TPT March 2020

T UBE SOF TWARE & CONT R OL S YS T EMS

Next generation of tube bending robots ROBOTS that process tubes in an effective and flexible way have been used for some time in transfluid’s production cells. These bending systems have been capable of taking isometrics data and using it to generate bending data, without the need for separate robot programming.

The high-tech engineering company has now taken the development of its bending robots one step further. “We wanted a solution that was even easier to use. This applies to the programming, which has been reduced or completely eliminated,” explained Stefanie Flaeper, transfluid director. “And at the same time we have managed to make the robots even more flexible. It was a very big challenge to significantly improve bending robots that were already working extremely well. That is why I am even happier that our team of experts has been successful.” transfluid bending units have two robots that bend long tubes from both sides. This way the tubes can be supplied with forming or connection systems. However, it is much easier to process straight tubes in forming machines, when a bending machine can start from both sides. “The robots are synchronised when in use. Additional fittings, like mounting and support devices, are automatically synchronised with the processing robots. The robots recognise the tubes thanks to the code on the components and they generate the bending sequence; they can also choose different radii and diameters,” said Ms Flaeper. It is also possible to work with up to six different tube diameters without tool changing. With the new and continued developments from transfluid, each XIRIS Automation has developed a weld microphone system that integrates into its Xiris weld camera system. Being able to use sight and sound while welding is said to improve operators’ abilities to fine-tune and monitor the welding process from a safe distance. This is important for critical welding applications where the process needs to be monitored from further away, such as in a control room.

or the handling process. They are simply retrieved from stored data. It is also possible to process components that have been bent and put aside by the robots without any problems, even if there are potential collisions, because of the long segments. This is because the last bend can be done on the ‘floating’ tube, just above the unloading position. The system is managed through the bending machine controls. This has the advantage that you can work with x, y and z data, but also with lengths and bending angles, just like with the standard bending machines. It is not necessary to have special knowledge of how to program a robot. To keep the set- up time as short as possible, the robots have preloaded settings.

manufacturing cell with two robots can do more than just bend tubes from both sides: each of the bending robots can also work on their own different geometry. The system can therefore be used in a more efficient way and the output is greater. “With the software we have developed we have set ourselves a new goal, which is to make the processes much simpler. The bending data will be generated automatically from the coordinates, without the need to program the robots,” added Ms Flaeper. The latest generation of bending robots also offer safer handling. The position where the robot grabs the tube in the magazine, and the position where it grabs the tube to remove and deposit it, can be retrieved from pre- programmed settings. This means that the operator has to do almost no programming of the bending program The microphone system is specifically designed for the welding environment and includes the microphone, cables and a specialised signal-processing card embedded in the Xiris HMI. Additional software features include the ability to record and play back audio with the video and also equalise the audio to enhance or minimise surrounding noise. Xiris Automation specialises in de - veloping optical equipment used for

transfluid Maschinenbau GmbH www.transfluid.net Audio technology added to weld cameras

process and quality control across a number of industries. With an extensive product line, Xiris provides manufacturers with the ability to detect, recognise and interpret quality defects in their manufactured goods.

Xiris Automation Inc sales@xiris.com www.xiris.com

153

www.read-tpt.com

MARCH 2020