• Improve your part quality and hit-to-hit time

• Reduce tooling damage by detecting material changes

• Detect misfeeds, slug build-up and scrap in die

• Eliminate guesswork by indicating actual tonnage required to make part

• Boost productivity by reducing costly downtime

• Are suitable to all types of OBI, GAP frame presses

• Digital meters display specific tonnage on each side of press

• Center meter reads total tonnage, reverse load and strokes per minute

• Automatic high/low set point alarms on each channel

• Built-in press overload limits

• TREND display shows load deviation at a glance – a quick visual indication of an off- tolerance condition

• Job memory circuit stores and recalls critical set-up parameters for up to 100 dies

• Minimal installation by your personnel or a Helm technician

• Designed to be added by the press builder or as a retrofit

The 2 channel Helm LOADGARD is designed for monitoring both sides of OBI and gap frame presses, while the 4 channel LOADGARD is used on typical straight side presses. With the 4 channel system, not only are the left and right sides of the press monitored, but so are the front and the back.

Using either a drill/tap or weld/pad mounting, STRAIN GAIN load sensors are installed directly to upright columns of straight side presses or the throat area of OBI and gap frame presses.

Operating as a transducer detecting any deflection of the surface to which it is mounted, STRAIN GAIN readings are an accurate representation of press tonnage. Linear output of strain levels at each sensing location is displayed on the TREND LOADGARD’s digital meters.

TREND monitors provide a quick visual means of relaying deviations to the press operator. Columns of light indicate the load deviation, either above or below the benchmark level. As this benchmark level is established at set-up, so is the limit of acceptable deviation. Deviation can be set anywhere between 5% to 40%. During press operation, small deviations in tonnage are indicated by a change in lights; a deviation beyond the maximum or minimum accepted level shuts down the press. So problems can be detected and handled before bad parts are made or press or tooling damage occurs.

Signature Analysis with tracking alarms

The HPC-7800 is an interactive operator interface that works in conjunction with Helm load monitors to provide a visual display of operating information. The keyboard provides an input to the load monitor for activating jobs, setting batch counters or resetting parts counter. It even allows the operator to enter an Employee ID or Badge # and to enter reasons for downtime.

When teamed with FirstMate Software, the HPC-7800 can report information from the shop floor to a central or remote computer. With the FirstMate Waveform Analysis, the computer operator can detect and send messages to the machine operator to check material, lube, or a critical station in the tooling during a production run.

When ordered with your Helm Load Monitor, the HPC-7800 comes installed onto the monitor. Or you can order it as a retrofit to your existing Helm system

Through-The-Stroke Load Monitoring, the ultimate in precision.

Equipped with analog input cards, the TSM LOADGARD provides continuous alarm tracking around the entire load signature by establishing upper and lower control limits. Actual press curve alarm values are stored in the LOADGARD for integrating crank angle to tonnage. Through-the-stroke monitoring is ideal for deep-draw or stretch- form operations on double action, link drive, transfer and toggle presses.

Used as an analytical tool, Helm LOADGARD interfaces with remote or lap-top computers to generate a detailed picture of the condition of your press and tooling. With the addition of Helm FirstMate Production Scanning Software, the forming signature of each die is captured and compared to stored masters.

For over 35 years, Helm Instrument Company has been on the leading edge in developing measuring and sensor equipment suitable to all kinds of presses – from metalworking to plastics. We respond to ever-changing manufacturing processes with innovative systems to constantly improve your press efficiency and productivity.

TLG-2300 Sensor Input:

TLG-4500 Sensor Input: