Smart Software Reduces Production Steps
Published on : Tuesday 30-11--0001
The idea behind the t project software is a systematic approach to controlled tube manufacturing. What is complex becomes simple. To do this, it is possible to connect it to CAD, BDE or ERP systems, tube bending machines or bending robots. All the most common interfaces can be used. The processes can be visualised and validated. Two versions of the software have been developed, which play a key role in different areas of tube processing and custom solutions. They can be used depending of the requirements of the specific process.
Safe planning of complex geometries
A strong feature of the software is that it reduces the number of steps necessary to manufacture a finished component and this makes the production cheaper. For that reason, it is an effective solution for bending machines and it can be used together with all the usual CAD system. The software will eliminate any possible collisions with the equipment, the tools and the environment before the actual bending process starts. It tests the feasibility of the tube geometry. The necessary tool and machine parameters are delivered online through the CAD system. If a robot is used for the bending, the software will process the data, without an expensive reprogramming of the robot. To do this, it is possible to load data in the same way as for a standard bending machine. The pre-installed software will calculate all the necessary movements for the robot. The automatic product-specific adjustment of the bending speed for all transfluid machines makes it possible to process long tube safely and without oscillations.
Cutting that saves raw materials and exact identification for networked processes
The software solution also helps with the economical cutting of tubes. With integrated cutting systems the transfluid software will optimise the cutting pattern. The cutting lengths are calculated with precision and fewer raw materials are used. This is particularly effective with transfluid’s t cut equipment for orbital chipless cutting. A cutting sequence is prepared at the same time as the manufacturing process. The cutting is automatically improved and the semi-finished tubes can be used with as little waste as possible. With the individual marking, linked to the data for the connections or bending sequences, the component can be tracked at all stages of the process. The data transfer happens via an interface with CAD, ERP and other programs.
One software program, two solutions
t project is based on the Windows operating system and the use is intuitive. The software takes into account the specific data for the material that is used, to give accurate bending results safely. Various additional modules contain all the details of whole processes, in order to have better control over the process and manage the process data of the forming techniques. The t project software can be connected directly to the company’s internal network (intranet) to have better data safety. The two versions of the software are available as isolated or networked options. The first option, t project Basic, offers the almost complete digital basic package. This makes it possible to transform isometries into bending data directly and also to calculate the correction and over-bending values automatically. And by entering the diagonal data for the space, it is possible for the operator to control the bent component in an easy and manual manner. If the tubes have not been designed in the CAD system it is also possible to enter the geometry manually.
The t project Professional version has the same functions and some more. Any necessary extensions are calculated automatically. Additional production safety comes from the collision tests mentioned earlier. If a potential collision is found, the software will find an alternative by itself. The Import module has 30 interfaces for almost all the most common programs, such as IGES, STEP, JT or PCF, to connect them to CAD, measuring equipment and Office programs. The system has 10 export interfaces to export data, for instance as IGES files.
The option to run simulations on the tubes is helpful for the practical applications that include flanges or forming. In order to calculate a whole package of tube geometries and to test that there are no collisions, the software has a Multitest function. It tests all the geometries by running calculations in the background and it filters out the process sequences that are not possible. If necessary, the geometry will be adjusted. The transfluid software offers the right solution for the most diverse requirements.
Video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1HFY3DmCak
(transfluid is sought after worldwide as a partner for manufacturing tube bending machines and tube processing machines. transfluid has been developing its technologies for tube machining since 1988, so that it can provide customer-oriented, tailor-made solutions – for plant and machine construction, the automotive and energy industries, shipbuilding and medical device manufacturers.)
Captions:
Pix1: The software guarantees reliable processes with collisions tests, before the actual bending process.
Pix2: The bending processes are safe, when planning with the transfluid software.
Pix3: The transfluid software takes into account data that is specific for the materials used, to achieve accurate bending results with safety.
Pix4: Additional modules contain the whole processes, in order to have better control over the process, and they manage the data for the forming part of the process. Photo copyright: transfluid
