AddisonMckee's innovative FormMaster-70 Ram Extrusion machine, or FM 70 RE, has been designed to produce small bent components at high speeds with minimal scrap.
In essence, the FM 70 RE extrudes or pushes a near-net tube through a contoured set of dies or clamps, generating one or two shallow bends - typically with a maximum degree of bend of approximately 40 to 45 degrees.
The FM 70 RE machine is perhaps best known for its ability to minimize tube scrap. As opposed to a typical bending process via a standard bending machine where a clamp holds one end of a tube, and a collet holds the other end where these ends are ultimately discarded as scrap - the FM 70 RE eliminates this scrap via its innovative Ram Extrusion process.
Ram Extrusion series CNC tube benders—Key range/feature information:
The FM 70 RE process starts with an operator manually placing tubes into a roll-down rack. The machine indexes one tube at a time – and automatically positions the tube in front of the die set.
The mandrel is brought forward, positioned, and then inserted into the tube. Once the tube is released, a pusher rod forces the tube through the extrusion die. To maintain shape as the tube is being pushed, a mandrel assembly is simultaneously oscillating inside of the tube. The mandrel continues to oscillate until it has fully pushed the tube into the extrusion dies.
The tube is now perfectly positioned for cut-off with its irregular end exposed out of the extrusion dies. A cut-off blade is then used to either square or angle trim the end of the tube.
A small dimple or slight burr may be created as a result of this cut-off process. So, once the cut-off blade is retracted, the mandrel assembly is once more brought forward to minimize any dimple or burr.
The extrusion dies are then opened, the mandrel retracted, and the part is automatically ejected out of the machine into a container.
The minimal trim scrap that is cut off from the end of the tube is also automatically ejected down a chute into a scrap bin.
As part of the FM 70 RE process, a water-soluble flood coolant is used to provide lubricity to the part, the die, the cut-off, as well as the mandrel assembly. All coolant is captured, filtered and recycled within the machine so there is no coolant waste.
The FM 70 RE machine also includes AddisonMckee’s renowned DigiView controller, which enables multiple axis control, part recall, and much more.
Part recall is achieved via the DigiView controller, so all settings are saved and then recalled for the new set of tools and/or component.
Furthermore, the FM 70 RE includes all of the standard safety features and interlocks you’ve come to expect from AddisonMckee. The machine provides a plexi-glass enclosure to enable the operator to visually observe the work zone process.
Being a hydraulic machine, the FM 70 RE requires electric power for the hydraulics, water for cooling, and air for its pneumatic features.
Each component produced via the FM 70 RE requires its own dedicated set of tools, including ram extrusion dies, the mandrel assembly, and the pusher rod. The cutoff shear blade may be used for similar components and can be positioned at different angles in order to provide the required cutoff angles on the end of the tube.
Typical changeover time for a full set of tooling is just 30 to 45 minutes.
AddisonMckee CNC tube benders—Ram Extrusion series:
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Resource Center and download the following:
- Ram Extrusion CNC tube Bender Spec Sheet
- Ram Extrusion CNC tube Bender Case Study
- Ram Extrusion CNC tube Bender Video
