The Formtek Blog

Low Production Dimple-Free Tube Cutoff

Written by Paul Williams | April 17, 2014

In the past, “dimple-free” tube cutoff systems were typically made for higher speed tube lines. Because of the demand to produce at these high speeds, they came with a high price tag to suit.

The tubing industry needed a cost effective alternative for a dimple-free tube cutoff system on slower, lower production tube mills. This is the niche that the Hill Engineering “Duo-Cut” system was engineering for.

The Duo Cut Dimple-Free tube cutoff: the hero low production tube mills deserve.
 

By combining Hill Engineering’s Flying Duo-Cut integrated die/press units with our high speed hydraulics expertise, we are able to produce clean, dimple-free cuts on tubing up to 3” diameter. In order to obtain optimum speeds at reasonable prices for different sized tubing mills, we offer three system sizes:

  • 3/4” maximum diameter
  • 1 ½” maximum diameter
  • 3” maximum diameter for up to .125” thick steel

The compact nature of the units allows them to be more economically priced, reaching ROI faster on slower line due to less costly production requirements.

The basic mechanical tube cutoff unit is also designed with a quick-change system for faster, simpler switches between tube diameters or thicknesses. This also is well-aligned with lower production requirements where shorter runs from one order to the next demand rapid changeover.

We also offer a small diameter pneumatic Duo-Cut system which is essentially the same as our ¾” diameter system, except it operates with air cylinders instead of hydraulic cylinders. These systems are used applications like brake line tube mills with approximately .156”-.312” diameter tubing being produced. The air cylinder design increases the speed of these systems to match small diameter tube lines while simultaneously reducing the costs even further.

For both hydraulic and pneumatic systems, measurement is performed through a “closed loop” servo accelerated system, for the most consistent accurate results.