TPT May 2007

Technology Update

Heavy duty circular sawing machine for cutting tubes in layer

Lazzari is an Italian producer of circular sawing machines for the cutting of steel and non-ferrous metal. The company recently received an order from an Italian customer to modernise the equipment on the finishing line of its pipe mill. The order specified cutting with circular sawing machines that work inline with the mill, provide enough capacity to cover the output of the mill and achieve a good finished cut. It also required charging and discharging of the tube layers. To meet these requirements, the technical staff at Lazzari designed a sawing machine with a range of features. These include a machine bed and structure to resist high loads; a clamping system to clamp in front of and behind the saw blade with controlled position and pressure (to eliminate tube vibration); and heavy duty guides for the sawing head for maximum stiffness. A heavy duty gear box is also included with a

special system to automatically compensate for the backlash. Several anti-dumping devices give guidance to the saw blade, so that vibrations are eliminated, giving a smooth cutting surface and longer tool life. A micro-spraying system ensures optimal blade lubrication, and chips are cleaned from the teeth of the saw blade by brushing devices. Extra cooling of the saw blades allows hot tubes up to 200° to be processed. The charging device features swivelling arms for loading tubes onto the inlet roller way, while length measuring stoppers ensure tight length tolerances. Two model VRS 1400 sawing machines were installed in the finishing line, along with an additional two external clamping devices at the in-feed and out-feed side of the sawing machines, to guarantee perfect clamping of the tube layer.

› A circular sawing machine from Italy’s Lazzari

The complete process is computer controlled: the system recognises the incoming material quality and the sawing machine automatically chooses the correct cutting parameters. The tube layer is cut to the input finish length and fed out of the machine, and the head and tail crop ends are automatically discharged.

Lazzari SpA – Italy Fax : +39 035 4375175

Email : info@lazzarigroup.com Website : www.lazzarigroup.com

Turnkey high performance testing and cutting lines Reika, Germany, has received a follow- up order for a turnkey NDT system from Europe’s largest producer of seamless steel tubes. The whole line will be directly linked to a straightening line with large buffer area and inlet conveyor system. Start-up of the complete line is due to be carried out within 4 weeks. Before testing on the NDT system, loose scale and chips are removed from the tube after straightening and cutting operations. The tubes are individually transported at high-speed into the multi-testing NDT-section, running continuously at a 180m/min throughput rate.

Inline continuous electrolytic pickling for stainless steel tubing

Condoroil, Italy, has launched a new induced current pickling tunnel for stainless steel tubing. The new system allows the completion of various phases of the pickling process, including degreasing, pickling/passivation and rinsing, up to marking and packaging directly on the production line, without any further handling.

An induced current electrolytic process inside the tunnel uses a new formula pickling solution. This solution is made with Descalinox P23, which contains no hydrofluoric acid or nitric acid. Advantages are reflected both in economy, with savings in raw materials and energy costs, and in the working schedule, where all intermediate handling phases are eliminated. The complete automation of inline operations and the new formula chemicals are expected to improve accident prevention and environmental protection. This is because use of a pickling solution made with Descalinox P23 improves working conditions and reduces the risks related to the handling of solutions during manufacturing and stocking.

fi Reika’s turnkey NDT system for seamless steel tubes

Condoroil Impianti Srl – Italy Fax : +39 0332 967 598 Email : info@condoroil.it Website : www.condoroil.com

› Condoroil has developed a new induced current pickling tunnel for stainless steel

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M ay /J une 2007