Opportunities for bending tubes

The path to exact measurement data for component production, reverse engineering, or component inspection is especially indispensable for creating valuable results during tube bending. For this reason, the experts have developed t control together with a partner – a wireless system for measuring tubes and connection elements like flanges. Plus, it doesn’t need arms, joints, or laser beams, and measures via an exactly defined light pattern, which is observed by one or more cameras. These determine the position and orientation of the light pattern in space. This enables the desired raw data to be recorded. Corresponding interfaces make exchanging data with CAD and transfluid’s bending program t project and direct integration of the tube bending machine in the process possible.

The overall system therefore increases flexibility for more bending freedom. t control is portable, ensures a high level of precision in the measuring space (directly at the object), and it is suitable for use at the construction site. Industries like machine and plant construction, hydraulics, and ship building benefit from this in particular.

Ready to use in 5 minutes
“During cooperative development, the strong performance of the overall system was important to us: Measuring, digital documentation, data processing, and execution of bending. However, easy operation and the fact that t control would be ready for measuring quickly are also important practical factors, of course,” explains Stefanie Flaeper, General Manager of transfluid. Calibration is not necessary. t control is ready to start within 5 minutes with up to 20 metres of measurement power. Depending on the requirements, this is implemented via tactile measurement with standard measurement sensors or tube measuring callipers.

Record material correction values, connection pieces, and projecting edges
In addition to control measurements for components, material correction values for transfluid t bend tube bending machines can also be recorded. In the area of reverse engineering, very simple existing geometries can be measured in order to reproduce them precisely. Additional options include measuring in connection pieces of a pipeline directly at the object, recording projecting edges, and digital creation of the desired tube shape via air points for further optimised processing.

Creating components with “air points”
Data for component production is recorded by drawing a fictional tube shape using “air points” between the connection pieces. This enables simple and exactly matching tube construction directly at the installation location. Connections like flanges and screw connections can be recorded and processed digitally. This also includes detecting and bypassing possible projecting edges. The data exchange with CAD and the connection with the transfluid bending program enables the geometry to be optimised including the bending collision test.

Effective reverse engineering
Connection pieces and pipe geometries can be recorded for reverse engineering. With its compact dimensions and wireless portable application options, t control is perfectly suited to tight construction spaces, e.g. machine rooms. Thanks to its large field of measurement, the system is also ideal for measurement tasks in the areas of power plant construction and construction machines.

Component inspection for improved quality
Over-bending values for the bending machine can be recorded within the scope of the component inspection. Evaluations that make CPK detection and measurement series are also possible. Plus, the system provides measurement logs and the comparison of measurement results with the CAD master component. The data exchange with CAD and the bending software also takes place here.
In summary, the new measurement system, the t project software, and the tube bending machines from transfluid offer a complete solution for secure tube production processes for automotive and machine construction, aircraft and aerospace, foundry technology, milling, wind energy, power plant construction, and ship and pipeline construction.