Continuing investment in versatile all-electric tube bending machinery from UK-based Unison is boosting operations at tube and pipe fabrication specialist, Sharpe Products of Wisconsin, US. Sharpe recently invested in its 7th Unison tube bender to give the company an edge in meeting the ever-changing demands of the tube- and pipe-jobbing business.

Most customers no longer want to invest in stock, and batch sizes have reduced dramatically. These trends mean that machine set-up times become a major factor in job pricing. Any scrap generated during set-up – which can often run into several pieces when using older hydraulically-actuated bending machines – also negatively impacts job costs.
The first Unison machine bought by Sharpe Products was the Breeze 3” tube bender, and since that moment, the company has been a loyal Unison customer. Sharpe’s latest purchase is a Breeze 3” multi-stack, CNC-controlled, three-axis pipe-bending machine with a capacity of up to 3” or 80 mm diameter tubes. This machine has the ability to hold several tools for multi-radius parts or reduce tool changeover times, and is fitted with high torque servomotors to accommodate challenging materials. Also featured is a swing-away wiper-die servo axis to enable short, final straight part designs to be manufactured without post-bend trimming operations.
“Unison’s pipe benders are extremely reliable machines with innovative control technology and robust mechanical designs that help us to continually meet the demands of our customers,” says Paul Krickeberg, president at Sharpe Products. “On top of the great machines, they have great people providing great service and support. Unison offers the complete package.”
For further information www.unisonltd.com

According to Wilson Tool, deciding whether or not to invest in special tooling for a particular job is likely to give any fabricator food for thought.

While it’s true that custom press-brake tooling can be more expensive and may require a bit more lead-time than standard tooling, there are also significant benefits over standard tool sets. For instance, custom press-brake tooling makes it possible to solve challenging bending and forming applications while reducing material handling, minimising set-up time and improving the quality of parts.
Working with a tooling manufacturer to determine the best way to form a part can result in a positive ROI in terms of increased productivity and fewer reject parts. Whether faced with a unique part design, the need to simplify a complex bend or improve press brake performance, tooling manufacturers have the experience and knowledge to help shops determine the best way to make a part.
Tooling manufacturers also understand there is more to improving press brake performance than simply reducing the amount of time or number of strokes it takes to form a part. For example, consider the process of forming a channel. With a standard punch and die set, forming a channel requires two strokes of the machine. In contrast, using a custom channel tool, it is possible to produce two bends in one stroke. While certainly reducing the amount of time it takes to produce a part, the added benefit of choosing a channel tool set is the consistency gained in the finished component. As the part is now produced in a single stroke, it only needs to be gauged or located once rather than twice. After all, every time a component needs to be repositioned, re-gauged or relocated is an opportunity for something to go wrong, increasing the likelihood of producing a reject part.
For further information www.wilsontool.com