Tube endworking machine automated by robot

Citation

(2000), "Tube endworking machine automated by robot", Industrial Robot, Vol. 27 No. 5. https://doi.org/10.1108/ir.2000.04927eaf.006

Tube endworking machine automated by robot

Tube endworking machine automated by robot

Keywords Motoman, Tube, Automations, Robots

Italian tube processing equipment manufacturer BEMA, represented in the UK by Rivers Machinery, has collaborated with Motoman to demonstrate a six-station tube endworking machine, loaded and unloaded automatically by an articulated arm robot for the series production of an automotive component (see Plate 5).

Plate 5 A BEMA tube endworking machine automated by a Motoman six-axis robot for the series production of an automotive component

In the demonstration system the six tonnes force, BEMA SER 6x6 rotary transfer machine was loaded with single lengths of mild steel tube of 12mm outside diameter, 1.5mm wall thickness, held in an inclined rack magazine. A bead and olive form were machined by successive stations at one end of the tube, following which the robot turned the component around and inserted the reverse end into the machine for completion of a bead, undercut and taper.

BEMA specialises in plant for tube bending and end forming, from simple hand loaded machines to automated lines. The SER 6x6 model has a 196mm forming stroke and auto feed for machining up to 90mm diameter material. It is the smallest in a series of five models capable of carrying out endworking operations sequentially and fully automatically. Operations can include any combination of turning, boring, swaging, bending, flaring, reducing, thread rolling, thread cutting, grooving, and deburring.

The Motoman UP6 is a new robot from the Japanese manufacturer, Yaskawa, with a load carrying capacity of 6kg. Despite its compact size, it has a generous working envelope and features a flexible conduit which routes all services from the base to the upper arm, eliminating trailing hoses and cables. All UP robots (up to 400kg capacity) have direct drive on the six axes for speed, accuracy and reliability. Repeatability of positioning is to ± 0.8mm.

For further information, please contact: Harvey Mead, Managing Director, Rivers Machinery Ltd, Easton Lane, Winchester SO23 7RU. Tel: +44 (0)1962 860371; Fax: +44 (0)1962 841095. John D'Angelillo, Managing Director, Motoman Robotics (UK) Ltd, 1 Swan Industrial Estate, Banbury, Oxon OX16 8DJ. Tel: +44 (0)1295 272755; Fax: +44 (0)1295 267127.