Seamless pipe production

A leading Russian tube producer has chosen Fives for the supply of finishing equipment to process seamless tubes.

Fives will design and supply: two Bronx six-roll cold pipe straighteners; a Bronx 10-roll hot pipe straightener; Taylor-Wilson end facers; Two Taylor-Wilson double head hydrotesters; and two Taylor-Wilson double head drifters. The equipment will be designed to process over 500,000 tons per year of seamless tubular products of 73-273 mm in diameter, mainly designated to oil and gas applications according to international API and Russian GOST standards. Production start-up is scheduled for 2021.
For further information www.fivesgroup.com

Tebis Version 4, Release 7 unveiled

Tebis is unveiling the next release of the current Version 4.0. Release 7 introduces newly developed and improved functions for all those who want to better utilise the potential of their machines and keep their manufacturing processes ahead of others.

Concerning the user interface, customers can now save time with the R7 set-up. There is a new way to transfer user configurations, which includes easier methods to transfer toolbars, work environments and other user settings from a previous release at the click of a button. In addition, the latest updates in importing STEP data are used to specify whether to include covered geometries and axis systems, as well as references in the import. This functionality also adds more efficiency in importing small structures.
With regard to preparing for manufacturing, all sharp edges in a part can be detected using a newly devised function that stores and generates edge surfaces with a structure for optimal preparation of deburring based on NC machine templates. This feature creates the outline surfaces for cutting and restricting dies with a step relief at any cutting angle.
Programmers can now machine edges with ball or tapered cutters using the five-axis deburring function. Practical tool paths can be quickly and easily created for deburring with automatic tilt direction calculation and automatic avoidance of shank and tool-holder collisions.
Another enhancement involves 3D surface machining, which has a sorting strategy that allows users to organise the paths in a more efficient way. The paths can be further sorted from outside to inside in the ‘Axis Parallel’ strategy.
For further information www.tebis.com

Mach Machine Tools recruits CNC guru

Mike Corbett has been appointed by Mach Machine Tools, part of the Vigilance Group, as its CNC divisional manager.

This newly created senior management position will see Corbett take responsibility for planning, co-ordinating and implementing the company’s new product design and development business strategies, including launches and upgrades.
Among the primary areas of focus for Corbett, certainly in the immediate to medium term, will involve working collaboratively with the company’s internationally-based machine tool build and control partners, helping to develop new, and refine existing products – including control technologies and software systems – for the European market. In addition to his duties and responsibilities at Mach Machine Tools, Corbett will also take on a technical consultancy role with Machine Tool Sales Online.
For further information www.machmt.co.uk

Open Mind releases hyperMILL 2019.1

The latest version of the hyperMILL CADCAM suite, 2019.1, is now available from Open Mind.

Enhancements include expansion of the finishing module in the hyperMILL ‘MAXX Machining’ performance package. Further highlights include process optimisations, as well as new functions for reducing calculation times.
‘5-axis Prismatic Fillet Finishing’ is a new function in the finishing module of hyperMILL MAXX Machining: thanks to the geometry and automatic setting of the barrel cutter, this feature can be used in accordance with the principle of a high-feed milling cutter.
Processing takes place in a plunging and pulling movement with an extremely high feed, thus optimising performance when using conical barrel cutters, also called circle segment or parabolic cutters. In addition, ball and radius cutters can be used efficiently with this strategy.
Thread-milling options have also been completely redesigned for hyperMILL 2019.1 to improve convenience and ease-of-use for the programmer. The module supports a variety of different thread-milling cutter types and allows easy selection of right-hand and left-hand threads, or the definition of the milling direction from bottom to top, or vice versa. Additionally, the thread-milling feature offers automatic approach and retract macros, a selection of roughing options and simplified programming.
Open Mind’s hyperMILL manages the order of the processing steps with job IDs. Changes to job numbers have so far resulted in recalculations, but these are now avoided to save time. The improvement in job management now means that a job ID can be changed without having to subsequently recalculate the machining job in question. Consecutive numbering of the compound and machining job is controlled via a start value and an increment value. The benefit of this new feature is transparent structuring and reduced calculation times.
For further information www.openmind-tech.com

Mapal opens second site in Mexico

Mapal Frhenosa, a 120-employee joint venture by the Mapal Group, is stepping up its activities in Mexico.

The company has built a second site in Santiago de Querétaro, giving it an operation right at the heart of the country for the first time. An opening ceremony was attended by numerous representatives from the worlds of business and politics. The new factory gives Mapal Frhenosa considerably more production capacity for reconditioning tools, as well as eventually creating 100 new jobs. Approximately €2.3m has been invested in constructing the new facility.
For further information www.mapal.com