Amada EM 3612NT

Turret station count determines how many different punch shapes can be mounted and ready for use without changing tooling. At 25 stations: standard setup accommodates round punches (6-8 sizes), rectangular punches (3-4 sizes), square punches (2 sizes), oblong punches (2-3 sizes), and a few forming tools - approximately 20-24 punch types plus 1-5 reserved for the specific part. For parts requiring more punch variety (complex panels with many hole sizes, emboss patterns, multiple louver sizes), tool changes are required mid-job. At 45 stations: most complex panels can be programmed completely without mid-job tool changes. The productivity advantage of 45 stations is greatest on parts with high tooling variety or shops running many different part numbers where re-setup time between jobs is minimized.

AP100 is Amada's CAD/CAM software for punch press programming. Workflow: (1) Import DXF part geometry or create part in AP100 CAD; (2) AP100 automatically assigns punch tools from the defined turret setup to features (circles get round punches, rectangles get oblong punches, etc.); (3) Define nesting for multiple parts on a sheet; (4) AP100 generates the punching sequence optimizing tool changes and repositioning; (5) Simulate the sequence to verify; (6) Post-process to the EM 3612NT machine program. AP100 is updated periodically with new capabilities and is compatible with Amada's full punch and laser product line. The AP100 user community is extensive in North America, with training from Amada's North America (headquartered in Buena Park, California) and from independent training resources.

Servo-hydraulic (EM 3612NT) vs servo-electric (TRUMPF TruPunch, some Amada models): Servo-hydraulic advantages: higher punching force at equivalent machine size (30 tons vs 20-22 tons for servo-electric in this class); higher force reserve for occasional heavy-gauge operations. Servo-electric advantages: no hydraulic fluid or filter maintenance; quieter operation; faster response for high-speed punching of thin material; generally lower energy consumption. For the EM 3612NT application (production punching of 1.5-6 mm steel with forming operations): the 30-ton servo-hydraulic provides the force margin that thick stainless and harder alloys require. Shops primarily punching 0.5-3 mm mild steel where force is not the constraint might prefer servo-electric for maintenance simplicity.

For a standard electrical enclosure back panel (80 holes, 4 louvers, 1,500 x 1,000 mm sheet): cycle time approximately 3-5 minutes including tool changes and repositioning. Output: 12-20 panels/shift. For a simple bracket (25 holes, 600 x 400 mm) with 6 parts per sheet: approximately 40-60 seconds per sheet, 60-90 sheets/shift (360-540 brackets/shift). Simple uniform perforation patterns: up to 8,000-12,000 hits/hour at 550 hits/min short-step rate. The EM 3612NT's 90 m/min axis speed reduces repositioning time versus slower machines, improving throughput on complex parts with many repositioning moves between punch operations.

Optional tapping unit for the EM 3612NT: adds a CNC-controlled tapping head that mounts in a designated turret station. The tapping unit pierces and taps threads in one CNC cycle without removing the sheet from the machine. Typical tapping range: M3-M8 (1/8-5/16 NPT equivalent) in mild steel; M3-M6 in stainless. Tapping speed: approximately 600-900 RPM at the tapping spindle. Tapping is most cost-effective for parts requiring many threaded holes (>50 per sheet) where the alternative is secondary tapping operations. For parts with few threaded holes (<10), the setup time for the tapping unit may exceed the benefit. The tapping unit requires specific tooling (tap holders, taps) and periodic maintenance (tap replacement, lubrication).