EoW November 2012

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News
Technology
November 2012 36
THE MACHINES, of Switzerland, supplies two fully automated
and continuous operating production plants for OPGW
applications.
The full supply scope covers a wide range of precision formed
and welded metal tubes with optical fibres, like FIST, which
are integrated into a number of different end products such as
OPGW, OPPC and fibre optic submarine cables.
The precision micro tubes with optical fibres are specified in
many different diameters, wall thicknesses and with many
different numbers of fibres.
The fibre excess length in the precision micro-tube is controlled
and adjusted to suit the application.
The lines are equipped with tape feeding (pay-offs); laser cross
welding and tape accumulator for full continuous and non-stop
operation. The lines are equipped with high precision tension
controlled multi fibre pay-off stations.
The heart of the lines, bringing together the fibres and the metal
tape, feature:
• Precision tape guiding and edge cutting, when required
• High precision tape forming benches
• Precisely controlled jelly filling (thixotropic gel compound)
• Robot controlled orbital welding
• Patented welding-seam following and tracking system
• Perfect and fault-free welding with real time vision systems
• On-line welding seam control ECC100 for a 100% quality
inspection of the weld
• Trend display, recording and tracking of all relevant process
parameters
• Fault-free welding of tubes with tolerances to ±0.01 mm
Down-stream operations complete the solution featuring:
• Draw down stations for exact final tube dimensions
• Drying, cleaning and oil separation unit
• Capstan with precision controlled line tensions throughout the
whole process
• Fibre over length station – regulated and fibre slack-length
controlled
• Documented during the entire production process
• Auto traversing winding (take-up) for precision winding of
spools from 630mm to 1,250mm
THE MACHINES’ excellence in production technology covers a
wide range of applications and fields of expertise in extrusion
lines for drip irrigation systems, stand-alone equipment for
drip irrigation systems, multilayer piping, metal tape forming
and welding, laser welding as well as all up-and-down stream
operations in tape or pipe pay-offs and take-ups.
All equipment and machines are conceived, developed and
implemented in-house by THE MACHINES, and supported by
technical know-how, engineering and service from a team of
experienced specialists.
THE MACHINES – Switzerland
Website:
Production lines for precision micro
metal tubes with optical fibres
▲ ▲ Excellence in production from THE MACHINES
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