Tube+

The Tube+ machine offers partial thickening of the walls of a thin-walled blank. The Tube+ process of the same name developed by Felss enables an increase in wall thickness through a cold forming process, and thus the greatest possible component accuracy. Tube+ is an alternative to heat forming. Greater measurement accuracy can be achieved in comparison with heat forming, and process steps, blank costs, and cycle times can often be saved. Thus, despite the high degree of forming, a heat supply and large forming presses can often be dispensed with. Together with the saving of process steps, Tube+ in this way ensures an increase in economic efficiency. The Tube+ machine is currently a prototype in a horizontal version and produces tubes thickened on one side as preliminary stages for pitman arm shafts. In future, the machine will be available according to the module principle for various market segments with customer-oriented products. This means that it will also be possible in future to manufacture drive shafts with both ends thickened using our Tube+ process. Advantages Lighter Weight-optimized use of materials through intelligent material distribution. Stronger Increased stability over the entire component length, up to 50% in the thickened area. Resource Efficient Avoidance of trash and reduction of process steps. Faster Short cycle times. More Precise High dimensional stability, narrow tolerances, high surface quality.