TPT January 2023

I NDUS T RY Largest planetary diameter tube finishing machine boosts safety and automation

belt) and the beauty of the planetary system is that the tube does not spin. With the combination of photocells and user-friendly programmable software, it is possible to work in two different automatic modes: automatic standard and automatic with repetition. In the standard mode, the abrasive belts open automatically for tube entrance, close tight to the tube to make pressure, and open just on the very extremity of the product, allowing a complete automatic tube finishing. The automatic mode with repetition allows the tube to pass through the orbital wheel as many times as programmed, until reaching the desired finishing. This can be used for high rates of material removal or whenever a fine finish is required. In this mode, the worker is free to do other jobs while the machine does the work it was programmed for. All the programs can be stored and saved for future uses. Together with this, the ML350 also features an energy saving mode, with automatic start and stop. The motors are turned on when needed and turned off automatically as soon as the machine detects that there is no tube inside. In addition the machine shuts down completely after five minutes of inactivity, avoiding unnecessary energy waste. In order to increase autonomy, NS Máquinas has been developing and supplying a large number of solutions for automatic tube loading and unloading. Conveyor systems or bundle type can be integrated to any ML tube finishing machine, including the ML350. The ML350 is an all-in-one machine that ensures safety and a consistent finish in large diameters, long and heavy tubes.

ROUND tube finishing is an increasing requirement for manufacturers in many diverse global markets. To address these needs, NS Máquinas has developed the largest planetary finishing machine – the ML350. This machine can work with tubes from OD60mm up to OD356mm. The concept of the planetary system is that the abrasive belts rotate around the tube while the feeding rollers are transporting it through the finishing stations of the machine. All MLmachines are equipped with this system. Unlike the centreless system, the planetary concept grants almost no vibration and keeps the temperature to a minimum, preventing material distortion and ensuring better quality finishing. It is also possible to finish different shaped tubes, like oval and conic, whether they are drilled or tapered. The ML350 was born from the need to finish long, large diameter tubes. It is a one-of-a-kind machine, helping companies to be more self-sufficient in the finishing process. This is to help accomplish a perfect looking finish as well as to improve the safety of the operator. To feed these large tubes into the machine, two motors with 0.37kW on each side are used, ensuring enough strength to transport tubes up to 600kg and a two-direction feeding system. While feeding the tube into the machine, ML350 has a photocells system to open the abrasive belts when the tube is entering the orbital wheel, allowing a lifetime increase of this polishing consumable. The 5.5kW motor puts the orbital wheel spinning around the tube and the 15kW motor runs the 120 x 2,300mm long abrasive belts, making them go up to 25m/s. The large measures of the abrasive belts result in a larger point of contact with the tube, leading to more material removed and less time spent replacing consumables.

The ML350 is an all-in-one machine that ensures safety and a consistent finish

ML350, like its younger brother ML300, joins the free belt system (common to all ML machines) with a double pressure roller: flexibility to cope with out-of round tubes and stock removal in one finishing machine. The abrasive belts are supported by a double system of 3+1 rollers. Three main rollers – one to run the abrasive belt, another for diameter adjustment, and the last one for belt tensioning. Then the pressure roller that works as an automatic contact roller. This roller will apply pressure on the tube, enforcing the removal of more material. In the end, the worker can choose whether to use it or not and its tension and the abrasive belt’s flexibility. The grinding pressure the user would experience from two contact grinding rollers (one assembled on each abrasive

NS Máquinas www.nsmaquinas.com

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JANUARY 2023