TPT September 2007

T ube M ills: R olling & F orming M ethods

The RSM is a smaller machine requiring less tooling; the tooling is of a simple parallel design that is easy to manufacture and maintain. The internal diameter created by the cage of rollers is infinitely adjustable within the upper and lower limits of the cage configuration. Surface finish improvements over the original strip in excess of 30 per cent have been achieved with roll marks and pick up eliminated, thereby reducing polishing costs. Tooling wear, in metres of tube sized, is less than conventional tooling but has the added advantage in that the wear has no impact on the quality or precision of the tube sized. Improvements in diameter accuracy are achieved and in some cases come very close to drawn tube capabilities. The RSM offers a large range of cost saving opportunities. For large mills the cost is considerably less than that of a conventional sizing mill. In other areas savings are made in energy consumption, floor space, reduced tooling, tooling replacement, maintenance costs, and changeover times and reduced scrap. With 47 years of experience in the tube and pipe industry, the company provides an innovative and comprehensive range of tube and pipe mills and associated equipment to meet the industry’s needs. Kusakabe Electric & Machinery Co Ltd – Japan Fax : +81 78 992 9139 The new models feature a high measuring rate of 1,000 measurements per second/ axis (ie up to 6,000 measurements per second). An industrial PC is used for operation without hard disk, providing a stable and reliable system. Installation requires only one fibre optic cable between the measuring gauge and the data processing unit. software allows easy operation, and the additional Steeldatabase software provides archiving and reviewing facilities. The Multigauge concept allows connection of up to four measuring gauges at Host. Zumbach Electronic AG – Switzerland Fax : +41 32 356 0430 Sophisticated Steelmaster Email : sales@kusakabe.com Website : www.kusakabe.com

Rotary sizing mill for tube and pipe manufacturers

Kusakabe Electric & Machinery Co Ltd, Japan, an innovative tube and pipe mill manufacturer, is continuing to develop and expand the applications for its Rotary Sizing Mill (RSM). The company has recently completed a number of sales to Australia, Japan, Europe and the USA. This Rotary Sizing Mill is an alternative to sizing tube and pipe with a diameter range from 25-650mm (1 to 25.6"). The RSM concept uses two cages of cylindrical rolls in a planetary configuration around the tube. The internal diameter of the cage of rollers is set smaller than the incoming tube. As the cage of rollers rotate around and along the tube, in a similar manner to a nut on a thread, the tube diameter is reduced.

This technology is being applied to both online applications on tube and pipe mills and offline applications where the outside diameter needs to be reduced and surface finish improved or laminated tube is required. The variable diameter setting of the RSM makes the machine ideally suitable for sizing small production runs of odd sized tubes without the need to purchase extra tooling. Mr Mike Kusakabe, executive marketing manager, states, “RSM technology brings a totally new concept to the ERW, TIG and laser tube and pipe industry. We are confident the many advantages and lower costs of the RSM make it an effective alternative to current technologies while assisting the industry to better meet the demands of its customers.”

fi Rotary Sizing Mill fitted with 63-47mm tooling cages and servo driven diameter adjustment

New measuring gauges for hot rolling mills

Zumbach Electronic, Switzerland, has added new models to its Steelmaster range of gauges for diameter and dimension measurement on hot rolling mills. The new appliances are available in two designs (SMO and SMS models), and for two

different measuring ranges: 60mm (2.4") and 100mm (4").

The SMO oscillating models are suitable for round and non-round products such as

wire, rod, squares, hexagonals and flats, and are designed for up to six measuring axes and an oscillation angle of up to 180º, enabling short times for capturing the full profile over 360º. Simple and wearless mechanics result in practically no maintenance. The SMS static models are compact and easy to install. Most suitable for round products, they do not require maintenance and are designed for shortest measuring distances in longitudinal direction.

fi Zumbach’s SMO 100 measuring gauge

Email : sales@zumbach.ch Website : www.zumbach.com

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S eptember /O ctober 2007