TPT March 2016

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54 MARCH 2016
T E CHNOLOG Y
MP100 tube mirror
polishing machine
STAINLESS steel tube polishing is an
important process for manufacturers.
Polishing stainless steel tube creates a
uniform and consistent surface finish,
which is often essential both for aesthetic
and technical reasons.
Industries such as stainless steel
furniture, bull bars and bumpers for off-
road cars are some examples which
often require tube mirror polishing.
Although stainless steel is much
more resistant to corrosion than
ordinary carbon or alloy steels, in some
circumstances it can corrode. Coastal
line tube constructions require a smooth
finish so it gets harder for the corrosion
to stick to the tubes. A similar effect
happens in process industries such as
food and pharmaceutical.
Many solutions for mirror polishing
stainless steel tubes have been centre-
less machines. This technology forces
the tube to spin while it passes through
the polishing wheels. Although effective,
this method brings some restrictions on
the types of tube which can be polished.
Within this range of products can be
enhanced long tubes which tend to
vibrate unless supported in bulky
guiding tables, and curved tubes which,
due to their geometry, cannot be turned
around the polishing wheels.
MP100 is a revolutionary concept
that is able to mirror polish tubes by
inverting the existing model of the tube
polishing market. Instead of forcing the
tube to spin so the contact is made with
the stationary polishing station, MP100
has changed the existing technology
by making the polishing wheels rotate
around the tube.
Producers of curved tube products
in stainless steel commonly face the
problem of applying the final mirror
polishing in their bent tubes. This job
typically uses manual machines, which
end up being time consuming and
labour intensive. With the MP100, three
planetary polishing wheels rotate around
the tube, creating a high pressure and
delivering a high gloss mirror polishing
on straight or curved tubes. The operator
simply needs to transport through the
polishing head, while the cotton wheels
do their job on the complete external
diameter of the tube, completing a
consistent finish on the outer side as well
as the inner side of the bend.
The machine also features an
automatic feeding system, which
transports straight tubes safely through
the polishing units, enabling a consistent
and high mirror polishing quality in a
vibration-free process. The feeding
systems are assembled with hinges and
can be assembled or removed in a few
seconds, making the machine flexible
for multiple operations.
The design of MP100 assures that, as
opposed to centreless machines where
a work rest is used, no tube support
is located in the polishing area. As a
consequence the NS Máquinas tube
polishing machine assures no marks, no
scratches and a perfect polished tube
surface.
The machine features brush pressure
control by foot pedal, which enables
the operator to control the applied force
during the tube polishing operation. In
order to achieve a shiny surface the
machine is equipped with an automatic
solid polishing compound system. The
operator can define the quantity of
compound to be applied and simply start
the process when it is required.
MP100 has a working capacity on
straight tubes up to Ø114mm and was
developed to polish different geometries
for curved tubes.
NS Máquinas – Portugal
Email:
Website:
Material handling system for pipe tester
IN cooperation with ultrasonic
electronics producers, Haven
Manufacturing has designed a gantry
and rail system that will support a full
body phased array ultrasonic system.
The capacity of this system is from 2.5"
to 20" diameter, and up to 48ft length.
The sequence of operation begins with
measuring the length of each pipe, to
determine the end-of-pipe location.
A walking beam transfer device then
positions the pipe in the test station,
while simultaneously removing a tested
pipe to an exit table or conveyor. In the
testing station, the pipe is rotated at a
controlled rpm to match the specified
linear speed of the ultrasonic tester
carriage.
Haven Manufacturing – USA
Website:
Straight tube mirror
polishing machine
MP100
Curved tube mirror polishing
machine with MP100