TPT May 2007

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106 May/June 2007
In the area of creaseless bending, Mewag
have enabled the mandrel position of
fully electric machines to be programmed
for each bend, thus reducing the risk of
flattening and wrinkling. This counteracts
the limitation of hydraulic pipe benders
that only have one position for the mandrel
return point, which causes constant velocity
pull back and resultant surface defects.
The major issue when programming
complex parts for bending is the speed
at which the program can be created.
All machine functions need to be freely
programmable in order to optimise
production times.
In addition to the standard programming,
Mewag’s sub-program technology also
allows an additional CNC code to be
inserted before or after each bending set.
This ensures all axis movements and
auxiliary functions can be programmed.
Using this sub-program technology, any
bending sequence can be programmed.
Mewag Maschinefabrik AG – Switzerland
Fax: +41 34 437 75 76
Email:
Website:
The flexibility and versatility of Mewag’s
Megalus and Gigalus series of benders
provides benefits including a modular
design and the implementation of one or
two heads. The bending direction can be
automatically changed from right to left
within the cycle by means of an unlimited
number of tools. This saves time due to
a reduced retooling period and ensures
efficiency and repeat accuracy not possible
with manual operation.
With up to 13 axes, these bending
machines are fully-electric
and capable of producing both
simple and complex geometries.
Operable with highly competitive
accuracy and speed, high-speed
servo drives are used for all axes.
Surface quality is of serious
concern to Mewag, and due to
damage to delicate materials
– caused by extreme clamping
forces – Mewag offers an
electrically adjustable bending
arm and sliding rail feed
pressure on its machines. With
this technology, pressure for
each bend is programmable
and the formation of wrinkles is
controlled.
reason for being.
A length of tubing or pipe that has been
formed for a critical application in a punishing
environment must exhibit superior qualities of
strength, toughness, and resistance to enemies
natural, chemical, and man-made. In an athlete or
soldier this is known as fortitude.
The providers of the equipment and services reviewed here are well aware of the
importance of their specialty. They moreover know that, even as forming adds
value, it must carefully preserve the integrity of the product with which they
are entrusted. The editors of Tube & Pipe Technology are pleased
to present a showcase of respected names in a very
exacting department of tube making.
B ending and forming stands in the
same relation to tube processing as
formation does to character-building. As
the workpiece is shaped to its purpose, so
goes its utility, serviceability – indeed its
Tube Bending, H ydroforming
& End-Forming
Flexible bending solutions with Megalus and Gigalus
fi The bending head of the fully-electric Megalus 50