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Electrically-driven machines to perform heavy machining operations can be found increasingly more in the machine tool sector in place of the classical hydraulically driven ones. Even the pipe bending sector is experiencing this irreversible process. In the "all-electric" pipe bending machine that have been developed by the BLM GROUP, the position and strength at which pipes and tools have to be manipulated is controlled by electric motors and ball screws. The machine's numerical control therefore goes from the typical 3 or 4 axes to a system that is able to control from 9 to 15 electrical servo axes, both in position and torque. The pipe bending CNC machine is able to handle axis synchronism and interpolation in order to perform complicated and very accurate set-ups. Moreover, the torque/force control allows to compensate for the variations in the axis position given by errors in the pipe geometry of elongation of the material. Contrary to a hydraulic pump (which is always on, no matter what the cycle condition is), electric motors absorb energy only when they are actually being used, thereby reducing consumption up to 1/10. In addition, as "all-electric" pipe bending machines do not use mineral oils,they are no added management and disposal expenses. Servo motors are silent and eliminate the problems of noise. In an "all-electric" pipe bending machine all this means that there are reduced downtimes and increased process repeatability. BLM "all-electric" pipe bending machines are equipped with a Boost features to push the carriage to produce power exceeding 5,000 kg thereby improving roundness as well as reducing the wall thickening on the outside edge of the pipe. The Boost also helps to reduce any pipe movements in the clamp jaws and reduces the pressure with a significant benefit on the surface quality of the finished pipe. The power can be adjusted on the basis of the final quality of the product. Similarly, the clamp and the pressure die power on the pipe can also be varied by the operator according to the geometry and type of material being worked. Apart from the well known electric start of the pipe bending machines, other advantages are the higher productivity and repeatability of the tubes and a low energy consume ( at least 1/5 less than hydraulic machines). Another advantage is the possibility to control with precision the power given by each NC axis and to measure it according to the material poten and the pipe bending conditions. In this way it's possible to measure the right power, in the right spot, at the right moment, with the right speed, something just electric machines can do. It' s not just technique, but actual functionality expressed in very narrow pipe bending radii (R= 0,8D), simultaneous movements of more axis which result in reduced cycle times up to 25% less, or in variable radii with a high range of repeatability.
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