Automatic Fin Alignment And Expanding Machine

The five-layer silo feeds fins to a vacuum suction mechanism that picks each fin at a fixed reference point, ensuring repeatable alignment before expansion. Mitsubishi servo motors drive the positioning stages along PMI/TBI ball screw guides, holding tight tolerances across thousands of cycles without drift. Fixed and movable flanges on each silo station lock fin position before transfer, eliminating the shimming and manual correction common with semi-automatic systems.

Each silo layer features two independent stations, so one station can be loaded while the other runs through its expansion cycle. This one-load-two-expand workflow keeps the machine producing continuously, making it practical for factories running high-volume evaporator lines for appliances, commercial refrigeration, or automotive HVAC units. Operators insert aluminum tube sets using a guide plate tool, press the start button, and the machine handles alignment, expansion, reset, and ejection automatically.

Every control and motion component is sourced from proven industrial brands — Mitsubishi PLC and HMI, Delta VFD, Schneider low-voltage apparatus, Panasonic and Autonics sensors, Meanwell power supplies, and Airtac pneumatics. Weidmuller terminals ensure clean, reliable wiring throughout the electrical cabinet. This bill of materials is selected for long service life and global parts availability, simplifying maintenance for factories in any region.

Panasonic safety gratings monitor the expansion zone and halt the machine instantly if an obstruction is detected during the high-force tube expansion stroke. After expansion completes, the automatic ejection mechanism lifts the finished evaporator assembly above the tooling surface, letting the operator remove it without reaching into the work area. These features reduce injury risk and keep cycle times consistent even during long production runs.

Because all motion sequences are defined in the Mitsubishi PLC software, switching between evaporator sizes or tube patterns requires only a parameter change on the HMI touchscreen — no mechanical reconfiguration. Combined with NTBOBO’s library of 300+ mould sets, this machine adapts to new product introductions without extended downtime.