PRODUCTS & EQUIPMENT
process was the fact that these rails featured complex helical bends that, in effect, require the machine to bend and twist the rail at the same time. Here BLM provided the confidence through support and advice for Bespoke Stairlifts. “In one respect it was good that we had no experience of tube bending as that meant we didn’t realise how difficult it might be to create some of the shapes that we needed, so we just got on with it. We did this though in the knowledge that BLM were at the end of the telephone and their support was excellent. Not only did it include telephone support, but we also had back up from their engineers, who went through the software and programming for the more complex forms we
were producing. BLM delivered on everything they promised,” says Simon Waddington. The BLM ELECT 80, which forms part of a £1 million plus investment by Bespoke Stairlifts to create its own product range, is part of the ELECT range of fully electric CNC tube bending systems that feature nine axes of movement, a bend head that features left or right hand bend sensing configuration, variable radius bending and a the multi-stack tool mount allows up to eight tools to be used on the same tube in a single set up, facilitating multi radii bends as well as bends with minimal straight tube between them as well as compound bends. The machine is controlled via a Siemens PC-based system that includes BLM’s own 3D visual
Weld purge dams
For closure welds, tight bends, T piece joints, dome end connections and so on, where a conventional Tandem Weld Purging System cannot be used, a range of low cost, single ended Inflatable Weld Purge Dams are available from Huntingdon Fusion Techniques HFT®. Manufactured for pipe diameters from 6 to 96 inches (150 mm up to 2,440 mm), these lightweight systems are easy to inflate using the purge gas. Once the Dam is inflated and seals all around the internal circumference of the pipe, the excess inert purge gas spills out and purges the space around the weld joint which then pushes the air out to the open atmosphere. Each Dam is equipped with a purge/inflation hose (black), an extra purge gas hose (blue) as well as a hose for connecting a Weld Purge Monitor® (red). The blue hose is suitable for passing extra gas into the weld zone at any time to cool welds to meet interpass specifications, or to provide extra inert gas in the event of titanium, zirconium or special
graphic programming (VGP3D) software. The VGP3D software enables the user to effect real time bend simulation and automatically select the shortest and most efficient bending cycle, which in turn reduces cycle time and manufacturing cost. The system also highlights any possible collision points, and suggests practical alternative bend sequences. Another factor that simplified the decision for Bespoke was BLM’s B-HELIX software option, which was developed in conjunction with some of Europe’s largest stairlift and balustrade manufacturers. This highly innovative software option enables Bespoke to simply input two pieces of data (staircase lift and radius) for the required stairlift into the
CNC control, and the B-HELIX software, running via BLM’s VGP programming and control software, automatic calculates the helix and shape needed for the stairlift rails. The rails are then produced using BLM’s variable radius bending technology on the ELECT 80. “The decision to begin
manufacturing our own product was a major decision and has involved significant financial input and time and brought with it a steep learning curve for all of us that were involved in the process. However, it is a decision that will allow Bespoke Stairlifts to continue to grow and we are already looking to employ additional engineering staff to help manage the ongoing production process,” says Simon Waddington.
stainless applications needing a guaranteed zero colour weld. By producing bright shiny welds, there will be no porosity and there will be no loss of corrosion resistance caused by oxidation. Apart from the benefit of having a metallurgically sound weld, the difficulties of cleaning an oxidised weld are eliminated, saving vast amounts of money in labour and material costs as well as the disposal costs where acids are concerned.
Even today, many companies are still allowing their technicians to spend many hours fabricating dams made of foam, cardboard, adhesive tape, wood and so on. Like paper, these materials contain a high percentage of water and water is very undesirable to have in the presence of a weld. As these poor materials are warmed by the welding operation, they start to outgas their water vapour, which starts to circulate
www.internationalmetaltube.com
around the weld joint and combine with the weld pool to cause porosity and oxidation. Now there is no more reason to put welds at risk by using apparently cheaper materials, when for a very low cost, Argweld® Inflatable Weld Purge Dams can be purchased instead!
More information from: Email: marketing@
huntingdonfusion.com
IMT June 2015 11
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