Cassette Levelers Achieve Superior Flatness

Three cassette-style levelers from Automatic Feed Co. (AFCO) (Napoleon, OH) are designed specifically for advanced and ultra-high-strength steel (HSS), tailor welded blanks, and surface-critical steel and aluminum. In addition to a wide range of material types, they provide superior flatness for a wide range of material widths, thicknesses, and yield strengths.

To meet the demands of the rapidly changing material types, the company is manufacturing three models, each designed to run in lines at speeds up to 90 m/min:

• HSS processes thicknesses from 0.5 mm to 2.5 mm and widths up to 2 m (78.74 in).
• HD-HSS processes thicknesses from 0.5 mm to 4.0 mm and widths up to 2,134 mm (84 in), and features 11 banks of backups for optimal flattening.
• XLC-HSS offers the broadest range of leveling capacity, processing thicknesses from 0.5 mm to 6 mm and materials up to 2,134 mm (84 in) wide.

Gearboxes powered by AC servo-driven motors help achieve high precision and accuracy. The cassette-style exit pinch rolls are also driven with an independent AC servo motor. Each gearbox is sized to accommodate specified leveler capacity ratings and maximum line speeds. Entry and exit bridge adjustments are controlled by hydraulic screw jacks.

Removable cartridges house the upper and lower work rolls, intermediate spiral grooved backup rolls, and nine or 11 banks of cam follower backups. The center backups are adjustable on the XLC-HSS and HD-HSS for optimal flattening across material width (optional for the HSS). Hydraulic clamping is standard on all three models.

A single leveler can handle a broader range of thicknesses for various materials by using interchangeable cassettes with different roll diameters and spacing. With spline connections as a standard feature on the HD-HSS and XLC-HSS models (and available as an option for the HSS), cassette changeouts can take less than four minutes without tools. Cassette-style levelers, which feature AFCO’s auto-cassette change, provide easy access for machine inspection, cleaning, and maintenance.

Automatic Feed Co., 476 East Riverview, Napoleon, OH 43545, 419-592-0050, www.automaticfeed.com.