ELECT XL150 Tube Bender

March 01, 2014

The ELECT XL150 all-electric tube bender from BLM GROUP USA brings advanced levels of accuracy and productivity to the bending of tubes up to 6 inches in diameter. The unit can handle difficult applications with little or no straight between bends or where tight radius bends are required, and has already found a home in the automotive, agricultural machinery, construction machinery, and shipbuilding industries, among others.

The ELECT XL150 boasts an array of productivity and accuracy enhancing features. The precise control and positioning of its electric axes ensures that optimum working parameters can be reproduced exactly, first time, every time, without reliance on operator expertise. Its multi-stack tooling (up to eight stacks) allows several bend tools to be pre-mounted to minimize tool changeover. Incorporating the direct gearbox drive within the compact head assembly gives the ELECT XL150 much greater clearance around the bend head area. The machine also combines conventional and variable radius bends in the same automatic bend cycle.

One key to the ELECT XL150 superior performance is its CNC. When a part program is selected all the critical settings for the machine and tooling are automatically managed by the CNC (e.g., clamping, pressure die, mandrel position/retraction, centerline radius, etc.), and correct positional and torque settings are assured. Remote access permits offline management and troubleshooting.

Another key to ELECT XL150 performance is VGP3D, its easy to use yet advanced 3D graphical programming software. By simply inputting the component's bend coordinates the software can quickly provide users with real-time simulation of the bending operation and automatically correct for possible collision points. VG3PD optimizes productivity, in some cases by as much as 200 percent, while simultaneously enhancing quality and minimizing operator involvement. The software also permits off-line programming for high degrees of both automation and production planning.

Of increasing importance in today's manufacturing climate is the fact that the all-electric ELECT XL150 can reduce power consumption by up to 80 percent compared to electro-hydraulic machines.

Related Glossary Terms

  • clearance

    clearance

    Space provided behind a tool’s land or relief to prevent rubbing and subsequent premature deterioration of the tool. See land; relief.

  • computer numerical control ( CNC)

    computer numerical control ( CNC)

    Microprocessor-based controller dedicated to a machine tool that permits the creation or modification of parts. Programmed numerical control activates the machine’s servos and spindle drives and controls the various machining operations. See DNC, direct numerical control; NC, numerical control.

  • mandrel

    mandrel

    Workholder for turning that fits inside hollow workpieces. Types available include expanding, pin and threaded.