TPT September 2013

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Technology News
86 September 2013
SIDE LOADING FOR FAST TOOL
CHANGE AND NO LIFTING REQUIRED
• Infinitely adjustable
expansion & reduction
• High production
capability
• Up to Ø 152mm
• No tube clamping
required
• End form on or
near bends
• High quality build with
practical platforms
• Full 12 month warranty.
• Twin Head Machines
also available
Unit 24, Padgets Lane, South Moons Moat,
Redditch, Worcestershire B98 0RB, England.
T: +44 (0)1527 518520 E:
W:
Germany: Tel: 02150 2500
Netherlands/Belgium: Tel: (04756) 6888 USA: Tel: 708 272 7880
TUBE END FORMING
AV65
Flexible cutting robot
MANUFACTURERS of offshore
constructions require flexible automation
for the variety of steel profiles they
use. Tubes and H/I beams are used to
create giant rigs, jack-ups and topsides.
Kranendonk, the robot technology
centre from Holland, introduces a new
machine that offers great flexibility by
cutting tubes as well as beams on the
same system.
“With the tube and beam cutting
system, manufacturers of offshore
constructions need only one investment
to handle most of the steel profiles they
use,” explained marketing manager
Jan Kranendonk. “The production
flow is improved as the system is able
to proceed cutting while loading or
unloading takes place at the other side.
This multi-station setup saves in square
metres as well.”
Using a robot gives high flexibility for
cutting complex shapes in large tubes
and beams. The system processes
tubes up to 2,300mm in diameter and
beams up to a width of 1,250mm.
Mr Kranendonk added: “We further
extended the reach of the robot by
placing it on a track, which results in
an effective cutting area of 60 square
metres. In this way, the robot can travel
alongside large tubes and beams and
make every possible cut.” Tubes up to
900mm in diameter can be fed through
the floating chuck for cutting on both
sides without reclamping, which saves
time.
Besides requiring flexibility, offshore
manufacturers put high demands on the
accuracy of cuts. If parts do not perfectly
fit, manual welders have to spend hours
to adjust the gaps. Mr Kranendonk said:
“We implemented a smart measuring
system that adjusts the cutting path
to match the actual product. The laser
calibrated robot adapts to any deviations
that may occur. This technology results
in perfectly cut material and better fits
for connecting parts.”
The system features open software,
meaning that the end-user’s preferred
cutting strategy can be incorporated
in the set-up of the system. Thanks
to automated programming, a CAD-
interface and easy editing of parameters,
there is no need for in-depth robot
knowledge. Therefore, only one operator
is needed to run the system.
Kranendonk has more than 25 years
of experience in robot cutting lines for
the offshore industry.
Kranendonk – The Netherlands
Website:
Cutting tubes and beams