Unison now offers VTube-STEP and VTube-LASER tube bending software

Both packages accelerate the fabrication of shapes on tube bending machines by importing CAD files and calculating the data needed to put a tubular part into production. VTube-LASER extends this capability to include laser and ball-probe measurement of physical tube bends for verification, qualification and bender correction, as well as for reverse engineering purposes by translating data from coordinate measurement systems. "VTube provides a rapid and reliable means of generating production-ready programs for tube benders, using data from design or measurement systems," explained Alan Pickering, managing director of Unison. "It saves considerable time and cost, and can really give metalworking shops an edge. We can now provide the software as an add-on tool for users with existing bending machines, or as part of an integrated solution with new machinery." Unison will be showing the software in September 2011 during one of its 'Technology Tour' events, which give metalworking shop personnel access to experienced users of all-electric tube benders. At this event Advanced Tubular Technologies' Michael Cone will be demonstrating VTube's benefits and providing an insight into the latest developments.