Customer Requirement

A leading health machinery manufacturer contacted CSD with a requirement for a bespoke special purpose machine that could be used to strip the inner coils of a magnet in preparation for their use in the production of MRI machines.

Project Challenge

The key challenge to this project was that the bespoke special purpose machine had to be able to carry out the stripping process with five different specifications of magnet inner coil, with varying diameters and lengths. In order to increase the production process efficiencies, the customer wanted to be able to use one machine which could be quickly and easily adjusted with no change of specific tooling for each variation.

Further challenges were that the design had to be able to cope with the strong force required to separate the coiling and incorporate tooling that that could pick the partially stripped coils and the coils after being stripped, as well as the fully assembled coils.

The CSD Bespoke Special Purpose Machine Solution

The CSD design team solution was a bespoke special purpose machine with four separate columns that could be independently adjusted to fit the required magnet size. The adjustment is performed by a cylinder with a bespoke design to fit with the differing diameter specifications.

The bespoke special purpose machine also includes adjustable stops fitted to the vertical which locate easily to the magnet depending on the length and allow the tooling to be pressed from it. A hydraulic cylinder with bespoke tooling was fitted which engages with the coil fixtures applying an upwards force of the 100kN required to separate the coil from the fixture.

A control system was developed with a remote pendant which allows the operator freedom of movement to control the tooling where convenient.

For this solution CSD used used an overhead dedicated crane with two bridges that could be adapted for use with all the handling solutions required, with both cranes able to pick up 3.2 tonnes.  Additional bespoke design elements were a pneumatic air supply to both hooks providing pneumatic air for the grippers and a light switch which illuminates when the crane is placed in the precise position to allow the magnet to be lifted.