TPi November 2018

Products & developments

Networked tube bending Digital solutions are required by the international shipbuilding and offshore industry for efficient planning of resourc- es and processes. To support this, machine manufacturer transfluid com- bines its bending technologies for large diameter tubes with online networking aimed at practical applications, as with the ‘t project’ software, which calculates beforehand the exact orientation of the flanges when bending straight tubes with welded flanges.

© transfluid © transfluid

any material, even with radii of 1.5 x tube diameter or more. These tight bending radii are achieved with minimal thinning of the tube walls. It is possible to achieve simpler tube processing when the flanges are welded onto the straight tube beforehand, because the welding process is faster at that stage. With the internal connection to the CAD programs, the ‘t project’ bending software can process the isometrics immediately. Flanges can be chosen from a database and integrated in the isometrics, also in terms of bending technology. “With the directional bending of the flanged tubes our solution is able to improve the flexibility of the manufacturing,” explained Ms Flaeper. “The processes clearly become simpler.” The tablet version of the ‘t project Draft’ software offers greater freedom for on-site practical applications. It allows the user to acquire data with a very light, portable measuring system. It is possible to collect data, for instance for connector tubes, of both the geometries of the process as well as the flanges and the position of the flanges. Time savings are particularly significant for this aspect. The process of measuring on board only requires a few minutes, even for more complex tubes with flanges. All the data is acquired digitally and documented, and the data can be transferred online and be available to the technical office, as well as the bending machine.

‘t project Draft’ contributes to more time-efficient and more flexible tube manufacturing

Once a tube part has been completed, it can be measured again in order to guarantee smooth installation. While tubes are processed with the measure- ment data that was provided, further measurements can be taken on board. A key aspect of tube processing in the shipbuilding industry is the forming of tube ends, such as the forming of flared flanges on the tubes. With the rolling UMR ‘t form’ machine it is possible to shape tubes with diameters up to 325mm. Almost tool-independent, it uses a controlled shaping cone that can be programmed freely during the task. Another shaping option is the cylindrical expansion of tube ends in order to connect two tubes. The transfluid solution to this challenge is suitable for tubes with a nominal size up to 250. The traditional practice in shipbuilding of welding with two seams on each connection sleeve for large nominal sizes is therefore not necessary. transfluid Maschinenbau GmbH – Germany

Mobile measuring tools acquire data on-site, for instance in order to measure template tubes accurately. In addition to that, transfluid offers the option of tube end-forming processes with the rotary tube forming UMR ‘t form’ machine. For example, it is possible to introduce flared flanges and subsequently bend the tube. “Saving time and money are aspects that we make possible for this industry, when it comes to tube processing,” said transfluid director Stefanie Flaeper. “Our ‘t bend’ CNC bending machine has replaced the need to weld bends onto large tubes a long time ago, as it lowers the production costs.” The bending systems are also claimed to save up to 60 per cent of the production time for tubes with a diameter up to 400mm. The fast set-up of the machine, at times in less than ten minutes, also plays a crucial role. Equipped with a fully automated CNC control system, the transfluid units can process tubes with thin and thick walls and made of

sales@transfluid.de www.transfluid.net

transfluid’s DB 40220-3A-CNC ‘t bend’ tube bending machine for processing tube between 40 and 220mm

© transfluid

The pipe bending machine DB 40120-CNC-VE changes tools automatically

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TUBE PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL November 2018

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