TPi October 2012

products & developments

Bending of hose fittings Special solutions are required for special requirements – or just one efficient, customisable solution. For one-part hose fittings, transfluid Maschinenbau GmbH has developed a ‘twin’ solution and will equip its systems with different modules depending on the application, varying mostly in the loading system.

The work pieces are provided on a special pallet, taken from the handling system and supplied to the bending machine. These sizes are generally bent by machines with an internal mandrel. A maximum ovalisation of 3 per cent is given. Also for large components, special supporting adapters ensure that each piece is discharged in the optimum way in the process. Flanges or other sealing elements will stay safe from damage. Even for fittings of this size, the entire processing time is a maximum of 25 seconds. transfluid Maschinenbau GmbH – Germany info@transfluid.de www.tube-processing-machines.com

The advantage of this is that fittings of any size can be loaded. A powerful drive is ensured by servo-electrical or hydraulic equipment. Bending can be therefore done in short cycles from 6 to 7 seconds, including the entire handling. Special supporting elements ensure that the sealing cone and hose connections remain undamaged. Fittings starting with inner diameter of 8mm are bent by the transfluid system using an internal mandrel, so that bend ovalisation can be ruled out. Components with dimensions up to a diameter of 75mm are transported by using a robust loading system. As the weight of these fittings is so high, the loading system prevents the components from uncontrolled falling.

Fittings are mostly mechanically processed, extremely short, relatively thick-walled and their sealing elements (sealing head or hose part) must not be damaged under any circumstances. “Cost-efficient processing options are an aspect on which we place great emphasis,” commented Gerd Nöker, CEO of transfluid. “Large amounts of pieces are mostly manufactured for small sizes. And what counts here is the speed.” The fittings bending machine for sizes up to 1" is fitted with a bulk material hopper with a capacity of 600 litres.

Laser sensing systems Servo-Robot produces intelligent laser sensing systems for welding automation, including seam tracking, seam finding, adaptive welding and weld inspection. The company’s systems are applied in the pipe and tube industry improving weld quality and increasing productivity. The laser vision systems are used in several stages of pipe and tube production, including seam tracking and adaptive welding of inside and outside welds, inspection of seam or weld bead geometry and guidance of ultrasonic inspection probes. Servo-Robot’s systems can be integrated to any robot or special purpose welding machines to perform the following functions: joint tracking and adaptive welding for SAW, GMAW and laser welding processes; automatic gap control with real-time root measurement; real-time ultrasonic probe position control; and 100 per cent automatic weld geometry and defect detection. The intelligent laser sensing systems for welding automation are offered under two product names: Power-Trac is a joint tracking system for robotic arc welding that increases travel speed, eliminates defects and reduces over welding; Auto-Trac is a complete solution for joint tracking and adaptive process control designed for special purpose welding machines, and can operate on sheet metal applications as well as on thick wall tubes. In addition to these systems, in the pipe and tube industry Servo-Robot offers the all-new Wiki-Scan handheld welding inspection system, used to manually inspect joints and weld bead geometry for quality control.

Servo-Robot Inc – Canada info@servorobot.com www.servorobot.com

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Tube Products International October 2012

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