transfluid is bringing its completely revamped t form UMR forming machines to Hannover. These new systems have all the benefits of previous tried-and-tested models but also achieve shorter machining times and much improved surface finishes – regardless of whether they're working with seamless tubes or tubes with welded seams. The transfluid solutions use two processes to form the tubes - rotation and rolling. For example, the bead rolling machine uses the rolling process to achieve various types of forming on tube ends, such as highly accurate and long reductions and threads. However, the rotation method can be used to add various types of flaring at the end of the tube, at an angle to the diameter between 37° and 90°, or contoured (for instance ball-shaped).

"In the past, stops and strokes had to be set manually for both machines to achieve good surface geometries," explains Stefanie Flaeper, Managing Director of transfluid. She goes on to highlight additional benefits of the new tube forming machines. "With the latest iteration of our t form UMR 628, 642 and 2090 models, operators only have to perform a very simple tool change, which takes less than five minutes."

The systems now allow the operator to preselect the flaring geometry on a fully electronic basis. The stop position as well as all strokes and machining processes are controlled by a servomechanism and can be retrieved via a touch panel. Since the material and type of forming required are crucial to the exact machining time, the machine carries out the process virtually independently when it's able to retrieve both the tube size and the required process parameters. This solution from transfluid is designed to ensure complex forming geometries and flaring with polished sealing surfaces can be produced more cost-effectively in a single step.