TPT September 2017

T E CHNOLOG Y

Robots as tube bending machines? THE trend towards flexibility in machining processes with a high degree of automation is a major focus in many sectors. Nonetheless, with all the innovative strength and performance power of such systems the question remains: When and how does it make sense to automate? And is the robot a means to an end or the deciding factor? Stefanie Flaeper, managing director at transfluid, has the answer. The specialist for high-tech tube processing equipment has been developing its ‘t motion’ solution for process automation for many years and for a great variety of application areas. cost reduction for a process. Because a great deal of ‘know-how’ is required to be able to leverage the optimum results from the machining components through to operation,” explained Ms Flaeper. With the integration of well-proven technologies for tube bending or forming, the automation options are always being consistently exploited.

Stefanie Flaeper

For example, if it is necessary to cut at the start, transfluid’s chipless orbital tube cutter provides a fast route for direct further processing. As a result, it is possible to carry out forming processes at the end of the tube and bending pre- formed tubes, for example, without delay. With the great variety of possibilities, such as integrated labelling systems or optical measurement systems, the clarification of the general question of the layout of the respective handling system is one of the most important. “Robots are one variant, the other could be an electrical servo driven four-axis linear handling unit, for example. Both systems have their appeal – certainly the linear system if the central factors are the handling times, short tubes or machining prior to the bending process,” said Ms Flaeper. The advantages of the linear systems in comparison to robots lie in particular in the high speed and that they are easier to program. “Linear systems increase the degree of utilisation of the integrated machines. In contrast, a robot is a great deal

more flexible. At least when it comes to automated tube bending,” explained Ms Flaeper. A supplementary concept for the forward-looking ‘t-motion’ automation systems from transfluid is the option to employ the robot as a machine rather than only for handling tasks. “With one of our current projects we must find a solution and decide whether we install a bending machine and automate this via a robot or simply take the opportunity to use a robot as a machine,” said Ms Flaeper. In order to realise this the transfluid engineers have simply put a bending machine into the robot’s hand. This robot bending machine is able to bend right-left with a single setting. It is flexible, in particular when long tubes have to be bent or, for example, pipe- hose combinations whereby the hose has already been installed prior to the bending process. Because this enables the bending head to be equipped with several levels, it is possible to bend different tube diameters without a tool change. In addition to conventional bending methods, there is also a further process available for using robots to bend tubes with an internal mandrel. This is of inter- est if both ends of the workpiece have al- ready been machined, for example. The robot can start the bending from both sides. As a result the transfluid concept has opened up an opportunity to bend both ends into the final shape without an additional length being required. transfluid Maschinenbau GmbH – Germany

“Of course, with all the enthusiasm for automation there is always the question of benefits. Because the reasons for deciding to go for an automated process are certainly diverse. “Sometimes the objective is to achieve process capability and quality independent of the operator. In other sectors or applications, the focus is on

transfluid networks its tube bending technologies

Email: sales@transfluid.de Website: www.transfluid.net

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SEPTEMBER 2017