Pneuform PF-6600 3D rotary head wire bending machine
A little over a year since acquiring wire and small tube bending machinery maker Pneuform, Unison Ltd has introduced a number of improvements to the entire Pneuform range.
"At Unison, we are passionate about quality," said Joint Managing Director Alan Pickering. "In fact, it was the quality of Pneuform's machines that first caught our attention and attracted us to the idea of bringing the brand into the Unison family. We did, however, recognize that we could add considerable user benefits to each Pneuform machine by incorporating many of the features that are standard with our Unibend tube bending CNC and Opt2Sim Suite tube simulation software."
With that objective in mind, Unison's automation and software development teams have been busy adapting the company's Unibend control and Opt2Sim software to create a proprietary solution especially for the Pneuform range of wire and small tube bending machines. The key focus of their work has surrounded ease of use, production uplift and low cost of ownership.
"Called Unibend-Wire, the resultant integrated CNC and 3D simulation system is quite possibly the most advanced, most efficient and most user-friendly control available on any wire and small diameter tube bending machine," said a company spokesperson. "Intelligent data input tools and direct-from-CAD import features reduce the time taken from 'blank sheet' concept to full production, regardless of material or complexity of bends, with Unison's Opt2Sim Suite of simulation software tools checking and correcting parts before they reach the shop floor. Part cycle times have also been improved by streamlining any nonadded-value moves between bends-the majority of which are now fully automated."
A new integrated console with 15" touchscreen enables operators to verify the accuracy of the parts they wish to make in clear 3D on a digital twin of their Pneuform machine. Bend menus accelerate the creation of repeat, coiled and rectangular part forms, while the industry standard YBC file format mirrors that used on Unison's all-electric Breeze range of tube bending machines. Batch processing of associated parts or entire shift runs is delivered through a few easy steps, and right-first-time bends are offered by the inclusion of springback compensation, supported by easy characterization of materials to be bent.
"From simple, single line YBC file formats, supported by powerful, easy-to-use bending instructions, to highly reliable Yaskawa drives and Unison's advanced remote support application, we have done a great deal to underline Pneuform's position as a leading manufacturer of quality wire and small diameter tube bending machines," added Pickering. "Perhaps most significant of all, however, we have introduced all these product enhancements without increasing our prices. It is our way of ensuring that Pneuform machines remain highly accessible to manufacturers and subcontractors around the world."
For more information contact:
Unison Tube LLC
240 Eastwood Drive
Danville, VA 24540
828-808-4286
sales@unisonltd.com