Cable Tray Forming Machine — Holding ±0.03 mm on Thin Gauge

HOPEX-Cable Tray Forming

Thin gauge is less forgiving than heavy gauge. At 0.8 – 1.5 mm the strip has little stiffness of its own, so every source of variation in the line transfers straight into the tray. This cable tray forming machine is built around that problem.

The Tolerance Target

Strip thickness is held to ±0.03 mm. That figure is only meaningful if the line does not introduce its own variation on top of it.

Variation Source 1 — Incoming Coil Set

Coil memory is the largest single source. A 12-roller leveller with lifter linkage system is fitted ahead of the tooling, and its lifter linkage system lets the operator correct as coil condition changes through the roll.

Variation Source 2 — Shaft Deflection

Deflection under roll separating force shows up as a width that changes along the length. The mill uses a 70 mm solid shaft in 45# steel, tempered.

Variation Source 3 — Too Few Forming Passes

Thin material buckles at the flange if it is bent too hard in one step. Deformation is spread across 26 rows of rollers so each increment stays small.

Variation Source 4 — Tooling Wear

Rollers are 45# steel, quenched and hard chromed. Hard chroming resists the abrasion of galvanized and zinc-aluminium-magnesium strip, so the profile does not drift over a production run.

Variation Source 5 — Speed Fluctuation

Punch pitch depends on speed stability. Three 7.5 KW main motors drive the mill, holding 8 – 16 m/min without dropping when a heavier gauge enters.

Summary of Controls

Machine Data

Verification Before Shipment

• Machinery test report provided.
• Video outgoing-inspection provided.
• CE certification.
• 2 years warranty with 18 months free maintenance.

Precision FAQ

Q1. What thickness tolerance applies?

±0.03 mm on strip thickness of 0.8 – 1.5 mm.

Q2. What is the biggest cause of tray distortion?

Residual coil set. It is removed at the 12-roller leveller with lifter linkage system before the strip reaches any tooling.

Q3. Why 26 forming rows for thin material?

Thin strip buckles at the flange if bent too hard in one step, so the bend is spread across 26 rows.

Q4. What shaft is used?

70 mm solid shaft in 45# steel, tempered.

Q5. Does speed affect hole pitch?

It would if speed fluctuated. 7.5 KW × 3 main motors hold 8 – 16 m/min under load.

Q6. Is the machine certified?

CE certification, with machinery test report and video outgoing-inspection.