TPT September 2016

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50 September 2016
T E CHNOLOG Y
Robot chamfering by machining
PROVEA, a French company that
specialises in designing and manu-
facturing machines for the tube industry,
has introduced its latest project – robot
chamfering by machining. The robotic
unit was first shown during the 2016
Düsseldorf Tube fair and greeted with
enthusiasm by tube manufacturers.
The RU series from Provea is
designed to process external and
internal chamfer or deburring (after a
cutting process, for instance). The RU
series is able to provide homogeneous
chamfering despite a lack of roundness
and co-axiality of the tube.
High accuracy, repeatability and
productivity are the main advantages
of the RU series. Quick change is
another feature of the system. The robot
trajectory is adapted to the product
(shape and size) – so there is no need to
change tool when the user changes the
product shape. The range of possible
products is extensive even when using
the same machine and the same tool –
from 10mm up to 300mm overall.
The RU series is modular and pro-
vides multiple integration opportunities:
straight tubes or bent tubes, both tube
ends chamfered simultaneously or
successively, several tubes at the
same time, infinite section type –
square, rectangular or oval.
During the cycle the operator
enters the data on the touch
control panel (inside and outside
tube diameters and shape, number
of rotations, step, depth, mill size
and speed).
The rotation speed of themandrel
is pneumatically controlled.
The tube is taken by the pliers
and brought to the removable stop as a
reference position. After being detected
against the stop, the jaws are closed in
order to centre and hold the tube during
the process. Once the tube is clamped
the position is guaranteed in the working
axis.
The stop moves down and the robot
starts its cycle. During the process
the tube remains still thanks to the
pliers.
The mandrel starts a few millimetres
away from the tube and smoothly
penetrates into the tube during the
process. This provides a clean, regular
and repeatable chamfer.
Several options can be included such
as a blowing system, on-line/off-line
integration, feeding/reception table, and
multiple tube pliers table to chamfer
several tubes simultaneously.
Provea – France
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