Separator integrated into bending tool to reduce tube cutting waste

Schwarze-Robitec has developed a new separator integrated directly into the bending tool for bending and separating in one stage.

To allow bending of short components, the parts to be bent generally are extended artificially with span and supporting lengths. After bending, the additional lengths must be separated again from the bent part in separate operations, and they accumulate as waste. According to the company, having the separator integrated with the bender eliminates up to 90 percent of tube waste in these situations.

After bending the first part, the new separator is used to separate the finished component from the straight remainder. The straight part of the tube is transported further into the bending machine, bent again, and cut off again using the integrated device. In each case, only a narrow shaving is created and removed.

The technology has been developed for the fully electric CNC 100 E TB MR and CNC 80 E TB MR tube bending machines. The company reports that in the future, it will be possible to integrate it into almost any bending tool.