VTube-LASER at FABTECH

Tradeshow: FABTECH

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About the FABTECH Trade Show

Every year we exhibit at FABTECH in the tube and pipe section of the show. The show alternates between cities: 2017: Chicago 2018: Atlanta 2019: Chicago - November 11-14 2020: Las Vegas - November 18-20 2021: Chicago - September 13-16 The next FABTECH will be in Chicago at the McCormick Center.

UNISON LTD. REAL-TIME BENDER CORRECTIONS

In the 2018 show, we were directly across from the UNISON LTD. booth - and were connected to their 25mm electric bender. This partnership worked so well, that we are going to repeat this partnership in the 2019 FABTECH show.

How to SEND CORRECTION Data to the HERBER Control from VTube-LASER

STEP 1 - Bend the Tube

Bend the tube in the HERBER bender.

STEP 2 - Measure the tube with VTube-LASER

Measure and align the tube to determine if it qualifies by falling within the envelope tolerance for the tube shape. In the screen shot on the right, the red on the top left shows that the first END "A" LENGTH is out of tolerance. Also, the red cells in the tangent point grid show that the measured tube centerline shape is out-of-tolerance. Also - VTube is very visual. The solid model on the right shows exactly where the part is out is exceeding the tolerance. Click on the image to zoom in to see the values.

STEP 3 - Enter BENDER SETUP

Click on the BENDER SETUP button in the Navigation Pane.

STEP 4 - Choose the BENDER NUMBER

Set the correct bender number at the top of the window. You can select up to 100 different benders. The Bender Protocol should say "HERBER MES". (This assumes that you have already configured VTube's Benderlink in the Systems Options as described in the previous section.)

STEP 5 - COPY the Data from VTube-LASER's Main Memory

If this is the first correction, then the Bender Setup screen may show no data. If this is the case, then it is necessary to update the Bender Setup screen from VTube-LASER's main memory like this: Press "Setup this Window". Press "Copy Master LRA to Setup LRA".

STEP 6 - OPTIONAL STEP - You Can Manually Change the ADJUSTMENT Values

You can manually change the ADJUSTMENT values before sending corrections if you want to. Some users like to set the first and last Length adjustment to zero in order to keep the start position of the carriage in the same place - for when they have extra length on the ends. If you want to, it is even possible to invert the rotation direction to keep the tube from hitting the bender during rotations.

STEP 7 - Send Corrections to the HERBER

Press "Auto SEND Bender CORRECTIONS". VTube-LASER will let you select a path, then save a MES file to that path.

STEP 8 - The SEND to BENDER Complete Window

A window should appear for a few seconds indicating that the Send to the Bender is complete. You can allow this window to close on its own in a few seconds, or press the close button to close it immediately.

STEP 9 - IMPORT the Correction Data at the HERBER Control

Move to the HERBER control and follow these steps: Click on “Read measurement from machine” in the Communications menu. Select your measuring system (VTube).
Select the .MES file VTube-LASER just created. When you click OK, the HERBER software will ask if you want to delete the MES file after importing. To apply all corrections from the mes file, click on “Save all measurements” and continue bending. You are not required to stop the machine to do this. The HERBER cell allows for correction in an automated production cell in realtime. The corrections will be applied for the next part bent.
It is also possible to delete or save individual correction values by marking a bend and opening the measure tab.

STEP 10 - REPEAT STEPS 1 THROUGH 9

Bend the corrected tube starting in Step 1, then measure it again (Step 2) and follow the rest of the steps until the part is within tolerance.

Other Pages

• See VTube-LASER
• See VTube-STEP
• See UNISON for information on UNISON benders