How to Reduce the Amount of Time It Takes to Bend a Tube
Tube bending is one of the most common processes that takes place in any metal fabrication shop. While a lot of effort goes into buying more affordable raw materials and using less labor, not much attention has gone into reducing the time taken to bend each tube. As a result, many fabrication shops are missing a great opportunity to increase efficiency. This article discusses three ways through which you can cut down the time it takes to finish a piece.
Buy a Mobile Control Console
Many tube-bending machines are large and the operator has to move back and forth between the controls and the tube in order to adjust the commands running the equipment. This back and forth movement consumes minutes that can add up over a year. It is possible to keep the controller in one position by providing him or her with a mobile control console that can allow him or her to perform several functions such as turning the machine off in order to reposition the tube. This capability will cut down the time it takes to complete one work piece so productivity will go up.
Get the Best Bending Sequence
There is modern software that can be used to schedule the most efficient bending sequence in order to save time. Use that software to avoid unnecessary repetition of positioning sequences which waste time. For instance, the software may point out that it is faster to bend both ends of a tube before bending the middle, yet that sequence may seem counterintuitive to the naked eye. The logic could be that the ends are located closer to the bending press so it saves time since the operator won't have to touch the material during those bends.
Do Offline Programming
A lot of time is lost as the operator of the bending machine programs it for the next piece. During that time, the machine is idle and the operator feels pressured to finish the programming so that the machine gets to work. You can relieve the controller of this pressure and get the machine to be more productive by performing the programming tasks offline, then importing those schematics (commands) to the bending machine. This will ensure that the bending machine works full time during a work shift so more tubes will be bent each day.
Use the measures above to cut the time it takes to produce each piece and your profits will increase.