TPT March 2014

Technology News

Automatic bending cells for automotive industry

for rational mass production. They are freely programmable CNC controlled plants that can be integrated into existing production processes. The machines of the CNC MR series, for example, have been optimised for the production of tubes with different radii or bend-in-bend geometries. Fitted with stacked bending tools, they ensure minimal set-up times. “For every plant we offer a modular configurable accessory programme which we adapt flexibly to the specific project demands and user needs,” said Schwarze-Robitec managing director Bert Zorn. “In such a way we develop an ideal production solution together with the customer.” Schwarze-Robitec integrates ma- chines into existing manufacturing cells, but can also supply completely harmonised fully automatic tube bending machines, depending on demand and specification profile. The company also integrates measuring systems for quality control, upon request. Visit Schwarze-Robitec at Tube 2014 in Düsseldorf. Learn more about the above mentioned machine types and further solutions by Schwarze-Robitec at stand E27 in hall 5. Schwarze-Robitec GmbH – Germany Fax: +49 221 89008 9920 Email: sales@schwarze-robitec.com Website: www.schwarze-robitec.com

thicknesses make new demands on the machining of hollow profiles. Tailor-made tube bending cells permit automatic production of tube and profiled semi-finished products – from tube separation and weld seam positioning via bending process to integrated quality control, reshaping or separation systems and unmanned further transport of the semi-finished products. They can offer advantages in the rational series production of injection pipes, coolant and axle tubes, tie rods, and several body, exhaust gas system and chassis components. The centrepiece of an automatic bending cell is usually a mandrel bending machine. In contrast to warm bending, the cold bending process of this machine ensures fast and energy efficient machining processes and hardly changes the microstructure of

IN the automotive supply industry, the production of hollow profiles for body and chassis construction, exhaust gas technology and other fields of application benefit from automatic bending cells, which can simplify the manufacturing process, offer occupational safety, withstand non-stop operation, and increase productivity. Stricter threshold values for CO 2 emissions, efficiency in fuel consumption, and demands on safety and comfort force manufacturers and suppliers to build more components and to produce them smaller, lighter and more robust. The use of hollow profiles plays an important role. Pipes and tube profiles have to provide complex geometries and smaller bending radii. New high-strength and lightweight materials as well as reduced wall

the material. The use of a bending mandrel permits the reliable production of very small radii, even in the case of thin-walled tubes. Schwarze-Robitec offers various mandrel bending machine series CNC 100 E TB MR VA fitted with a measuring system, and a robot for loading and transport tasks

High precision, optimum visibility, and certified robustness

ensuring the long service life of the SERVOLASER. Every SERVOLASER is put through a 48-hour test prior to delivery. During the test, the parallelism and straightness of the laser lines are controlled continuously. This is important, because they are used to control the position of the individual rubber plies during tyre building.

be delivered with up to 2,600mm of travel range. ‘Shorter rails’, with a travel range of 400mm and above, even provide a ± 0.2mm accuracy. Another highlight is the travel speed. The laser modules on the new SERVOLASER tireXpert move at up to 1,000mm per second. Unlike products from other manufacturers, the robustness of the closed housing on the SERVOLASER is certified to protection class IP54 (dust and splash-proof). This serves to protect the optics and mechanics, whilst

THE advantages of the new generation of SERVOLASERS from LAP include extreme robustness and optimum visibility. The latest version of the SERVOLASER tireXpert also features an Ethernet/IP interface to make connecting to the PLC even more convenient. Manufacturers also benefit from the low Ethernet/IP error rate. All of this makes LAP very useful in laser- assisted production. A unique feature of the tireXpert series is its long rails. Providing a projection accuracy of up to ±0.5mm, the laser can

LAP GmbH – Germany Email: info@lap-laser.com Website: www.lap-laser.com

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M arch 2014