TPT September 2008

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September 2008 74
Technology Update
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data M Software, Germany, has offered
further information on a comparatively new
feature of its Copra® software – the straight
edge forming method. This method enables
the capability to design and model any type
of rolling cage. A cage forming system is
a continuous forming process by groups
(beams) of single simple rolls and additional
supporting outer and inner roll tools.
Copra® allows for the modelling of various
types of straight edge forming systems due
to its parametric structure. The lineal beams
are either predefined or – if there are single
mounted rolls – each roll and respective
position is defined in specific database
tables.
In order to achieve a proper forming result
it is important to have a smooth strip
entry into the forming cage. Therefore it is
essential to optimize both entry passes as
well as the position of forming and guiding
rolls in the forming line. Such tasks have to
be done by ‘trial and error’ and are usually
quite time consuming and relatively costly.
The software has comfortable input
dialogue boxes for designing the cage tools
and references for proper positioning. There
is also a 3D collision check available where
the user can verify if roll tooling and sheet
strip match.
There are some obvious advantages to
performing a mill setup on the computer
rather than on the mill by practical trials.
These include the possibility to add, edit
or remove any cage station (straight edge
forming system) within the current tube mill
roll tool layout. This is done via the built-in
tool browser where the forming lineal can
be positioned between the existing forming
stations.
The cage beams are defined in a
spreadsheet-like manner where every
cage beam is treated as an independent
part. Once such a forming lineal has
been defined in the software database it
can then be re-used in any other design
project.
data M Software GmbH – Germany
Fax: +49 8024 640 300
Email:
Website:
CageForming:
the latest feature of Copra software
 The principle of the cage forming (or linear forming) system with modelling in Copra®