PRODUCT REVIEWS
Tube bending innovations
Unison Tube LLC , the North American division of UK-based Unison Ltd , will present several innovative tube manipulation technologies at FABTECH ( North America ’ s largest metalforming , fabricating , welding and finishing event ) in Chicago from 11-14 September 2023 .
Unison machines on show at FABTECH ( booth D41930 ) will include an all-electric Unison Breeze 100mm ( maximum tube diameter ) multi-stack tube bender and one of the company ’ s manually operated , CNCcontrolled EvBend 1000 models .
“ The Breeze 100mm machine is one of our flagship models . Like all Unison Breeze tubebending machines , the 100mm Breeze offers rapid set-up ; fast tooling changes ; exceptional power ; rigid mechanical design and allelectric control for right-first-time repeat subcontract work , or immediately after producing a single trial part . These are all attributes that we believe make the Breeze models the ultimate tube manipulation machines for businesses specialising in small-batch production runs ,” the company
The Unison Breeze all-electric tube bending machine .
told ISMR .
“ Equipped with our recently upgraded Unibend software , all-electric Breeze machines also offer cycle time speed improvements in the region of 25 % compared to earlier models and incorporate new teach routine and simulation features ,” it added .
Unison ’ s EvBend 1000 is a three-axis machine that was developed to reduce the entry cost to precision rotary draw tube bending . The machine combines manually operated feed , tube rotation and bending force with CNC-controlled braking on the carriage feed , rotation and bend arm axes .
“ Typically used for low-volume , highaccuracy production and prototyping , our EvBend machines provide accurate multiplane bending at a much lower cost than many CNC benders . Two models are currently available : the EvBend 1000 for bending tube of up to 16mm in diameter and the EvBend 2000 , a machine featuring power-assisted operation and capable of bending tube of up to 50mm in diameter ,” added Unison .
The EvBend CNC control includes a PCbased 15 ” touchscreen and is capable of processing up to 100 bends per component . These machines are widely used across the aerospace and motorsport sectors for bending precision components .
“ FABTECH 2022 was an incredibly successful event for us ,” commented Unison Tube LLC ’ s Vice President , Stuart Singleton . “ With that in mind , we are looking forward to attending this year ’ s event with a larger booth and an even more exciting line-up of tube bending machines . To arrange to meet a member of the Unison Tube team at FABTECH , simply email sales @ unisonltd . com .” n
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. unisonltd . com
Rapid part measurement
Within seconds , the 1500 x 2000mm target net can be placed on an engine hood . Photo : AESUB .
Measurement targets , or reference points , are often placed on the component surface to be scanned before the 3D scan . The points are used to combine the individual scan images into an overall scan of the complete component and are often essential for accurate scan data .
The scanning of large component parts , such as engine hoods , is now becoming even quicker using a new net of measurement targets . The Target-Net by AESUB is laid over the object to be scanned and , instantly , reference points can be provided across its entire area .
“ The 3D scan process can start immediately . The target net is therefore an efficient alternative to the adhesive dots used in the past , which had to be glued on individually and then laboriously removed again after the measurement process ,” explained AESUB .
The measurement targets are distributed uniformly at intervals of approximately 100mm across the entire Target-Net . The Target-Net itself measures 1500 x 2500mm and has approximately 300 measurement targets . Using high measurement target density , several scans can be performed very quickly from different perspectives .
“ For metallic parts , a net with magnetic measurement targets is available ; measurement targets hold securely to the surface . With non-metallic parts ( e . g . made from stone or plastic ), the Target-Net is stretched across them or , depending on the material or surface , fixed with optionally available suction pads . The reference points ‘ float ’ approximately 10mm above the surface . The individual mesh threads are either not detected by the scanner or can be cut out with a few clicks in post-processing using suitable software ,” added the manufacturer .
The Target-Net can be packed away quickly and is easy to transport . Since the net can be reused almost indefinitely , said AESUB , this significantly reduces the amount of consumables that are required . Special sizes can be manufactured on request .
“ Currently , the Target-Net is equipped with 6mm retro-reflective reference points . In the future , there will also be a version with 3mm points . On request , Target-Nets with nonreflective points can also be produced ,” concluded
WATCH
AESUB .
AESUB presented the Target-Net at Control 2023 . n
VIDEO
www . aesub . com
The magnetic measuring points are evenly distributed over the entire net .
64 | ismr . net | ISMR June 2023