The Dual Capacity Tube Mill System was developed by T&H Lemont in conjunction with Searing Industries of Rancho Cucamonga, CA. Searing Industries approached T&H Lemont with the need to increase production of a wide range of structural products in a limited production area. The Dual Capacity Mill allows for a greater range of production sizes in a minimal amount of floor space. In effect, the Dual Capacity Mill gives a pipe and tube producer the ability to produce a range of pipe and tubing normally produced from TWO DIFFERENT SIZED MILLS.

 

With a Dual Capacity Mill, all of the entry and exit equipment are designed to be universal; as are the mill bases and drive systems. The “dual capacity” of a mill is achieved by two different size sets of Quick Change subplates designed to mount on a single base system and utilize a universal drive system. One set of subplate mounted driven stands with 3.500” shafts was designed for producing tubing from 1.250” to 5.000” with wall thickness from .095” to .250”. The second set of subplates with 6.000” shafts was designed to produce tubing from 2.500” to 8.000” diameter with wall thickness from .125” to .500”. The distance between the stands was optimized for the products produced on each set of subplates. Each set of subplates included three driven squaring clusters to form the shapes. Production was increased and change-over times minimized by the T&H AutoSet automatic stand adjusting system. This motorized, programmable system allows the operator to make “push-button” roll stand gauge changes.

 

Additionally, this mill was designed to utilize an overhead crane system to assist in the change out of the subplates. The subplates are held to the base by a special hydraulic clamping system. This allows the subplates to be connected rigidly and precisely to the mill base and when necessary, disconnected from the base quickly and efficiently.