TPT September 2018

T E CHNOLOG Y

T E CHNOLOG Y

Networked tube bending to assist efficient planning

production time for tubes with a diameter up to 400mm. The fast set-up of the machine – often in less than ten minutes – also plays a crucial role. Equipped with a fully automated CNC control system, the transfluid units can process tubes with thin and thick walls and made of any material, even with radii of 1.5 x tube diameter or more. These tight bending radii are also achieved with minimal thinning of the tube walls. It is possible to achieve a more simple tube processing process when the flanges are welded onto the straight tube beforehand because the welding process is faster at that stage. With the internal connection to the CAD programs the ‘t project’ bending software can process the isometrics immediately. Flanges can be chosen from a database and integrated in the isometrics in terms of bending technology. “With the directional bending of the flanged tubes our solution is able to improve the flexibility of the manufacturing,” explained Ms Flaeper. “The processes become more simple.” The tablet version of the ‘t project Draft’ software offers greater freedom for on-site applications. It allows the user to acquire data with a very light, portable measuring system. It is possible to collect data, for instance, for connector tubes, of both the geometries of the process as well as the flanges and the position of the flanges. Time savings are particularly significant with this device. The process of measuring only requires a few minutes, even for more complex tubes with flanges. All the data is acquired digitally and then documented and can be transferred online or be available to the technical office and the bending machine directly. Once a tube part has been completed it can be measured again to guarantee smooth installation.

DIGITAL solutions are required by the international shipbuilding and offshore industry to aid efficient planning. To support this, transfluid combines its bending technologies for large diameter tubes with online networking that is aimed at practical everyday applications. This is the case with ‘t project’ software, which calculates the exact orientation of flanges when bending straight tubes with welded flanges. Mobile measuring tools acquire data on-site when trying to measure template tubes accurately. In addition to that transfluid offers the option of tube end-forming processes with the rotary tube forming UMR ‘t form’ machine. For example, it is possible to introduce flared flanges and then subsequently bend the tube. “Saving time and money are aspects that we try to make possible for the industry when it comes to tube processing,” said transfluid director Stefanie Flaeper. “Our ‘t bend’ CNC bending machine replaced the need to weld bends onto large tubes.” The bending systems are claimed to help save up to 60 per cent of the

© transfluid © transfluid

‘ t project ’ Draft contributes to more time-efficient and more flexible tube manufacturing

The pipe bending machine DB 40120-CNC-VE changes tools automatically

While tubes are processed with the measurement data that was provided, further measurements can also be taken. A key aspect of tube processing in the shipbuilding industry is the forming of tube ends, such as the forming of flared flanges on the tubes. With the rolling UMR ‘t form’ machine it is possible to shape tubes with diameters up to 325mm. Almost tool-independent, it uses a controlled shaping cone that can be programmed freely during the task. Another shaping option is the cylindrical expansion of tube ends in order to connect two tubes. The transfluid solution to this challenge is suitable for tubes with a nominal size up to 250. The traditional practice of welding with two seams on each connection sleeve for large sizes is therefore not necessary. transfluid Maschinenbau GmbH – Germany Fax: +49 2972 9715 11

transfluid’s DB 40220-3A-CNC ‘t bend’ tube bending machine for processing tube between 40 and 220mm © transfluid

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

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SEPTEMBER 2018