TPT September 2013

Industry News

Automotive component supplier chooses AddisonMckee

Premier Automation to engineer a fully integrated robotic system that met all the customer’s logistics and health and safety requirements. The component to be formed was a straight 50mm diameter tube that required three AddisonMckee machines to form both ends and trim to length. One end required a flat to be produced by a two hit 70RF machine and the other end required a 70SRF (selectable ram form). The SRF machine used three hits to produce an offset reduction to a size that allowed the 34mm bent tube to be inserted on the final welded assembly. After forming, the resultant end deformation was trimmed to the correct length with an FM70TTPN (tube trim with pre-notch).

and presented ready for an ABB robot to collect. The robot, with a double gripper, holds the new tube until the eB80 bending machine has completed two symmetrical 1xD bend on bend applications. It then removes the bent tube and inserts the new tube, and the bending process recommences. The bent tube is transferred by the robot to a combined inspection gauge and drilling fixture. If the component is deemed to be incorrect it is transferred to a reject chute; otherwise, two holes are drilled and the component is transferred to a finished part stillage, which is mounted on a turntable system. When the stillage is full the turntable presents an empty stillage ready for the process to work continuously. Within any automated system, safety and process fault diagnosis are of paramount importance. AddisonMckee worked with and were assisted by

TUBE bending and end-forming technology specialist AddisonMckee has installed an automated cell into a facility in the north of England, for one of the largest international groups dedicated to the design, development and manufacture of metal components and structural systems for the automotive industry. Two components were presented to AddisonMckee to process. One required only bending and drilling, but to be produced by a fully automated solution; the other component only needed forming, and production was to be manually controlled (to be automated at a later date). The bending cell incorporates a bunker system fed by pallets of cut 34mm diameter tubes, which are unloaded magnetically and processed within a buffer system, to a pick-up point were the tube is seam detected

AddisonMckee, Europe – UK Website: www.addisonmckee.com MAC to exhibit latest NDT systems for testing tube and pipe

defects in heat exchanger tube, heavy wall OCTG and other critical applications. MAC’s ultrasonic rotaries allow testing at high throughput speeds. Both instruments include MAC’s high resolution, real time graphic presentations of test signals, thresholds and settings. Information will also be available on MAC’s auxiliary mechanics that provide proper positioning and handling of the test product, and on networking software for test result follow-up and quality assurance. MAC test systems are installed in major tube manufacturers world-wide and sales and service are provided in most areas by MAC’s field engineers and experienced representatives. Magnetic Analysis Corporation – USA Email: info@mac-ndt.com Website: www.mac-ndt.com

MAGNETIC Analysis Corporation (MAC) will be at this year’s Tube Southeast Asia show at Stand P35. MAC, now celebrating 85 years of manufacturing NDT systems for the metals industry, will be co-exhibiting with its Thai representative, Siam Charn Co Ltd. Featured equipment will include the MultiMac ® eddy current test system, widely used to inspect non-magnetic and magnetic tube for ID, OD and surface defects, and the Echomac ® FD-5 ultrasonic test system, designed to meet more demanding specifications. Important applications for the MultiMac include detecting surface cracks, pinholes and seam type defects in copper water tubing, and weld zone defects in seamless and alloy tube. The Echomac ® FD-5 system detects longitudinal, transverse and oblique

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S eptember 2013