TPT May 2009

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43 May 2009
Technology Update
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seven pieces of cut tube from the hopper. It
can then insert these into a multiple hit end-
former, drilling stations, or similar process.
UTE designed multiple, ellipsoidally grooved
bend, clamp and pressure dies to eliminate
the mandrel on a 1½ x diameter CLR
(centreline radius), which usually requires a
ball mandrel and a wiper die.
The UTE-designed gravity fed hopper (with
agitator) keeps the tubes aligned where
they can drop down a chute in multiples to
a load position. The 5-axis robot can pick
them up and place them in the bend tooling
and let go of the tubing. The bend dies then
close and the electric servo bend head
takes over, bending to the programmed
bend angle.
After a bend has been made, the robot
reaches back into the tooling, recaptures
the bent tubing, rotates the tubes for the
plane of bend (POB), and then feeds the
tube forward for distance between bends
(DBB). This is repeated as many times as
needed to finish the part.
The 5-axis robot can then either discharge
the tubing, or perform another operation
within an expanded work cell before rotating
back to pick up another one to seven
pieces.
Production can be anywhere from 500 to
2,500 pcs/hr, depending on number of bends
involved. The tube shape and geometry
must lend itself to bending multiples at the
same time, ie bends must be in the same
plane in order to be loaded and bent in
multiples. Electric servo bend heads and
robots hold tight positioning tolerances and
part repeatability is enhanced.
UTE Inc – USA
Fax: +1 423 282 8236
Email:
Website:
Tube bending and forming machines
Silkmead Tubular Ltd, UK, is the manufacturer of CNC and mechanically controlled tube
bending and forming machines. With 40 years of experience in tube manipulation, the
company’s machines have gained popularity in industries including the aircraft industry,
automotive (motor racing), and military (UK Ministry of Defence).
The company’s EvBend CNC 1000 machine
is computer controlled, operator powered, and
easily programmed from co-ordinates or ‘taught’
from a sample. Features include 3-axis precision
bending of tubes up to 30mm in diameter, data
management storage, left or right hand bending
and modular construction. The machine has
no hydraulics but some pneumatics (with no
electrics on the Evbend 200 model).
Silkmead Tubular Ltd – UK
Fax: +44 1582 609930 • Email: • Website:
 The EvBend CNC 100 from Silkmead