TPT March 2021

T E CHNOLOG Y

Updated software for higher levels of control during the tube manufacturing process

THE t project software from transfluid ensures production safety in tube processing. The high-tech engineering company, based in Schmallenberg, Germany has further developed its t project software. The two versions cover different areas of tube processing. The connection to CAD, BDE (Manufacturing Execution System) or ERP systems, to bending machines or bending robots makes the software flexible for each task. This way it is possible to test different bending techniques in advance and be sure that there are no collisions. The various add-on modules contain the data for complete processes, to have better control over the process and to manage the forming techniques. t project also helps with cutting and minimising scrap. The idea of the transfluid t project software is to approach controlled manu- facturing systematically. It makes the complex simpler. As well to guarantee the compatibility with all the most com- mon interfaces, like IGES, STEP or JT. transfluid has developed two versions of the software, so it can be used in different applications of tube processing and for custom solutions: t project Basic and t project Professional. Each can be used to meet the requirements of specific tasks. Tube geometries that are produced or changed with t project can now be saved in an IGES format. This makes it possible to transfer these tube geometries back into a CAD system, after a necessary change or prototype development. An adjustment can be necessary if the collision test shows that it is not possible to bend the tube as planned on the bending machine or for those geometries which are not created in a CAD but prototyped directly on the machine. A strong feature of the software is it helps to reduce the necessary number of steps needed to manufacture a finished component and this makes the production more efficient. The software eliminates any possible collisions with the equipment, the tools and the environment before the actual bending process with the machine starts. It tests the feasibility of the tube geometry. The necessary tool and machine

For instance, you can display other tubes next to the tube being designed. That is particularly interesting with hydraulic tubing, when tubes have to be dropped side by side or in bundles. In this case one tube is the master tube and all the other tubes being processed in parallel are adapted to the master tube and displayed on screen. Adjustments can be made, if there any different geometries at the ends. The result is that the generation of tube processes is simplified and it is a reliable representation of the actual processing. Both versions of the software are available as stand-alone or network versions. t project Basic offers the basic configuration. This version is available in its usual, reliable format, including the direct conversion of isometrics into bending data and the automatic calculation of correction and over- bending values. With the entry of the diagonal length of the room it gives the user simple manual control of the bent component. It is also possible to enter the geometries manually, if the tubes have not been designed in CAD. t project Professional offers the same functions and also additional ones. It also has the adjustments and multi- test function, to check the feasibility of the bending of multiple tubes, as well as the improved display of the relative position of the tubes. Any necessary adjustments on all axis (xyz) calculated automatically. The collision tests mentioned earlier provide additional production safety. The option to simulate tubes, which, for example, already have flanges or other endformings or parts, is very helpful for practical uses. The software has a multi-test function to calculate a whole package of tube geometries and to test them against collisions. All the geometries are checked digitally in the background and those tubes that cannot be bent will be filtered out. If necessary, these will have to be adjusted geometrically. With these functions the transfluid software offers solutions for many different requirements to fit the needs of the individual user. transfluid www.transfluid.net

The software can calculate a whole package of tube geometries and test them

parameters are imported online from the t project software in connection with the CAD system. When it is necessary to test a large quantity of bending geometries it is possible to make a list with the tubes to test and their feasibility will be checked automatically sequentially. The data for the tube is then automatically imported from the CAD system, any necessary adjustments are automatic calculated, and a collision test is performed. This happens automatically. When all the tubes on the list have been tested a decision can be made on the basis of simulation results. For each tube that cannot be bent it can be decided to run a real-life test and make any adjustments manually. When a bending robot is used the software can process the data without the need to program the robot manually. The data can be loaded and modified just as easy aswith a standard bendingmachine. Pre-installed software generates all the necessary movement sequences of the robots. The automated, product-specific adjustment of the bending speed, which all transfluid machines have, makes it possible to process long tubes without oscillations and safely. Another innovation of the transfluid software is the expanded display of the drawing editors.

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MARCH 2021