2004

RAVID Solar Solutions: Tel: +972-4-6370918 , Email: b-ravid@b-ravid.com , Site: www.b-ravid.com

Ravid Solar Solutions has been manufacturing Internal Punching/Collaring machines for some years in order to give the solar industry an excellent solution for a basic process in making heat exchanger: Branching. What is Branching? the problems the basic solutions Comparing the solutions why internal punching? How it works Manual machine Semi-automatic machine Fully-automatic machine

2004

RAVID Solar Solutions: Tel: +972-4-6370918 , Email: b-ravid@b-ravid.com , Site: www.b-ravid.com

What is Branching?
Branching is a process in which a tube is prepared to accommodate for side branches to be connected. These branches are commonly used to distribute flow in parallel. In the case of heat-exchanger (like in absorbers for solar collectors), piping in most cases is made of copper. The HVAC industry uses large quantities of branched tubes and branching is an important and significant factor in the whole production process. Branching is the platform for the assembled heat exchanger. Proper branching is the base for smooth production of good quality heat exchanger.

2004

RAVID Solar Solutions: Tel: +972-4-6370918 , Email: b-ravid@b-ravid.com , Site: www.b-ravid.com

the problems
In thin-walled pipes, making flat holes is not sufficient for strong and long lasting braze. It is common to say that overlap for brazing of at least 3 times the tube wall thickness is needed. The general answer for this is a hole with collar. So, the process of producing holes with collars is named collaring. In most of the processes used for making the holes (either with or without a collar), the by-products of the process are chips and burrs of the pipe material. This is a major concern for the later stages of the production and they need to be removed. Also, any chipping process is always relatively slow. In many cases tools are very costly and tend to wear-out often. The result of all this is high price per hole!

2004

RAVID Solar Solutions: Tel: +972-4-6370918 , Email: b-ravid@b-ravid.com , Site: www.b-ravid.com

the basic solutions

Drilling FlowDrill Internal punching External punching T-Drill" 2004 RAVID Solar Solutions: Tel: +972-4-6370918 , Email: b-ravid@b-ravid.com , Site: www.b-ravid.com

Comparing the solutions

= Worst Parameter Collar quality Flow behavior Productivity Tool expenses Investment Automation possibilities Operator skill requirements Brazing compatibility Clean process = Best Drilling FlowDrill T-Drill Ext. punching Int. punching

2004

RAVID Solar Solutions: Tel: +972-4-6370918 , Email: b-ravid@b-ravid.com , Site: www.b-ravid.com

why internal punching?

High collar quality and accuracy, resulting in fast and easy brazing. Collars allow for minimum pressure drop and optimal flow distribution between risers. Very high productivity due to simple and fast process.

Very long tool life = low running expenses. Moderate investment that can fit any budget: from manual to fully automatic solutions. Simple operating and fast set-up. Clean process: no burrs and oils.

2004

RAVID Solar Solutions: Tel: +972-4-6370918 , Email: b-ravid@b-ravid.com , Site: www.b-ravid.com

How it works
When punching is activated, a small hole is punched first. Further extracting of the punch, is bending out the circumference of the hole to form the collar at the desired diameter. As punching is complete, the gripper, which is holding the tube, is sliding it exactly to the next punching position.
Top view

Side view

2004

RAVID Solar Solutions: Tel: +972-4-6370918 , Email: b-ravid@b-ravid.com , Site: www.b-ravid.com

Manual machine

Low investment Low maintenance Pneumatic only

2004

RAVID Solar Solutions: Tel: +972-4-6370918 , Email: b-ravid@b-ravid.com , Site: www.b-ravid.com

Semi-automatic machine

High speed Moderate investment Low maintenance Easy program changing

2004 RAVID Solar Solutions: Tel: +972-4-6370918 , Email: b-ravid@b-ravid.com , Site: www.b-ravid.com

Fully-automatic machine

High speed Reliable process Minimal attention Easy program changing

2004 RAVID Solar Solutions: Tel: +972-4-6370918 , Email: b-ravid@b-ravid.com , Site: www.b-ravid.com

Long experience in the solar business in general and in the production of punching/collaring machines. Our machines are designed and built specially with the needs of the solar industry in mind. Tailor-made machines for your specific needs, From tooling to machine dimensions, according to your production needs. Many machines are working smoothly in countries like Germany, Greece, Brazil and Australia.

2004

RAVID Solar Solutions: Tel: +972-4-6370918 , Email: b-ravid@b-ravid.com , Site: www.b-ravid.com

Here are some of the feedbacks we got from leading solar companies regarding their experience with our Internal Punching/Collaring machines: When asked about advantages of our machines over the solutions they used in the past: It is faster, automatic and more accurate. It is much faster and the hole diameter is constant. the big advantage of the machine is the economic effect because of compensating a lot of workmanship. Also the geometric design of the holes is a better basis for the soldering process we have as next step. When asked about general satisfaction with the machines: In a table rate of 10 we should give it a 9 All in all we think this machine is a good solution for the requested application Please feel free to contact RAVID Solar Solutions regarding further information or any type of consulting for your needs. Use our web site: www.b-ravid.com , email us at: b-ravid@b-ravid.com or call us: +972-4-6370918

2004

RAVID Solar Solutions: Tel: +972-4-6370918 , Email: b-ravid@b-ravid.com , Site: www.b-ravid.com