TPT January 2014

Technology News

Automatic die centring AMERICAN Kuhne is using die centring technology that was originally developed by its partner company Graham Engineering for use on a Parisan sidewall adjustment, for die centring technology for medical tubing applications. with a Zumbach OD and wall system at the MD&M East medical trade show in Philadelphia.

medical tubing. American Kuhne has completely shattered those rules. I honestly would not have believed it had I not been there to see it.” Tyler Ware, American Kuhne process engineer, added: “The LaserLinc system proved to have very robust and fast communications, which allowed our system to quickly and accurately make automatic adjustments to concentricity.” American Kuhne Inc is a supplier of standard and customised single screw extruders, feed screws, and complete extrusion systems for medical tubing, pipe and profile. LaserLinc is a manufacturer of non-contact laser and ultrasonic systems for OD, ID, wall thickness, eccentricity and concentricity across many industries including wire, cable, medical and other tubing, hose, pipe and fibre. American Kuhne – USA Email: sales@americankuhne.com Website: www.americankuhne.com

For the test, LaserLinc incorporated its Triton™ triple-axis micrometer, UltraGauge+™ ultrasonic wall thickness measurement system and Total Vu software with OPC (object linking and embedding for process control). Using OPC, the wall thickness data collected by Total Vu was shared with American Kuhne’s PLC where the closed-loop control is performed. During the test, the concentricity was intentionally taken out of specification several times. Each time the control system recovered to 90 per cent concentricity within a minute, and after just five minutes the concentricity was stable at 98 per cent. Tom Shoup, New England regional sales manager at LaserLinc, said: “I’ve been around extrusion over 38 years and 90 per cent concentricity seemed to be the acceptable goal for tight tolerance

The new development includes an AK fixed centre die head that is used to eliminate manual die centring and instead the die pin centre location relative to the die bushing is precisely adjusted by touchscreen control of four die-pin heaters. These heaters are located in the rear mandrel of the die head where they can be heated in an uneven pattern to “flex” the die pin to control its position. American Kuhne has developed the technology further and incorporated closed-loop control of tubing wall thickness concentricity by integrating its control system with an online OD and wall thickness gauge controller. This technology was showcased in a live demonstration

Established in 1994, Shanghai Yueyuechao Steel Pipe Group has now been developed into a comprehensive enterprise which is specialized in carbon steel, low-alloy seamless and welded tubes and pipes manufacturing and exporting. Our production range: Seamless tubes: 1/8"~28" in OD, 1.5~50mm in WT. LSAW pipes: 14"~56" in OD, 8~50mm in WT. 3-rolling bending plate welded pipes: 40"~158" in OD, 15.9~140mm in WT.

Gas cylinder pipe: 62~711mm in OD, 2.3~18mm in WT. Our main certs: API/ISO/BV/DNV/ABS/LR/TUV/GL/

TEL: +86-21-31108050 FAX: +86-21-31108052 E-MAIL: red@yyc88.cn

WEBSITE: http://www.yyc88.com HEAD OFFICE ADD: 10–11th Floor, No.11 Building, No.1588, Youyi Rd., Baoshan District, Shanghai, China

58

www.read-tpt.com

J anuary 2014