Due to the complex spatial positioning of the tube shape, describing it with several points' coordinates makes it difficult for people to visualize the actual shape of the tube. Moreover, the data used by tube bending machines is not coordinate point data, but rather "incremental bending data." Therefore, the coordinate point data stored in the computer's memory must be converted through a series of vector operations to calculate the "incremental tube shape data" required for bending.
The feed distance between two tubes is the distance from the endpoint to the tangent point of the straight line and the arc, or the distance between the tangent points of the straight line and two arcs. For the tube bending machine, it represents the straight feed distance before each bend. Spatial turning angle refers to the angle between the planes of two bends that are not on the same plane. For the tube bending machine, it is the rotation angle of the chuck holding the tube. The chuck can rotate forward or backward. The bending angle is the angle between the centerline of the second straight segment and the centerline of the first straight segment. For the tube bending machine, it is the turn-out angle of the bending arm.
Each bend of the tube shape has these three pieces of data. The data for a particular bend are based on the data from the previous bend, which is why it is called "incremental tube shape data." After this data is generated, it must be corrected with springback data before it becomes the bending program, which is used to control the vector tube bending machine to perform the bending.
Vector Tube Bending Technology
After measuring the tube shape and obtaining the necessary data, the tube must be bent accordingly. Therefore, a tube bending machine is paired with the tube shape measuring machine, using this equipment to bend the tube according to the measured data. The entire process of vector tube bending technology entails:
Using the tube shape measuring machine to measure (or enter based on the blueprint) the tube shape data, editing and modifying the tube shape data; measuring the springback data, compiling the bending program; using the tube bending machine to bend the tubes; using the shape measuring machine for automatic inspection, comparing it with the standard sample tube shape data, calculating the difference, and automatically correcting the bending program using the "difference"; then using the tube bending machine to bend the qualified tubes.
The entire process is controlled by a computer. This is known as Computer Numerical Control (CNC). Of course, the first step in this process, measuring the tube shape data, can also be done by directly entering the data of the intersections of the tube's straight segments and the endpoints into the computer based on the design drawings to determine the shape of the tube.
Vector tube bending technology is a breakthrough in the tube bending process.
Adopting vector tube bending technology to manufacture tubes is of great significance. Rapid measurement of tube shape data, programming according to the tube shape standard samples
As previously mentioned, the shapes of pipes and their engines on aircraft are very complex, and they are difficult or even impossible to express with design drawings. Therefore, in the processing of these conduits, many are manufactured not according to drawings but based on the conduit (or tube shape) standard samples, and are accepted on a type-surface inspection fixture.
If one were to only use CNC tube bending, given that it is very difficult to measure tube shape data with conventional methods and even if measured, the data would not be accurate, coupled with many factors affecting springback such as the material of the tube, diameter, wall thickness, bending radius, and bending angle, etc., there is no certain rule. A series of technological problems make it quite difficult to compile bending programs. This can only be done through the method of "bend by bend trial bending—initial data recording—trial bending the entire tube shape—data correction—final data determination" to compile the bending program.
However, with the use of a tube shape measuring machine, this problem is easily solved. It obtains tube shape data by measuring standard tube shape samples, and after correcting for springback, automatically compiles the bending program needed by the bending machine.
This is a "profile-following" method, which has a significant application in actual production. Especially for complex-shaped tubes, a massive amount of complex calculations are completed by the computer, which solves the general difficulty of measuring tube shape data, thus making computer programming of tube shapes possible and greatly reducing the computational workload for programming personnel.
The feed distance between two tubes is the distance from the endpoint to the tangent point of the straight line and the arc, or the distance between the tangent points of the straight line and two arcs. For the tube bending machine, it represents the straight feed distance before each bend. Spatial turning angle refers to the angle between the planes of two bends that are not on the same plane. For the tube bending machine, it is the rotation angle of the chuck holding the tube. The chuck can rotate forward or backward. The bending angle is the angle between the centerline of the second straight segment and the centerline of the first straight segment. For the tube bending machine, it is the turn-out angle of the bending arm.
Each bend of the tube shape has these three pieces of data. The data for a particular bend are based on the data from the previous bend, which is why it is called "incremental tube shape data." After this data is generated, it must be corrected with springback data before it becomes the bending program, which is used to control the vector tube bending machine to perform the bending.
Vector Tube Bending Technology
After measuring the tube shape and obtaining the necessary data, the tube must be bent accordingly. Therefore, a tube bending machine is paired with the tube shape measuring machine, using this equipment to bend the tube according to the measured data. The entire process of vector tube bending technology entails:
Using the tube shape measuring machine to measure (or enter based on the blueprint) the tube shape data, editing and modifying the tube shape data; measuring the springback data, compiling the bending program; using the tube bending machine to bend the tubes; using the shape measuring machine for automatic inspection, comparing it with the standard sample tube shape data, calculating the difference, and automatically correcting the bending program using the "difference"; then using the tube bending machine to bend the qualified tubes.
The entire process is controlled by a computer. This is known as Computer Numerical Control (CNC). Of course, the first step in this process, measuring the tube shape data, can also be done by directly entering the data of the intersections of the tube's straight segments and the endpoints into the computer based on the design drawings to determine the shape of the tube.
Vector tube bending technology is a breakthrough in the tube bending process.
Adopting vector tube bending technology to manufacture tubes is of great significance. Rapid measurement of tube shape data, programming according to the tube shape standard samples
As previously mentioned, the shapes of pipes and their engines on aircraft are very complex, and they are difficult or even impossible to express with design drawings. Therefore, in the processing of these conduits, many are manufactured not according to drawings but based on the conduit (or tube shape) standard samples, and are accepted on a type-surface inspection fixture.
If one were to only use CNC tube bending, given that it is very difficult to measure tube shape data with conventional methods and even if measured, the data would not be accurate, coupled with many factors affecting springback such as the material of the tube, diameter, wall thickness, bending radius, and bending angle, etc., there is no certain rule. A series of technological problems make it quite difficult to compile bending programs. This can only be done through the method of "bend by bend trial bending—initial data recording—trial bending the entire tube shape—data correction—final data determination" to compile the bending program.
However, with the use of a tube shape measuring machine, this problem is easily solved. It obtains tube shape data by measuring standard tube shape samples, and after correcting for springback, automatically compiles the bending program needed by the bending machine.
This is a "profile-following" method, which has a significant application in actual production. Especially for complex-shaped tubes, a massive amount of complex calculations are completed by the computer, which solves the general difficulty of measuring tube shape data, thus making computer programming of tube shapes possible and greatly reducing the computational workload for programming personnel.
