TPT January 2012

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January 2012 101 ›
Bending
Leaner, greener philosophy
AS a designer, manufacturer and supplier of
tube bending and end forming technologies,
AddisonMckee continues to introduce
innovative technology to make its machines
leaner, greener and more efficient.
The company’s new ‘Hydra Green’
technology allows its latest end-forming
equipment to take advantage of hydraulic
power without the constant noise, heat and
energy usage associated with traditional
hydraulic power units. Whereas traditional
hydraulic systems for end-forming
machines use an AC motor continuously
driving a hydraulic pump, even when the
machine is not in use and no oil pressure
and/or flow is required, AddisonMckee’s
new technology is designed so that the
pump is in operation only when there is a
demand for pressure/flow.
AddisonMckee says that the Hydra Green
solution, at the heart of the new HG70 range
of end-formers, delivers a number of key
benefits over a traditional hydraulic circuit
in terms of using 50 per cent less electricity
due to the significantly reduced duty cycle
of the hydraulic pump, minimising heat
emissions and reducing noise emissions by
as much as 50 per cent. The system also
achieves a major reduction in the amount
of hydraulic maintenance required, while
the smaller hydraulic reservoir uses 65 per
cent less oil.
The technology also allows for enhanced
machine motion control by using the
variable speed of the servo pump to control
oil flow rate and machine speed. With the
system sitting in a low energy state when
the machine is idle and the pump not
generating pressure or flow, operator safety
is also enhanced.
AddisonMckee’s programme of
technological innovation has two main
drivers: cutting unnecessary emissions by
its machines and cutting costs for its
customers. The new eb80 ESRB machine,
for example, represents an alternative to
the existing DB 75 machine but with cost
advantages achieved through removing
the ball screw providing the boost and
allowing the gearbox and motor instead
to provide the force required for boosting,
enabling freeform bending for the full
length of the bed.
Given the cost of floor space at any
facility, the new machine’s modular design
also has benefits if bed length flexibility is
important. The standard machine is two
metres long but offers the capability to
increase in length by bolting two sections
together to extend the bed when required,
converting the machine to a three/four
metre model.
AddisonMckee – USA
Email:
Website:
Expanded range of bending machines
CLOMEA, Italy, has expanded its
range, with two new models of bending
machine – CRM140 and CRM130 – and
the new numerical control CNW333. The
company has also optimised functions and
performance of existing models.
The CRM140 and CRM130 are bending
machines of high/medium power with three
driving shafts, and moving central roller
with hydraulic positioning. CRM130 has
fixed lower shafts, while CRM140 features
variable positions.
The machines are available in eight
models, from the basic version fitted with
CMP101P console, with programmable
positioner of the central roller, up to the most
innovative control unit model CNW333. The
programming and interface with the user is
very simple and intuitive. It can work in one
step, and is able to control up to six axes
and to program curves up to 36 radii on the
same bar.
CNW333 has an automatic control of
more than 650 positioning speeds, and can
be coupled to hydraulic bending machines
with standard engine. The versions fitted with
a speed variator enable an automatic cal-
culation of 100 rotation speeds of the rollers.
The automatic calculation of the
positioning speed simplifies the execution
of the connection between one radius
and another, keeping the geometry for
the coupling between different curves. The
machine is programmable with just two
values of the curve to be realised, while
the programming of curves with more radii
is simplified by pre-setting functions that
help the operator to find values for the
geometry required.
The machine can work in multi-
passage automatically on a
single radius, and can import
AutoCAD files in DXF format.
Network connection to PC
allows data exchange and
file storage, as well as
remote assistance directly
with Clomea’s technical
department.
The company says that
particular attention has been
paid to the development
and testing of the bending
rolls and additional devices
and equipment, in order to
satisfy special projects with
more complex curves, such as bending in
3D (on different planes), spirals, coils for
cooling systems and heat exchangers.
Clomea Soc Coop – Italy
Fax: +39 0557 310093
Email:
Website:
Clomea’s CMR140
bending machine