PB Engineering designs and builds trimming and beading machines in Zanè (Vicenza, Italy) for finishing sheet metal dished tank heads: in a single setup the machine performs trimming of the cylindrical edge, beading and turning or deburring of the cut edge.
What is a dished head and why does it need trimming
A dished head (also called tank head or end cap) is the curved closure of tanks, boilers, water heaters, autoclaves and pressure vessels. After pressing the edge is irregular: trimming brings it to a constant height, beading forms the profile required to fit or weld it to the shell, and deburring removes burrs left by the cut.
Operations performed on this sample
- Trimming: cutting the excess edge to a constant height.
- Beading: forming the edge (internal, external, C-shaped, flange) according to the customer's drawing.
- Turning or deburring: finishing the cut edge, ready for welding or assembly.
Which machine to choose
The right machine depends on the size of the tank and the thickness of the head:
- Vertical spindle trimming beading machines (R series): from small-diameter heads up to 5000 mm and 8 mm thickness, with a dedicated workpiece holder. Ideal for series production. A movable spindle is available as an option, allowing the cutting height, and therefore the final height of the head, to be adjusted.
- RCM with motor-driven blades: they work without a workpiece holder, so they suit small and medium batches with frequent changeovers. The RCM 8 is designed for dished heads and shells up to 8 mm.
Maximum diameter, number of working units and power are customised according to the head to be machined.
FAQ
Which materials can be processed?
Carbon steel, stainless steel and aluminium.
Is a holder needed for each head size?
With R series machines, yes; with RCM machines, no, because they work without a workpiece holder.
Can the final height of the head be changed on the same machine?
Yes: on vertical spindle machines with the movable spindle option the cutting height is adjustable, so the same machine can produce heads of different heights.
Can non-circular heads be processed?
Yes. See the Non-circular bottom heads sample.
Can you assess whether my head can be processed?
Yes: send us drawing, material, diameter and thickness (and a sample, if available) and our technical department will carry out a feasibility study. Write to sales@pbengineering.it or use the contacts page.