FABTECH 2011: TUBE & PIPE

FABTECH 2011 exhibited the latest tube bending, ring rolling, tube fabrication and tube end forming technologies, from simple single bends right through to complex welded tubular assemblies. Now our Show-in-Print brings some of those tube and pipe fabrication systems to you!

Over 35,450 attendees returned to North America’s largest metal forming, fabricating, finishing and welding event in McCormick Place on November 14-17, with over 1,200 exhibitors covering more than 450,000 net sq ft of floor space.

HEAT TRANSFER, TUBE PROCESSING MACHINES
Burr Oak Tool Inc. (Sturgis, MI) will highlight its complete line of production machinery, including heat transfer machines and tube processing machines, and will be discussing recent advances, including price reductions resulting from process improvements, and examples of finished parts manufactured from OAK machines will also be available.

The new CNC programmable straight tube cutoff line from Burr Oak Tool is the most flexible straight tube production system ever developed for the tubing industry. Feed length, speed, and batch sizes are all accurately controlled through the touch screen interface, maximizing the productivity of your processes and personnel. This hitch feed design incorporates a belt driven linear actuator that positions an air operated clamp to allow a maximum of 36 in of stroke length. The control of many aspects of the hitch feed can be determined by the operator at the touch screen interface. These include part length, number of parts required, and the actual feed speed.

When entering the part length, the programmable controller will automatically position the feed clamp and determine the correct number of hitching movements required to produce the final length. The operator can enter up to five different lengths and the machine automatically repositions itself each time the correct batch number is achieved, thus reducing set-up time. The feed clamp pressure is manually regulated to minimize clamping marks. We offer all cutoff styles in single or double configurations and with end-forming capabilities.

For over 65 years Burr Oak Tool has designed and customized production machinery for the heat transfer and tube processing industries. OAK machines are installed and successfully operating in over 70 countries. www.burroak.com

END PREP TOOLS
A pipe milling end prep tool for performing any angle of weld prep on high temperature and high pressure heavy wall, hard stainless steel and alloyed piping systems is available from ESCO Tool (Holliston, MA).

The Esco Commander MILLHOG^® pipe milling end prep tool can perform any angle of weld prep including compound and multi-angle preps on stainless steel, Super Duplex, P-91, and other hard alloyed pipes. Featuring one mandrel and only seven sets of clamps for the full 3.75 in ID to 14 in OD range of the tool, this portable end prep tool pulls a thick chip without cutting oils.

Available with pneumatic or hydraulic motors, the Esco Commander MILLHOG® pipe milling end prep tool is built for fabricating and maintaining high temperature and high pressure piping systems. Standard features include dual-opposed tapered roller bearings and oversize clamps with six contact points that spread the radial load for chatter-free welding end preps. This pipe milling end prep tool is priced from $15,295 complete, including tools and a metal carrying case, and is available for rental at $630 per week in the continental U.S.

Another portable precision welding end prep tool that is ideal for preparing pipe for orbital welding in pipe fabrication and boiler maintenance applications is the Wart MILLHOG® Right Angle ID Clamping End Prep Tool. It can bevel, face, and bore simultaneously, including compound bevels and “j” preps, to produce clean, smooth, and square end preps. Providing the consistent and contaminant-free end preps required for orbital welding, this portable tool offers torque-free performance and pulls a thick chip without cutting oils.

Ideal for stainless steel pipes and others with a high percentage of chrome, and carbon steel, the Wart MILLHOG^® Right Angle ID Clamping End Prep Tool operates over a 1.25 in ID to 4.5 in OD range with only six clamps. Standard features include a robust gear drive supported by dual-opposed tapered roller bearings, a blade lock system, and TiN coated blades. The Wart MILLHOG^® Right Angle ID Clamping End Prep Tool is priced at $5,455 complete with carrying case or can be rented for $168 per week. Literature is available upon request. Dealer inquiries are invited. www.escotool.com

GREASE CONDITIONS
New DryLube Bearings from SKF USA Inc. (Lansdale, PA) eliminate the need for grease re-lubrication and perform virtually maintenance-free over a wide temperature range. SKF DryLube Bearings are designed to perform reliably and virtually maintenance-free over a wide temperature range. These next-generation high-temperature bearings especially suit hostile and extreme temperature applications, including equipment used in the metal and steelmaking and food and beverage industries, among others.

These bearings are filled with a dry lubricant based on graphite or molybdenum disulfide and a resin binder. The dry lubricant is injected into the free space of the bearing, bonded to the cage, and cured until it solidifies. During the bearing’s operation, the dry lubricant maintains a thin film on the bearing’s raceways and rolling elements to protect against metal-to-metal contact and any potential damage caused by solid contaminants.

The bearings can provide effective lubrication for extreme temperature applications up to 350 deg C (660 deg F), achieve higher speed capabilities than standard graphite-cage counterparts, and exhibit minimal lubricant loss over time. They especially promote enhanced worker safety by reducing fire risks and eliminating slippery surfaces and can additionally help contribute to “green” operating objectives compared with many oils and greases. SKF DryLube Bearings are available in four main variants to satisfy the most demanding operating conditions of a particular application.

The SKF Grease Test Kit introduces a portable and user-friendly technology for performing bearing grease condition assessments directly in the field. The kit enables users to easily take samples and evaluate grease consistency, oil bleeding characteristics, and contamination without special training or the use of harmful chemicals.