Expert Live Q&A: Press

Date: Tuesday, September 1st, 2020: 2:00 - 2:30 PM EST

Welcome to the Press question and answer session. Taking audience questions in this Q&A is Andy Neumann, our Fixtured Tool Product Specialist with over thirty years of industry experience at Atlas Copco. In this session, we’re talking about Atlas Copco’s PST Press Spindle. The Q&A begins with Andy giving a brief overview of Atlas Copco Press Spindles in general. He explains that the PST is our new generation of press for the PowerMACS 4000 platform. The PST replaces the first-generation Press Spindle, the QPX. 

A question is asked about the current force range of the PST. Andy says that the press range is from 5kN on the smallest PST, to 100kN for the largest. There’s wiggle room at the lower end, and Andy explains that we can get the smallest PST to approximately 2kN, but the largest PST cannot go higher than 100kN. The current stroke range of the PST is flexible. The standard stroke is 200mm, but Atlas Copco has developed PSTs as small as 50mm. The largest standard stroke is 400mm, and Andy explains that it’s possible to go higher, but issues like deflection under load must be considered. 

When a question is asked about how the PST 60 compares to the others in the range, Andy says that this press spindle is our cost-efficient offering. Feedback revealed that we needed a PST in the mid-price range, and that’s the third-generation PST 60. This PST is only available as a straight press, unlike the others that are a u-press. For all PST Press Spindles from Atlas Copco, we guarantee 1% accuracy. A viewer then asks about controller platforms that are compatible for the PST. Andy explains that currently, only the PowerMACS 4000 platform is compatible for PST. When asked about whether a brake can be added to a non-brake press, Andy says that this is in fact an option. This is one of the differences between the QPX and the PST, the brake on the PST is optional. 

The final part of the Q&A moves into compatible data collection software for the PST. Andy says that, as part of the Industry 4.0 and Smart Connected Assembly concepts, data collection capabilities are possible on the PST. ToolsNet 8 is an Atlas Copco software that can integrate with the PST to collect valuable data. One viewer asks how fast/slow the PST can run. Andy explains that it depends on the press size you have. The Smallest PSTs – PST 5 and PST 10 – are capable of 500 mm/second, which is twice as fast as our competitors. The slowest the PSTs can run is 1-2mm/second.