BLM GROUP Blog - CAD/CAM software

It has been years since there has been such an upheaval in the world of automation and not only in the manufacturing field. We can talk about a real "Renaissance" or – as it has been called by theorists – a new industrial revolution, (the fourth to be precise).

New technologies, process data collection and analysis, increasingly sophisticated simulations, digital twins, widespread connectivity at various levels (WiFi, Bluetooth, Ethernet and soon 5G), all accompanied by the ever-present and promising growth of artificial intelligence.

An integral part of the expansive BLM GROUP family of Lasertube systems, the laser cutting systems for large diameter tubes, both fiber and CO₂, are characterized by several basic structural differences compared to their counterparts for smaller diameter.

The main ones are the tube handling system with three powerful spindles, two head and one tail, capable of easily handling much larger and heavier tubes, and a 3D laser cutting head moved by five numerically controlled axes allowing the possibility of moving along the entire tube to process both ends as well as the central part.

Many tube fabricators use a different programming platform for each machine, which leads to some specific inefficiencies. Connecting two or more processes together using Industry 4.0 technology platforms provides a seamless operation in programming, fabricating, and process validation.

Manufacturers are continually looking for ways to eliminate waste in their manufacturing process and save cost. Tube fabricators are no different. This becomes even more evident when multiple tubes are required to build an assembly.

One of the most cumbersome challenges faced by tube fabricators is the joining of tube components. Difficulties are often encountered with fit-up, fixturing and assembly.

This is especially true when secondary process operations, such coping and mitering, are required after the bending process.