Andover Punch Press Limited

In 1991 Hartley Engineering was formed by Ralph Williams which then became Andover Punch Press Ltd in 1993. The Company became an authorised UK agent undertaking the electronics service, fault finding and repair of Strippit Computer Numerically Controlled machinery (CNC). These machines take racks of Sheetmetal through a computer programmed automated process, finishing with profiled punched metalwork ready for folding and painting. The machines use programs generated from a PDF drawing, convert it through a post processor into the tooling set-up file and machine operation code required to run the machines. The machines run on a dedicated computer with complex I/O controlling relays, pneumatic and hydraulics, with inputs coming back via sensors of various types to ensure safe operation of the machine processes once the 3 axis are stationary. Added to this there is timing related to the servo motor control speed loop via brushed/brushless ac/dc motors and a position loop (resolver/encoder) to hold the accuracy within machine manufacturers specifications. The PLC sheet load and piece part removal options are automatically actioned within the CNC program when certain criteria are met, this is the forerunner to the current autonomous FMS (Flexible Manufacturing Systems)