TPT May 2012

T echnology N ews

Roll forming technology from Japan Sanyo Seiki Co, Ltd is a forming roll maker from Japan, and is expanding its business globally under the slogan “Technology, from here to the world”. Society for Technology of Plasticity), with the technology of the Partial Step Forming method.

This technology is a means of suppressing work-hardening very little while forming electric resistance welded pipe. In the past, pipe that needs tough secondary processing, such as automobile mufflers, had to be annealed to put off strain inside the pipe. This technology acquired a good reputation because it enabled removal of the annealing operation and achieved cost cutting. The company won a major contract from Vyksa Steel Works of Russia last year, receiving an order for fabricating 1,492 rolls, with a total material weight amounting to

The company started to perform roll forming analysis using FEM simulation software in 2007. This shows how the forming will be carried out by each stand, and visualises various forming defects such as edge wave (which mostly occurs when forming thin-walled pipe), torsion, camber and cutting deformation for open profile. Using this method, the company can devise countermeasures without carrying out actual forming. In 2009 Sanyo Seiki received a technical development award from JSTP (Japan

Sanyo Seiki makes use of FEM analysis techniques

1,267 tons. Fabrication started in April and finished in December. Sanyo Seiki participated at the Tube show in Düsseldorf in March. Sanyo Seiki Co, Ltd – Japan Fax: +81 48 486 1101 Email: y-sugimoto@sanyoseiki.co.jp Website: www.sanyoseiki.co.jp

Entry-level CNC plasma cutting tables

A NEW range of UK-made CNC plasma cutting tables has been launched to offer a low-cost option for accurately cutting metals to virtually any 2D shape. Swift-Cut Automation has launched its 44 Table and the larger 84 Table, which both use the industry-acclaimed Hypertherm Powermax range of plasma power sources to cut metals up to 19mm thick with a high degree of accuracy. The 44 Table has a cutting area of 1,250mm x 1,250mm, while the 84 Table has

a cutting area of 2,500mm x 1,250mm. Each machine comes completely assembled, ready to cut, with the Hypertherm Powermax 45 with machine torch as standard, and larger power sources are also available. A PC preloaded with CAD/CAM and CNC control software and on-site training is also included. Optional extras include a water table to reduce fumes and a pendant control for ‘at the machine’ accurate positioning. Swift-Cut identified the demand for a lower-priced CNC plasma cutting machine

requirement for prototypes and short runs of metal cutting, so he set about designing his own table rather than making the capital investment required for one of the existing popular industrial cutting systems. “I’d developed the table for use in our facilities for short but frequent cutting runs, and one day a visitor asked where he could buy one,” explained Mr Swift. “This led to the second generation 44 and 84 machines, which Hypertherm were happy to support with their Powermax plasma source units. The feedback has been fantastic and we have already developed a UK network of distributors, some of whom have already acquired machines in order to have an in-house facility to demonstrate cutting to their own customer base.” Details of all the UK distributors can be

for companies who have a need for automated cutting but cannot justify making a capital purchase investment of £30,000+. The new tables were the idea of Swift-Cut managing director Alan Swift, who runs a Staffordshire engineering business. His company had an ever-increasing

found at the Swift-Cut website. Swift-Cut Automation Ltd – UK Fax: +44 1543 473443 Email: sales@vantageone.co.uk Website: www.cncplasma.co.uk

The Swift-Cut 84 Table

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M ay 2012