EoW March 2011

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EuroWire – March 2011 52
technology news
Manufacturers need sophisticated
production equipment and a reliable
and professional technical assistance,
especially in view of growing requirements
on the technological properties of special
cables.
Maschinenfabrik Niehoff offers
both a wide range of modern cable
manufacturing machinery and immediate
customer service. Braiding technology is
one example of the company’s machinery.
Experience of existing braiding systems
and suggestions from end-users were
considered when developing the lever
arm high speed rotary BMV braiding
machines with automatic central
lubrication system.
The machines are built in 12, 16 and 24
carrier lever arm versions and are used
for many applications. The new models
are equipped with energy optimised
components and state-of-the-art
energy-saving drives.
The spool carriers, made of precision
machined high grade aluminium, are
suitable for different braiding materials
(round and flat), material dimensions and
spool formats.
The new BMV braiders also feature
a completely new and functionally
optimised machine design and comply
with the safety regulations of the
machinery directive RL2006/42/EG. By
means of a modular assembly system
each BMV machine can be adjusted to the
specific requirements of its user.
As an example of the range, the BMV 24
Z model can braid bare or plated copper
wire, aluminium wire, stainless steel wire,
artificial yarn and fibres. Single-wire
diameter ranges from 0.05 to 0.3mm
(40-28 AWG), with a maximum bobbin
rpm of 110, and braiding pitch from 6 to
180mm (infinitely variable).
The central taping unit has a maximum
rotational speed of 600rpm. It can use
copper, aluminium/PE, plastics and
textile taping materials, up to 30mm tape
width (according to the material), with
tape thickness from 0.04 to 0.17mm, and
taping pitch from 5 to 100mm.
A quality control system controls all
steps from the cable inlet via single and
bundle-wire control to the take-up of the
braided cable. Optionally, an automatic
empty bobbin detection system can be
integrated, which stops the machine
before a braiding bobbin is completely
empty, while minimising the residual wire
on the braiding bobbin. This allows a BMV
braider to work unattended and without
operator intervention.
Operational safety can also be increased
by a slide track temperature monitoring
and control that varies the track
lubrication frequency and quantity to
avoid overheating and stops the braider
when a limit temperature is exceeded.
With an integrated central taping device,
the braiding and the subsequent taping
processes are completed in one step.
Various line configurations allow the
efficient utilisation of the upstream
multi-wire drawing line and a space
saving line installation. The automatic
and semi-automatic Niehoff rewinding
machines SystemHacoba of the DSA series
process single and multi-wire spools onto
braiding bobbins. These machine enable
the BMV machines to work efficiently at
their full potential because the package
allows the bobbins to be processed at
higher speeds with lower wire break rates.
The BMV braiders’ design allows the
processing of different materials, including
copper braids, textile braids and steel
wire braids, without extensive and time
consuming setups and changeovers.
Typical applications of these braiders
include the manufacture of data cables,
control and coaxial cables. Stranded
braids, hollow braids for battery cables
and automotive hybrid drives cables (in
which tapes must be inserted before and
after braiding) can be processed, as well
as mechanical reinforcements for pressure
hoses and medical catheters.
The company states that braid
manufacturers have been able to replace
several old generation braiders with just
one of the new generation (typical ratio of
2:1 or 3:1), reducing their manufacturing
costs while increasing the quality of the
end product.
Maschinenfabrik Niehoff GmbH & Co
KG – Germany
Fax : +49 9122 977 155
Email:
Website:
Braiding technology
– versatile and
future-oriented
BMV 16 high speed braiding machine ▲ ▲
Interior of a BMV braiding machine with integrated ▲ ▲
central taping device and automatic empty bobbin
detection system (blue)