Page 22 - ITAtube Journal 1 2023

Press releases
Boehlerit GmbH & Co KG
Know-how from the machining of tubes
22
Boehlerit offers a unique range of products and complete machining solutions for the entire pipe manufacturing process in all dimensions. This begins with the machining of weld edges and extends to the external and internal deburring of weld seams and pipe end machining. The decades of know- how of the Kapfenberger, also use other industries, such as in the sheet metal edge processing in shipbuilding.
The production of large pipes, such as those used in pipelines for the transport of liquids like oil or natural gas, is something of a supreme discipline in pipe manufactur- ing and is nowadays carried out in highly integrated overall concepts with intelligent production lines. The production of small tubes for precision applications in the automotive industry is similarly demanding. For this reason, the production steps inter- linked from coil or sheet to the finished tube require maximum process reliability. This also applies, of course, to the various machining operations integrated into the process sequences. Here, exceptionally robust tool systems with long tool service lives are required in order to avoid pro- duction stoppages due to downtimes or set-up times of the expensive equipment. In addition, there is a high level of machin- ing precision, which one would not expect at first glance at the finished product. After all, we are talking about tubes with diame- ters from around 500 millimeters upwards. With tube diameters well in excess of 3,000 millimeters, the production capabilities of some systems are still well above this. The high machining accuracies ultimately result from the requirements placed on the weld seams. The smallest irregularities can later lead to leaks. Their quality begins with the preparatory machining and naturally also includes the deburring of the longitudinal weld seams on the inside and outside.
In order to cover the various machining steps, Boehlerit, as the leading tool supplier
in the industry, has developed the most extensive product range on the market over the decades, including standardized solutions today. The first machining step
in the process sequence is the preparatory welding edge machining. In this process, the strip or sheet edges are machined synchronously on both sides in a contin- uous process, with milling heads facing each other. These tools are designed and manufactured specifically for the respective systems as well as for the materials to be machined, the material thicknesses and the required edge profiles.
Modular standard components
Boehlerit offers modular profile milling heads as a particularly economical and flexible solution. They consist of a base body with exchangeable milling cassettes and indexable inserts. The cutting contour produced is determined by the shape of the cassettes. One advantage over conven- tional monoblock tools is that in the event of damage, only the affected cassettes need to be replaced, not the entire tool. Additional adjustment work is not required. Furthermore, by replacing the cassettes, the cutting edge profile can be changed quickly and easily if necessary, for which a completely new tool would otherwise have to be procured. This is of course an attrac- tive added value for a tube mill.
With corresponding milling cassettes and indexable inserts, Boehlerit maps all the edge profiles in demand in the industry. This means users can choose between I-profile, X-profile, Y-profile or tulip profile.
In the case of longitudinally welded tubes, the next machining operation is to deburr the weld seam from the inside and/or outside using scraping tools. Boehlerit offers the necessary clamp holders, cas- settes and cutting inserts or cutting rings. These tools are also designed specifically
ITAtube Journal May 2023