- E-TURN52, a Tube Bender from BLM GROUP that can handle right- and left-hand bends in the same cycle, will perform real-time demonstrations on the show floor.
- VGPNext proprietary software allows for full 3D graphical simulation of bends, pre-job.
- BLM GROUP to showcase this and other fabricating machines including debuting an interactive AI-powered 3D model of its new LT12 Tube Laser.
Toronto, Ontario – BLM GROUP is demonstrating its all-electric E-Turn52 Tube Bender featuring MC1052 hole detection at FABTECH Canada 2024, booth #3031. The system will process a 1.75” round stainless-steel tube with 0.065” wall thickness using hole detection to locate various features on the end of the tube. The machine will then draw-bend the tube in both right-hand and left-hand directions. Additionally, variable radius tooling will be used to create a large radius bend.
The E-TURN52 has an all-electric drive that ensures precision control of the movements along 15 axes, providing high accuracy and consistency that results in perfect quality bends and zero scrap. It can also attain up to 80% savings in power consumption and it has simplified cabling components that reduce the rate of maintenance compared to conventional hydraulic bending machines.
The E-TURN model is available in four sizes that hold a maximum tube O.D. capacity ranging from 1.18” x 0.079” (30 mm x 2 mm) up to 2” x 0.059” (50.8 mm x 1.5 mm). Tubes in variety of material and section types—such as round, square, rectangle, flat-sided, oval and elliptical—can be automatically loaded, bent and unloaded. This makes the E-TURN the ideal solution to the growing market demand for bending medium-to-small batches of complex, multiple-shaped tubular components of high-quality material.
Programming: A key differentiator of the E-TURN is VGPNext, the programming and 3D simulation software. By simply inputting the component bend coordinates, the complete bending cycle is graphically simulated, highlighting potential collision risks and producing the optimal working cycle. Part feasibility is checked virtually, eliminating the need for prototype tooling or physical testing on the machine. Unloading of the finished part is also automatically managed by VGPNext, with the 180-degree head rotation allowing it to be unloaded in final position.
Changeover times are significantly reduced, and machine-setup is simplified, as all critical settings for tooling are managed automatically by the CNC. This combined with self-calibration enables true simultaneous and automatic axis movement.