Load signatures are displayed in engineering units (for example, tons) versus position of the slide. When connected to a color computer the load monitor will display the press limit in red, current load signatures in white, and the AutoTrak™ function with yellow for the upper limit and a green lower limit. Stored die signatures may be recalled and are presented in magenta.

Load may be viewed in inches or in degrees by pressing the F3 key. The top of each graph displays machine description, die I.D., date and time, work load expressed in inch-tons, and shut-height position when the shut height option is installed.

The total load display may be viewed by pressing the F2 key. Die load signatures may be stored by die I.D. and recalled to overlay with current setups.

"AutoTrak"

This function has the ability for each channel to learn a complex die load (signature) and calculate the upper and lower control limit based on a sampled run. The user can alter these SPC limits and select a position window of operation. This provides extremely sensitive load monitoring with the least chance of a false alarm. The monitor can store all setup information under a Die ID. The AutoTrak™ feature is excellent for detecting slug build-ups, dull steels, missing punches, nitrogen pressure loss, double blanks, misfeeds or any change in load that may affect part quality. All load monitor functions are based inside the load monitor and do not require the computer for operation. The computer graphic operation is for viewing load data in the load monitor.

Tonnage load in this example is less than half the capacity of the press. The off bottom loads are substantially below the press limit curve.

The IDC monitor can implement a custom limit curve for such dies to give additional early warning protection for over tonnage limits: The monitor will drop out a control relay within 2 milliseconds after detection of an overload.

The monitor can store 30 die curves and can interface to many host controllers for additional recipes.

Press limit curve (PosiTrak) may be lowered to provide the ultimate in early warning tonnage detection. System has been proven to stop the press and protect dies from mishaps such as automation in die, stop gauges, or anything foreign in the die space. A tonnage limit table is easily programmed in the monitor to provide a "tailored to fit" limit curve.The new curve may be stored and recalled under a die I.D.