Still measuring three-metre copper tube with a tape? A CNC length machine reads 0.01mm and stores the data

Model: NL-TGCL-45

The problem

Copper tubes for air-conditioner coils arrive in mixed batches: 5mm, 7mm and 9.52mm diameters, lengths from a few hundred millimetres to more than four metres. A tape measure gives a reading by eye and a record by pen, with half a millimetre of error on a three-metre tube and two operators cross-checking each other. A missed out-of-tolerance length becomes scrap at the cutter, or a tube that will not pass through the fin stack.

Capability

Measuring range is 0-4500mm, so a full 4.5 m tube is clamped once instead of being read in segments (a 0-2000mm model is also available). The PLC magnetic-scale sensor has a 4500mm stroke, a display resolution of 0.01mm and a machine accuracy of 0.05-0.1mm, an order of magnitude finer than tape reading. Two 20x4800mm guide rails with slider pairs sit on a 400x2500mm aluminium base built in two joined sections for easy transport, with industrial castors and levelling feet. Five sets of aluminium locating blocks (32 pieces in total) cover 5mm/14.5mm, 7mm/21mm, 7mm/17mm, 7.94mm/22mm and 9.52mm/25mm diameter-pitch combinations, so a change of tube size is a change of block and one end stop gives the reading. Blocks are stored on an aluminium rack behind the bench so they never touch the floor and keep their datum. An industrial PC with Windows 11 and ForceControl SCADA logs every value, generates tables by tube serial number and shares data over RS485 to the office or MES. One operator runs the four steps - load, stop, read, save - at roughly 10-20 s per tube. Copper, aluminium and stainless tubes as well as straightened coil sections all use the same datum for incoming inspection, outgoing sampling and complaint re-measurement.

Key specifications

• Application: length measurement of copper, aluminium and stainless tubes up to 4.5 m
• Measuring range: 0-4500mm (0-2000mm model also available)
• Display resolution: 0.01mm
• Machine accuracy: 0.05-0.1mm
• Sensor: PLC magnetic scale, 4500mm stroke
• Guide rails: two 20x4800mm rails with slider pairs
• Base: 400x2500mm aluminium profile in two joined sections, castors and levelling feet
• Locating blocks: 5 sets, 32 aluminium blocks (5/7/7.94/9.52 mm, two pitches for 7mm)
• Block storage: aluminium rack behind the bench
• Control and logging: Windows 11 industrial PC with SCADA, automatic tables
• Communication: RS485 for remote sharing and MES
• Cycle: about 10-20 s per tube with one operator

Applications

Incoming inspection of copper tube for air-conditioner evaporators and condensers; outgoing sampling at tube processing and distribution plants; IQC and complaint re-measurement at appliance and refrigeration OEMs; length measurement at third-party metrology labs

About the manufacturer

Guangdong Endurance Electronic Equipment Co., Ltd provides non-standard customization, drawing confirmation, factory acceptance, on-site installation and commissioning, operation training and long-term technical service; 12-month warranty and long-term spare parts supply. Tel: 0760-88500902 / 13416787649. Web: en.zsnaili.com.