TPT September 2011

T echnology U pdate

Double-extrusion of different length pipes with the Everbell 160 DE

SICA’s Everbell 160 range of belling machines has been extended recently with the addition of the Everbell 160 DE version, designed specifically to process pipes of different length simultaneously. The machine is suitable in double-extrusion lines producing PVC-U pipes used as cable conduit and for small diameter indoor sewage systems. Everbell 160 DE belling machines process pipes with a minimum diameter of 32mm up to a maximum of 160mm, in lengths between 150mm and 3m (plus socket). If requested, the machine can be supplied in versions that accommodate pipes up to 6m in length. The machine’s belling system is the same as that of the other Everbell 160 models, with contact ovens and an air-blowing forming station. Sockets can be solvent-cement or O-ring. Double-extrusion of small diameter pipes is Laser seam tracking for automated welding THE bottom line for companies manufacturing welded products is to achieve the highest quality at the lowest cost. A measure of how well this is being achieved is the metric called overall equipment effectiveness (OEE). Servo- Robot has released the new Auto-Trac/ PWP laser vision seam tracking system that improves weld productivity, quality and uptime, which are the three factors influencing the OEE metric. The company states that Auto-Trac/ PWP can achieve new levels of welding performance while being simple to operate, comparing its ease of use to that of Apple’s user-friendly iPad. The system can be installed on new equipment, or can be easily retrofitted to existing welders that are manually operated or use a mechanical probe for guidance. The heart of the system is the high-speed digital laser camera head,

associated typically with PVC-U production lines; but when fitted with the appropriate belling tool heads, the Everbell 160 DE can also process PP and HDPE pipes. The DE system uses a dual conveyor with power driven rollers and is equipped with a pick-up device, aligned with but operating entirely independently of the pipe infeed and management system. It distances the cut pipes, stops them, and position them in correspondence to the belling machine head. A mechanical device picks up the positioned pipes, and thanks to special buffer stations, is synchronised automatically with the cycle times of the machine. Pipes can be received and organised even when the extrusion speeds of the two lines are different, or when the length sequences of the cut pipes are different. The electronic master control unit of the machine utilises advanced software logic to

control the distribution of the pipes entering from the two lines, according to the different lengths of the cut pipes, to optimise the quantity of pipes produced and socketed. Like the Everbell 160 models, besides being designed for the installation of multiple machines in the same double-extrusion line, the Everbell 160 DE belling machines can be integrated with automatic ring-fitting units (masterfit type), and with downstream packing machines (multipack type), which bundle and palletise the finished pipes. Operating with or without other machine units, the Everbell 160 DE model will guarantee maximum flexibility and automation when handling and processing pipes produced in various lengths and extruded at different speeds. Sica – Italy Website: www.sica-italy.com

Servo-Robot’s Auto-Trac/PWP laser vision seam tracking system

which is claimed to be the most powerful for its size on the market. It has a large field of view combined with high resolution that allows the system to handle products ranging from thin sheet metal to 50mm thick steel. In the past, a camera had to be optimised for either small or large weld joints, but could not do both; this is no longer a limitation. Auto-Trac/PWP has a range of new features that directly improve performance when welding products ranging from storage

tanks and ships to bridges. In addition to its main task of seam tracking, the system’s ability to monitor the overall welding process provides useful data to facilitate Six Sigma continuous improvement efforts. Information includes part fit-up variability, system uptime and productivity metrics. Servo-Robot Inc – Canada Fax: +1 450 653 7869

Email: sales@servorobot.com Website: www.servorobot.com

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S eptember 2011

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