With the rapid expansion of private space companies, the pace of development of next generation spacecraft and aircraft, along with critical support infrastructure, is only increasing. The need is no less great for aircraft manufacturers, for everything from commercial airlines to cargo aircraft and fighter jets.
The challenge is only increasing as the aerospace industry utilizes lighter and stronger materials such as Inconel and other nickel superalloys to improve fuel efficiency and reduce the weight. In addition, pipe and tube welds are subjected to unprecedented high pressures, cryogenic temperatures, and intense environmental stresses such as vibration and thermal cycling.
Fortunately, there are aerospace-specific pipe and tube squaring solutions that can cut, weld, square, and bevel with exacting accuracy, time-saving speed, and field-proven performance.
To minimize or eliminate weld failures for these critical applications, “the key is achieving very consistent, high-quality weld prep every single time,” says Chris Belle, CEO of Tri Tool Technologies. Founded in 1972, Tri Tool Technologies is a leading provider of machining tools, custom engineered solutions, and on-site services for the aerospace, defense, power generation, oil and gas, life sciences, and semiconductor industries.
Tube and pipe cutting products help ensure the proper fit and alignment of the pieces to be welded to avoid misalignment, gaps, or uneven welds. Most are manually operated and perform machining operations such as cutting, severing, facing, and beveling.
Facing involves cutting the end of a pipe to achieve a flat and smooth surface with precise dimensions to ensure it can be securely and accurately connected to other components without gaps or leaks. When working with thick pieces of metal, it is often necessary to create a groove or bevel to facilitate proper penetration and fusion during welding.
To further increase productivity without sacrificing precision, field machinists need portable squaring equipment that can be used in tight access areas, such as within tube racks or a wing.
For production-level tube facing, Tri Tool Technologies 300STS is a lightweight, portable facing machine for weld preparation on autogenous welding. The tube squaring tool has an industry-leading 9.5” clearance and can deliver rapid, repeatable, precision cuts within .001” on tubes .125” (3.2mm) – 2.375” (60.5mm) in size, with up to .20” (5.08mm) tube walls. To meet aerospace requirements, the 300STS utilizes Tri Tool’s patented Durabits.
Given the cutting-edge nature of aerospace applications, customized solutions may also be required. Although standard tube squaring products are available from several sources, most will not make modifications based on customer requests. Tri Tool Technologies, however, can produce variations of standard equipment through modifications and other customizations. This can include integrating controls, sensing technologies, or remote-control technology.
For more info, contact Tri Tool Technologies at phone: (888) 305-1337 or (916) 571-0003; or web: www.tritool.com.