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Mechanical Technology — June 2016
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Automation, mechatronics and electro-mechanical systems
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P
recisely produced tubes help
make energy and water flow
or medical devices support
the life-saving work of doc-
tors. Robust, short hose connections
for automotive construction or long,
multiply-processed tubes, those used
as air conditioning lines, for example,
also have many different requirements
before they can be used in the production
environment.
Depending on the industry and appli-
cation area, these tubes first need to be
specifically formed, bent, and diversely
processed. The networked ‘T-motion’
automation systems by transfluid cre-
ate combined options for large series
operation.
This not only leads to higher produc-
tion capacities but also ensures process
Complete production cells are specifically coordinated to meet tube production requirements. This includes the modifi-
cation of the layout of interconnected modules to achieve the perfect material flow.
Image
©
transfluid.
Stefanie Flaeper, managing director at transfluid, talks about the company’s
sophisticated technology concepts for automating and inter-linking tube
bending, separation, cleaning and tube forming processes.
Flexible production cells
for smart tube processing
safety and that parts are always produced
to the same high levels of quality.
“We use our sophisticated technology
concepts for tube bending, separation,
cleaning and tube forming for the auto-
mation systems, supplementing them,
for example, with loading systems, weld
seam control or complete handling,”
says Stefanie Flaeper, managing director
at transfluid. “With the easy-to-operate
production cell coordinated in this man-
ner, production can start right away. The
principle is one of ‘plug-and-produce’.
Our customers place value on this and
trust our decades of experience and in
our progressive high-tech solutions.”
Complete systems for complex
challenges
The specialists at transfluid integrate
expansions such as marking facilities,
seam detection devices, printers, tight-
ness tests or visual, contact-free camera
systems for inspecting geometries or
surfaces, brazing and welding units and
auto-frettage as optional components. Ef-
fective loading systems, storage systems,
supply of the workpieces or complete
handling by a robot or in linear systems
can be added as well. “We coordinate
the solution specifically to the customer’s
requirements, including generation of the
layout to achieve optimised material flow
and best utilisation,” explains Flaeper.
Highly flexible linear systems or
robots?
Selection of handling options also fo-
cuses on highest possible efficiency.
The devices used strongly depend on the
parts to be produced. Flaeper presents a
general principle: “Everything that can be
done to the tube in the straight condition
considerably reduces the handling effort.
From the bending machine onwards, the
robot usually takes over. Linear handling
can often be faster, more cost-efficient
and easier to reach.”
For smooth production flow, transfluid
develops its production systems to permit
loading of isometric data online from a
CAD system and to avoid elabo-
rate programming of robots.
Matching component
supply
Coming off of the starting block
well and maintaining a head
start will bring a runner in first,
too. Therefore, the systems for
loading and separation already
contribute to the high perfor-
mance of ‘t-motion’. Compo-
nents (nuts, flanges or screws)
are supplied from splitter maga-
zines or rotation separators with
presence and position checks.
Additionally, supplies from
a coil or a loading table, belt,
stage, plate, chain or vibrat-
ing conveyor are available to
match the overall system. “With
a strong connection to tube
forming, separating and tube
bending technologies, trans-
fluid ensures high-performance
automation systems are linked
in a result-oriented manner so
that they can offer individual
solutions for many different
tube products,” says Flaeper.
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