Aircraft Parts Supplier Uses All-Electric CNC Tube Bending to Increase Capacity

Globe Engineering Company, Inc. (Wichita, KS) has been innovating aerospace manufacturing systems since Albert Nelson Jr. founded the company in 1946. They serve the likes of GE Aerospace, Bombardier, GKN and Marshall by building quality aircraft components and assemblies for the commercial, defense and general aviation industries. They perform many different processes under one roof, helping to improve efficiency and ensure quality. From the very beginning, their employees have earned an unmatched reputation for tackling tough jobs, with outstanding quality and on-time delivery. Now they have installed a fourth all-electric CNC tube bending machine from Unison Ltd. (Scarborough, UK).

Commissioned earlier this year, the new machine has joined the existing Unison all-electric tube benders at the Wichita site and will help to increase manufacturing capability significantly. With overlapping capacities, these tube bending machines can bend tubes from 1.25 in (31.75 mm) to 6.00 in (152.4 mm) diameter with the highest levels of repeatability and accuracy. In addition to supporting ongoing requirements for bending high quality aircraft tubing, the new all-electric CNC tube bender will be used to bend a range of aluminium, stainless steel and titanium tubes measuring up to 1.25 in (31.75 mm) diameter. Before investing in this latest machine, Globe had just one tube bending machine that was capable of bending stainless and titanium tubes from 5/8 in to 1.00 in diameter.

“We aren’t just creating new capability by buying a new tube bending machine,” explains bend shop supervisor Shaun Knuth. “We’re creating capacity and a safety net in case we have a breakdown. They’re more efficient because they use less energy. In fact, they only use energy while they are in motion. By comparison, hydraulic benders use electricity all the time they are running, with their energy usage increasing during cycle time. Electric machines are much quieter, too. Our benders also offer greater repeatability. You simply select the exact pressure you need. If you want 1,272 psi, you just type that in and the machine creates exactly the same pressure every time.”

Knuth also notes how these benders can be operated more slowly when hot-bending titanium, all the way down to a creep – a process that removes the risk of overheating and minimizes scrap. He also points out that there’s no need for titanium tubes to be lubricated with expensive, messy grease before hot bending when using all-electric machines. “These machines are built like tanks,” he says. “And if there’s a problem, we usually have a new part within a few days. The machines are so easy to use and we can install the parts ourselves. Additionally, Unison technicians can remotely check our repairs and upgrade each machine’s software and firmware.”

“Repeat orders are always great news because they carry a clear customer endorsement,” adds Steve Haddrell, a key account manager at Unison. “Globe Engineering relies heavily on their tube bending machines and is familiar with the benefits of our all-electric technology, including fully automated machine set-up, ease of use, very high bend accuracy and excellent repeatability. In this case, they decided that these attributes, combined with the build quality and reliability of the machines, significantly outweighed any short-term economic advantage of low-cost tube benders.”

Unison Ltd., Faroe House, Thornburgh Road, Scarborough, North Yorkshire, UK, YO11 3UY, unisonltd.com.