600 deburring machine in the Q-Fin range. This is because the machine has five workstations: one grinding belt upfront followed by four brush units. The uniqueness is mainly in the brush principle, the way of brushing. Kouwenbergh explains: "The first two brush units give pressure from above. Brushes three and four work the sides". The combination ensures a perfect rounding of 2 mm on the product.

The SER600 with magnetic conveyor belt is suitable for working steel sheet metal parts up to 600 mm wide, with a material thickness of 4 up to 150 mm. The length of the products is unlimited. The Super Edge Rounder machine is an important addition on the current machine program for Q-Fin. "Our finish options were already comprehensive, but R2 in one go was not possible yet. Now we can achieve that. "According to Kouwenbergh, there is definitely a need for this machine in the market. "Of course it is a niche market. Those who work with thin stainless steel sheet metal parts do not need this machine, but a construction company who is involved in the production of public installations on behalf of the government or parts for the petrochemical industry does. For products that need to be powder coated or galvanized, this machine is ideal and that's why we have high expectations. The first response of potential customers is very enthusiastic”.

www.qfin-deburring.com

 



 

 

Q-Fin Quality Finishing Machines has won the EuroBlech 2018 Award in the E-Mobility category. The Dutch company received the award officially at the EuroBlech trade fair in Hanover.

E-Mobility is the category that focuses specifically on lightweight and component design. Q-Fin won this price by entering their F200 XL in the competition. This machine was developed with the vision 'think small, go big' and is for deburring, grinding and finishing of (very) small sheet metal products like laser cut parts (from 15 × 15 mm up to 200 mm wide).

 

"Super". Anton Bax, director-owner of Q-Fin Quality Finishing only needs one word to describe the way in which the new design of his machines for deburring, grinding and rounding of cut flat sheet results has been received by the market. "Everyone finds the new look progressive. We have set a new standard."

The new machines (model year 2018) had their Dutch premiere at METAVAK in Gorinchem and the European introduction was a week later at the Blechexpo in Stuttgart. At both fairs the models were an eye-catching appearance.



Inspired by mobile phone
First of all because of their outer shape. The new Q-Fin machines have tight rectangular shapes, but also stand out because of their transparent character thanks to the large acrylic windows and the use of LED lighting. The condition of the machine can be seen from a distance by the colour of the light. Anton Bax and the designers he worked with were inspired by modern mobile phones. As with the telephone, the grinder is completely black when it is switched off and lights up when it is switched on. In operating mode, the appearance is blue and in service mode, the lighting turns bright white, which ensures good visibility when working. If the machine is in malfunction, it turns red. This makes the new machines not only an attractive appearance in the workplace, but also very functional. The doors are made electrically without visible hinges or screws. And there are also several improvements compared to the previous models. The brush units have been adjusted to make them easier to adjust and the grinding unit has been made more stable. The small machine for the small parts now has standard thickness measurement. If you are working on both steel and stainless steel on one machine and need to change the brushes for this purpose, you can easily place these brushes in the brush storage in the machine, so that they are always at hand.

Differentiated
Q-Fin has also chosen for the striking new design because of the plans to build an international reputation. "Design in mechanical engineering is becoming increasingly important because every DGA wants a decent factory with beautiful machines", says Anton Bax. "In addition, you can distinguish yourself with it." And that was particularly evident at the Blechexpo. Q-Fin showed the F200 XL (for deburring, grinding and/or rounding workpieces from 10 mm to 200 mm wide), the manually operated, mobile TopGrinder and the deburring machine for the finishing of sheet metal parts up to 1200 mm. The grinding specialist from Brabant emphasized that with the small machines for small products and the wide machines for large products, all common products can be finished. Faster and better than with any other machine. "We control the finish of each cutting product and are convinced that our machines are superior. With a complete set of one large and one small machine (so-called Ultimate set), you can solve your entire deburring issue." With this message, Q-Fin scores particularly well with experienced users. "Because they recognize the problems and know what the difficulty is when deburring - especially of small parts. They see that our machines offer a perfect solution for this."

Bron: PlaatBewerkingsNieuws

Over 100 years, Benier designs and builds systems to produce and process all kinds of dough. These systems are used in both craft bakeries as well as the industrial bread production lines.

Benier is paying a lot of attention to the quality of the dough and the careful management of the process, for example with measuring the dough. Besides they are using modern mechanical techniques and advanced control technology for a craft processing method.

Benier has a lot of experience with a large amount of products consisting of dough, whether the products are bread, buns, baguettes, panettone or pizzas. They offer a wide range of production processes, from traditional standard processes to custom-made processes.

Joost Wevers, manager productions at Benier Nederland:“We do everything by ourselves during the process of developing and building the machines. For example, we are engineering, producing, laser cutting, assembling and testing of the mechanicals and software of the machines before they go to the customers.”

Manual deburring is time-consuming
The hygienic design is of great importance to our customers. The cleanability of the machines shows the translation of this hygienic design. The machines of Benier are easy to clean because of the round edges and the lack of burrs. Besides by deburring and edge rounding the sheet metal parts of the machines, the customer can use the machine safely. Up to a year ago, Benier did this deburring and edge rounding process manually. According to Joost Wevers, this process was time-consuming, it was daily a two-man job.

Benier wants to deliver a consistent quality
Benier has done this process manually for a long time. But with a constant tightening of the customer needs, the company has looked for another solution. It was clear they needed to invest in a deburring machine. According to Benier, the greatest benefits of a deburring machine are the consistent quality of de edge rounding, a professional look of the sheet parts and the surface has no scratches or strange structures.

The combination of multiple machines gives us the speed we were looking for
Why Benier has chosen for the machines of Q-Fin? According to them, because Q-Fin is able to offer a combination of machines for small and large sheet metal parts. When the company looked to their production of the sheet parts, they saw that 80% of the products were smaller than 200 mm. The other 20% was larger than 200 mm. When you purchase one machine for all of the sheet metal parts, the small metal parts will unnecessarily make long strokes. This wastes time and is inefficient. But Q-Fin has an optimal combination, which suits perfectly with the processes of Benier. The F200 is capable of processing the small metal sheet parts while the F1200 suits the larger metal parts.With these machines, Benier is able to do deburr more materials than with every other machine. Furthermore, Q-Fin has no nonsense equipment and that is what Bernier was looking for. The machine is easy to control and has no endless settings on big screens. Everyone is able to work with the machines when they had a basic explanation. The machines are also almost without interferences.

Part of the process
The machines of Q-Fin are integral part of the processes at Benier. The nested sheet metal parts are going straight after the gathering through the deburring machines. So nobody can hurt himself. The process is optimised and the support of Q-Fin is fine. During a recent removal, Bernier had a small issue with the machines. One call to Q-Fin made this problem solved.

This statement obviously applies to everything. All coating systems can be tested among the most spectacular conditions and with the highest marks in the tests, but always mention reasons why a coating system does not meet.

For each application, it is proposed a particular coating system. For example, it is natural that there is a coating system which is placed in an outdoor installation, on the coast, can now be brought to different demands than to a coating system which is used in a dry environment within and / or applied.

One-, two- or multi-layer systems are therefore always applicable. The obtained layer thickness and the applied coating are therefore always the protective factors of the underlying metal. With powder coating, it is no problem at all to inject 80 microns. For example, one operation on a flat surface. On these surfaces than normally occurs no corrosion.

The biggest problems always rise from the sharp edges and corners. When these sharp edges and corners are not rounded enough or deburred, this will always be the weakest link of the entire coating system.

On an edge or corner, which feels like a razor, is now one gets once insufficient film thickness, and thus this is insufficient protection. Especially in the current architecture, which is widespread perforated panels, these panels will have to meet certain conditions. All edges and corners should be rounded with a radius of at least 0.5 mm. The perforation holes should be as large as possible, most preferably not smaller than 10 mm. When the starting material meets these requirements, it will always have a two-layer coating system in order to achieve sufficient edge coverage and therefore protection. "Corrosion consciously construct" may not be sufficient attention. Though it is just to strengthen the weakest link.

Q-fin provides rounding and remove oxide skin

Q-Fin is a company that has perfect finishing and deburring machines. This Dutch manufacturer develops and builds machines for deburring, grinding and finishing of metal parts. The machines can also remove an oxide layer in one pass. Recently, Q-fin delivered the hundredth machine. In just three years! The first deburring machine     Q-fin brought to market was the Fierde 200 with two stations for finishing small parts up to was 200. Followed closely by Fierde 200 XL, a three-station machine, which can deburr up to 200 millimetres wide. This machine can achieve a higher rate in the side break.

In the meantime Q-Fin is working hard to develop the Fierde 1200, for deburring large wide metal parts. This machine has four crossed and counter-rotating brushes, which oscillate back over the working width. The result is an optimal finish and a non-directional finish to the surface. In addition, there is an option for a vacuum or magnet belt so the machine is suitable for stainless steel, aluminium, steel and various plastics. Last year Q-Fin introduced the TopGrinder, a semi-automatic deburring machine, which you can find throughout Europe. And Q-Fin has a newest addition in their product range. In April the first test will be the introduction of the ‘Edge Rounder 1200’

 

This machine provides a guaranteed finish of R = 2 mm or larger on all edges. It draws the power of Q-fin: the customer has a problem and Q-fin finds a solution! www.q-fin.nl, the fastest solution of deburring, round edging and finishing.