TPT May 2007

T ube B ending, H ydroforming & E nd- Fo rming

With 35 years of experience, Eagle Precision Technologies is a world leader in the manufacturing of CNC tube benders, tube end-finishing equipment, custom machine building, muffler manufacturing equipment and tooling. Eagle Precision Technologies – USA Fax : +1 519 756 0195 Email : jwarren@eaglelept.com Website : www.eaglept.com Soco’s latest machine with 1D bending and thickness control A new model of CNC tube bender has been launched by Soco, branded the SB-65X6A- 3S-PT with cutoff, which incorporates the ultimate combination of automation and high production features in one package. It offers advantages including 1D bending and thickness control. This machine includes 8 electric programmable axes, coupled with a unique, patented Soco DBS system. Designed for minimal tube deformation after bending, the DBS system provides double blade shearing and vertical/horizontal cutting.

Hydroforming and the all-electric tube bender

Hydroforming is a cost-effective way of shaping malleable metals such as steel into lightweight, structurally stiff and strong parts by injecting fluid at high pressures into a tube to form the material into a die cavity. One of the largest hydroforming applications is in the automotive industry where producing a consistent part shape to the hydroforming die is essential. The first step in producing hydroformed shapes is bending a tube to a net shape to fit the die prior to hydroforming. This step of the process requires exact bending procedures and accurate machine operation to minimize scrap and fit the die correctly. Any variations in the bent part shape may produce part pinching in the die and subsequently scrap. In addition to the accuracy requirements of the hydroforming procedure, the bending machine cycle time must be minimized. Traditional hydraulic or hybrid (electric and hydraulic) benders can produce bent tubes to fit dies. However, any axis that is hydraulically actuated may experience process variation until hydraulic oil temperatures stabilise. In addition, the actuators on hydraulic or hybrid benders are typically only two-position and therefore cycle times cannot be minimized. Eagle Precision Technologies Ltd has introduced a family of all electric benders that addresses the specific needs of the hydroforming world. These concerns are essentially high-speed, accuracy,

reliability and cycle time. The company’s range of all electric benders have been designed according to essential criteria including high efficiency, clearance and robustness. Using the machine, the mechanical ball screw designs used for the slides can be synchronised via the flexible EPT BendPro G2 control. Slide motions can therefore be overlapped to further minimize cycle time.

fi The automotive industry requires consistent part shape for hydroformed products

Eagle Precision

recently received reports from a hydroforming parts supplier using an all- electric Eagle bending machine, model EPT90EPS (3.5" OD capacity). The parts supplier revealed a cycle time of 19 seconds for a 3.25" OD X 0.070" wall X 5"CLR 5 bent part. This statistic equates to 4 seconds per bend compared to 5 seconds per bend as seen on competing hydraulic or hybrid products.

› Soco’s new CNC tube bender – SB-65X6A-3S- PT with cutoff

Features include a centreline radius (CLR) of 1 X OD bending in stainless. With 12 to 15 per cent wall thinning ratios (WTR), the machine can help meet the strictest safety demands of muffler and exhaust system suppliers. A cutoff during and after bending, together with continuous bending from one long part, ensures no waste between parts. A special collet boosting device is included to allow 1D and low WTR even for short lengths and last bends. In addition, multi stacks and multi radius is available for bending even the most complex parts with ‘0’ straight lengths between bends. Soco Machinery Co Ltd – Taiwan Fax : +886 4 23592386

fi An all electric bender from Eagle Precision Technologies

Email : patrick@soco.com.tw Website : www.soco.com.tw

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M ay /J une 2007