TPI January 2024

and can deliver rapid, repeatable, precision cuts within .001" on tubes .125" (3.2mm) – 2.375" (60.5mm) in size, with up to .20" (5.08mm) tube walls. According to Mr Young, the tool bit plays an outsized role in precision facing and squaring of tube ends. If a tool bit is constructed of an inferior material or excessively hardened, it can result in premature chipping of the cutting edge. When there is little to no helix angle in a tool bit, it can cause severe chatter marks and screeching. “When performing weld preps on pipe and tubing, you are only as good as your bits,” said Mr Young. The highest quality bits are designed and given specialty coatings to maximise the number of cuts before cut quality is degraded while producing manageable chips with no signs of heat discoloration, a maximum fine surface finish, and an acceptable amount or no measurable burr. To meet aerospace requirements, the 300STS utilises Tri Tool’s patented Durabits. “Many of our aerospace customers are using these tools every day, all day,” explained Mr Young. “In high production environments, it is critical that the tool and bits hold up to thousands of preps per month, sometimes thousands per week.” Custom machining equipment Given the cutting-edge nature of aerospace applications, customised solutions may also be required. Although standard tube squaring products are available from several sources, most will not make modifications based on customer requests. Tri Tool Technologies, however, can produce variations of standard equipment through modifications and other customisations. This can include integrating controls, sensing technologies or remote-control technology.

meet stringent criteria set by organisations such as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). However, there is very little room for error when prepping pipe or tube ends for orbital welding, with little allowance for gaps or non-square surfaces. “In addition to the specifications from the aerospace company, you also have to meet the requirements of the orbital tube welding machine to create weld joints with a very high success rate,” said Cameron Young, manufacturing solutions engineer at Tri Tool Technologies. Today, tube and pipe cutting products help ensure the proper fit and alignment of the pieces to be welded to avoid misalignment, gaps or uneven welds. Most are manually operated and perform machining operations such as cutting, severing, facing and bevelling. Facing involves cutting the end of a pipe to achieve a flat and smooth surface with precise dimensions to ensure it can be securely and accurately connected to other components without gaps or leaks. When working with thick pieces of metal, it is often necessary to create a groove or bevel to facilitate proper penetration and fusion during welding. To further increase productivity without sacrificing precision, field machinists need portable squaring equipment that can be used in tight access areas, such as within tube racks or a wing. “You need a tool that is compact enough to actually do the prep well but is also still portable that you can bring with you to your work site or take up on the ladder,” said Mr Young. For production-level tube facing, he points to Tri Tool Technologies’ 300STS, a lightweight, portable facing machine for weld preparation on autogenous welding. The tube squaring tool has an industry-leading 9.5" clearance

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January 2024 TUBE PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL