Sheet Fanners and Magnetic Sheet Separators for Stamping and Sheet Handling
Storch Sheet Fanners, also called magnetic sheet separators, help separate stacked ferrous steel sheets so operators, robots and press-feeding systems can pick one sheet at a time.
Magnetic sheet separators reduce double-blanking, prying, sheet marring and worker fatigue by inducing like magnetic polarity between the top sheets in a stack. The repelling magnetic force helps the top sheet push away from the sheet below it.
What Does a Sheet Fanner Do?
A sheet fanner applies a magnetic field to a stack of ferrous steel sheets. The induced magnetic field creates like polarity between the top and second sheets. Since like magnetic polarity repels, the top sheet separates from the lower sheet and becomes easier to pick, slide or feed.
- Helps reduce double-blanking
- Reduces prying sheet stock apart
- Helps reduce marring during sheet handling
- Improves safety and productivity in manual handling
- Can be used in robotic and press-feeding systems
- Available in standard and specially designed configurations
Common Sheet Fanner Applications
Sheet fanners are commonly used anywhere stacked ferrous sheet metal needs to be separated for safer and more reliable handling.
- Stamping press feed systems
- Robotic sheet handling
- Manual sheet loading
- Blank destacking
- Steel sheet handling
- Oiled sheet stack separation
- Automation cells where double-sheet pickup is a concern
Why Use Storch Sheet Fanners?
Reduce Double-Blanking
Magnetic sheet separators help separate the top sheets in a stack so feeding systems and operators can more reliably pick a single sheet.
Improve Handling Safety
By reducing the need to pry sheet stock apart, sheet fanners can help reduce fatigue and improve safety in manual sheet handling areas.
No Power Required
Permanent magnetic sheet fanners do not require electrical power. They use permanent magnet strength to help separate ferrous sheets.
Features and Benefits
Features
- Lifetime Guarantee of Permanent Magnet Strength
- Less than 1% magnetic loss in 100 years
- Durable 304 stainless steel construction standard
- Finest magnetic materials used meeting IMA/MMPA standards
- Can be applied to manual as well as robotic press-feeding systems
- Lift handle and counter-balanced base for stability
Benefits
- Increase safety, productivity, uptime and profitability by reducing double-blanking
- Reduce scrap loss
- Reduce worker fatigue
- Reduce marring and handling damage
- Help improve consistency in press-feed and sheet-handling operations
Magnetic Sheet Separator Performance
The performance chart below was developed by testing standard mill-run 16" x 24" mild steel sheet. Standard Storch sheet fanners can handle 30 gage to 9 gage sheet metal applications. Consult Storch Magnetics for applications beyond this range.
Chart represents typical distance between fanned sheets in inches.
| Series 1 Separators Light Duty |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sheet # | 22 Gage | 16 Gage | 13 Gage |
| 1 | 1/2 | 3/8 | 1/4 |
| 2 | 3/16 | 3/32 | 1/16 |
| 3 | 1/8 | 1/16 | – |
| 4 | 1/16 | 1/16 | – |
| Series 2 Separators Medium Duty |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sheet # | 22 Gage | 16 Gage | 13 Gage |
| 1 | 11/16 | 5/8 | 7/16 |
| 2 | 7/16 | 5/16 | 1/8 |
| 3 | 5/16 | 1/8 | 1/16 |
| 4 | 3/16 | 1/16 | – |
| Series 3 Separators Heavy Duty |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sheet # | 22 Gage | 16 Gage | 13 Gage |
| 1 | 3/4 | 11/16 | 5/8 |
| 2 | 1/2 | 1/4 | 1/8 |
| 3 | 5/16 | 3/32 | 1/16 |
| 4 | 3/16 | 1/16 | 1/16 |
For highly oiled sheets, multiple magnetic sheet separators may be required. Final selection should consider sheet size, gage, material type, oil condition, stack height, handling method and the strength level of the sheet fanner series.
Typical Placement
Sheet fanner placement depends on sheet size, sheet thickness, stack height, oil condition and the way the sheet is being picked or fed. Some applications may require more than one separator to create enough separation across the stack.
Storch can review your application to help determine the appropriate separator series, size and placement approach.
Standard and Custom Sheet Fanners
In addition to the standard Series 1, Series 2 and Series 3 sheet fanners, Storch can also quote specially designed magnetic sheet separators to suit specific sheet-handling applications.
Rare earth magnetic sheet separators are also available upon request for applications where additional magnetic performance is needed.
Sheet Fanner Model Selection
Standard magnetic sheet separators are available in Series 1, Series 2 and Series 3 duty levels. Series 1 is Light Duty, Series 2 is Medium Duty and Series 3 is Heavy Duty. Dimensions shown below are in inches.
| Series 1 Light Duty |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part Number | A (inches) |
B (inches) |
C (inches) |
D (inches) |
| H001-1427 | 7.25 | 5.25 | 1.75 | 5.00 |
| H001-1428 | 10.25 | 5.25 | 1.75 | 5.00 |
| H001-1429 | 13.25 | 5.25 | 1.75 | 5.00 |
| H001-1430 | 16.25 | 5.25 | 1.75 | 5.00 |
| Series 2 Medium Duty |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part Number | A (inches) |
B (inches) |
C (inches) |
D (inches) |
| H002-1431 | 10.25 | 6.25 | 2.75 | 8.00 |
| H002-1432 | 13.25 | 6.25 | 2.75 | 8.00 |
| H002-1433 | 16.25 | 6.25 | 2.75 | 8.00 |
| H002-1434 | 19.25 | 6.25 | 2.75 | 8.00 |
| Series 3 Heavy Duty |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part Number | A (inches) |
B (inches) |
C (inches) |
D (inches) |
| H003-1435 | 10.25 | 6.25 | 3.75 | 10.00 |
| H003-1436 | 13.25 | 6.25 | 3.75 | 10.00 |
| H003-1437 | 16.25 | 6.25 | 3.75 | 10.00 |
Information Needed for a Sheet Fanner Quote
To help select the correct sheet fanner series, size and placement, send as much of the following information as possible:
- Sheet size
- Gage or material thickness
- Material type
- Stack height
- Oiled or dry sheets
- Manual, robotic or press-feed application
- How the sheet is being picked or fed
- Photos, drawings or layout sketches when available
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a sheet fanner do?
A sheet fanner helps separate stacked ferrous steel sheets so the top sheet can be picked, slid or fed more easily without pulling multiple sheets at once.
Is a sheet fanner the same as a magnetic sheet separator?
Yes. Sheet fanner and magnetic sheet separator are commonly used to describe the same type of product.
Will these work on aluminum or non-magnetic stainless steel?
No. Standard magnetic sheet separators are designed for ferrous steel sheets. Aluminum and non-magnetic stainless steel will not respond to the magnetic field the same way.
What if the sheets are highly oiled?
Highly oiled sheets may require multiple magnetic sheet separators. Oil condition should be considered when selecting the separator size, series and placement.
What is the difference between Series 1, Series 2 and Series 3?
Series 1 is Light Duty, Series 2 is Medium Duty and Series 3 is Heavy Duty. These series refer to the strength level of the sheet fanner, not the gage classification of the metal. Final selection depends on sheet size, gage, stack height, oil condition and how the sheets are handled.
Do magnetic sheet separators require power?
No. Standard Storch sheet fanners use permanent magnets and do not require electrical power.
Can Storch quote custom sheet fanners?
Yes. Storch offers standard magnetic sheet separators and can also quote specially designed magnetic sheet separators for specific applications. Rare earth magnetic sheet separators are available upon request.