While this option can be installed in any future straight saws, it was not requested in the production of the current saw. The manufacturing engineers for Norwell indicate that the bench cycle return will not be an issue. As the customer had not tested all the rates of pipe production for this saw, we are currently unable to verify if these are valid concerns. At the very least, limiting the “up cycle” and returning the saw bench to the starting position soon would save on total wear of the equipment.
We believe the straight saw as delivered will meet all the specifications it was designed for. Norwell will install either mechanical or “electro-mechanical” logic in any future straight saws sent to the customer that will include logic to control the “up cycle” and bench return times.
This change is felt to be an enhancement to the current equipment and not a deficiency in current design.
PLANETARY SAW
1. Pipe Clamps
The upper/lower, front/rear clamps for the planetary saw have a length of 5”-6”. The distance between the forward and the rear clamps is about 1 meter. Because of the short length of the clamps, smaller pipe is “unstable” when the saw contacts the pipe. The pipe tends to flex because there is not enough holding surface for these smaller diameter, thinner walled pipe.
The customer installed a “temporary” extension on the small size saw clamp in order to stabilize the small diameter pipe. I don’t know if it worked or not because the saw was not in operation during my inspection. However, the concept of more clamp holding surface is a good one.
There are some limitations on lengthening all the clamps due to structure interference in larger sizes. However, Norwell will redesign the small diameter clamps upper/lower, front/rear so that the length of these smaller size clamps is approximately 3 times that of the current clamps. This will give a clamp holding length of approximately 18”. Shunde engineers feel that the lengthened smaller clamp sizes will still “nest” as designed into the larger clamps so no other structural modifications will be needed.
These new clamps are now in design and will be sent to Uniteca as soon as they are ready.
2. Clamp Radius
It was suggested that the clamp “radius” also be increased in order for the clamp to cover more of the circumference of the pipe. Our engineers will consider an increased radius when the lengthened clamps are made. It has not been positively determined that this will be necessary since the extended length should provide the primary holding factor for the smaller diameter pipe.