TPT March 2011

23-26 May 2011 Moscow, Russia

reduction parameters and subsequently annealed. At a certain reduction degree, a fine-grained result was achieved. The new cast and draw production process combines simple, well-known operations, without requiring expensive, energy-intensive extrusion presses or rolling mills. Fax: +49 2394 18 171

Bültmann GmbH Germany

COPPER tubes for sanitary and industrial purposes require fine-grained microstructures. The disadvantage of the widely used production process (casting, extruding, drawing) is a comparatively large eccentricity of extruded tubes, which cannot be completely eliminated by drawing. Another production process includes casting thick-walled tubes, peeling the outer surface, reducing by rolling and drawing. Due to the heat generated during rolling, the tubes are soft-annealed. Disadvantages here are that the annealing conditions are not controllable, resulting in differing results. Furthermore, high-priced pierce rolling mills are mono-plants: dimensional changes require expensive tools and extended changeover times. Bültmann has developed a cast and draw production process for copper tubes that displays none of these disadvantages. The process allows casting of tubes, regardless of wall thickness. Thin-walled tubes can be cast and then machined on drum-type drawing machines, and eccentricity is claimed to be virtually non existent. Peeling of the surface is performed by two methods. Generally it is carried out using millers or peeling machines. The outer surface of thin-walled cast tubes, however, can also be peeled with shaving tools, so that additional equipment is not required. Drawing of cast tubes is carried out on conventional machines such as draw- benches and drum-type drawing machines, and annealing or continuous annealing is used to generate the fine grain structure required. In furnaces, annealing parameters can be strictly observed and adjusted. The individual production steps are carried out successively and are adjustable according to the particular conditions, resulting in consistent quality. Observing this process, Bültmann carried out trials with thick-walled cast tubes, which were drawn with different

Email: info@bueltmann.com Website: www.bueltmann.com

Contrôle Mesure Systèmes France

CONTRÔLE Mesure Systèmes provides eddy current and ultrasonic solutions and products all over the world, and is especially involved in wires and bars, tubes and pipes, plates and sheets, automotive parts inspection and nuclear plants. CMS is able to offer a large range of NDT equipment and key standard or specific installations, to provide optimal solutions for applications in the laboratory, on-site or on the production line. All systems meet quality standards such as API, ASTM and DIN, and can be used on- or off-line. Tele-maintenance in real time, via networking, allows CMS technicians to connect and take remote control of devices, offering users high quality technical support with fast response. Instruments, associated to a full range of accessories, allow CMS to offer the best solution corresponding to customers’ eddy current and ultrasonic inspection requirements. The company’s eddy current range includes Zet@ brand mono- or multi- channel instruments, special software, high-speed data acquisition systems with real-time visualisation, and accessories like rotating heads, rotating systems, magnetising and demagnetising units, and eddy current probes and coils for specific applications and standards. The ultrasonic range includes the usc- 100 ultrasonic instrument, and immersion tanks for pipes inspection. The ultrasonic rotating head for tube inspection is available in different sizes, from 6 to 130mm, for internal defect detection and thickness and diameter measurement. It provides high precision inspection and accurate defect detection (5% of wall thickness and measurement accuracy of ±2µm). Fax: +33 3 8594 1415 Email: contactcms@cmseddyscan.com Website: www.cmseddyscan.com

Copper tube manufacturing processes

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M arch 2011

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