TPT July 2007

30 / 116

28 July /August 2007
Technology Update
Tube bending machines for
Boeing helicopter manufacture
Unison, UK, has shipped an all-electric
tube-bending machine to the rotorcraft
manufacturing facility of Boeing Integrated
Defense Systems in Philadelphia, USA. It is
the first all-electric tube bending machine
to be installed at this Boeing facility.
The new Breeze 20 machine is capable
of making precision bends on high
performance alloy and aluminium tubes
with diameters of up to 1" (25mm). It
will be used to fabricate hydraulic and
fuel line components required during the
manufacture and service of Chinook and
V-22 Osprey helicopters.
The machine features a ‘long nose’, which
allows tubular shapes with complex bends,
and very short distances between bends,
to be automatically fabricated. Instead of
hydraulic force, the Breeze 20 uses servo-
motors to control the bending process.
All-electric actuation provides significant
advantages related to manufacturing
precision, repeatability and energy
consumption. Each of the tools employed
is software controlled, to enable smooth
bends and optimal flow performance.
After setup, operating parameters can also
be stored, allowing machines to be quickly
reconfigured for another part or batch,
without creating any scrap. Furthermore, as
the actuation elements of the machine only
need energy when a bend is being made,
total power consumption is greatly reduced.
Unison – UK
Fax: +44 1723 582379
Email:
Website:
Horn Machine Tools – USA
Fax: +1 559 431 4431
Email:
Website:
Roll-Kraft, USA, has developed a
new product design that will remedy
the problem of surface markings
that show up during the production
process. Markings can be caused
for many reasons, but are usually
the result of poor roll design on a
mill that is out of alignment.
The company has designed a
method to eliminate marking caused
by speed differences between the
throat diameter and overall roll
diameters.
The new bearingless floating flange
roll design, developed by engineers at Roll-Kraft, is claimed to significantly
improve the appearance of tube, pipe
and rollformed products. This will lead
to better product performance and
success.
This design advancement works very well in
a variety of applications: large diameter tube
sizes, heavy gauges, specialty materials,
and, of course, cold-roll materials.
Roll-Kraft – USA
Fax: +1 440 205 3110
Website:
Strip accumulator added to advanced tube mill line
Myung Jin Machinery, Korea, is the manufacturer of an advanced tube mill (ERW 1-24")
and a host of related equipment. The company has launched the latest strip accumulator,
which has been developed with a range of features.
The accumulator incorporates an innovative mechanism to pull the skelp (strip) from
its inside, ensuring that the skelp is not
crumpled as the accumulator winds.
Operator safety is also ensured as there
is a safety device to stop the operation
if skelp (strip) inside the accumulator
runs out before the welding process is
complete.
The accumulator is easy to use as it
retains the stored amount until the strip
on the uncoiler is finished. Stopping the
process is simple because once loaded,
the accumulator processes strip at the
same speed as tube mills.
With virtually no noise and dust,
changing strip size is also straightforward as the width of the side guide can be
adjusted.
Myung Jin Machinery – Korea
Fax: +82 31 499 4538
Email: • Website:
› The strip accumulator from Myung Lin
New bearingless floating flange roll design
fi Floating assembly – exploded lower right outside
› Floating assembly – exploded lower right (floater only)
› The new Breeze 20 machine will be used to
fabricate hydraulic and fuel line components for
Boeing helicopters