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Satellite Uses SOCO Technology
SOCO Tube Bender Aerospace

Taking Tube Bending Technology into Space

Media 2022/01/20
This past October, South Korea launched its first home-developed space capsule, in a mission that was a great step forward into placing communication satellites into orbit.  The launch marks the rise of new technologies in the country, such as the application of advanced materials, mechanical engineering, and computer science.  More importantly, the mission is a giant step forward in South Korea's effort to become a new leader in space technology.

This was also an important achievement for SOCO, as the SOCO All-Electric V series CNC Tube Bender was used to build the cooling system of the space capsule.  A high level of precision is necessary when fabricating parts for aircraft, which rely on perfectly working parts while they are in the air.  The SB-39x9A-MR-V has sophisticated capabilities that make it a highly effective CNC tube bending tool for the aerospace and defense industry.  This 9-Axis CNC Bender combines draw, roll, and 1D bending, with the versatility to program every single axis for the highest performance and achieve tolerances of +/- 0.05 Degrees in bending precision.  As it is an All-Electric machine, it allows for the least amount of setup time between parts, which is ideal for an industry that requires high precision parts but in low volume and in great variety.

The SOCO CNC i2 Controls – integrated on every CNC Tube Bender – allows manufacturers to design tubes of different shapes and simulate entire bending processes. The software implements 3D modeling using XYZ or YBC coordinates, and with its powerful CAD Reader, it can recognize tubes of different shapes, including parts with end forming, deformations, and even full part assemblies.
 
Thanks to SOCO's i2 Controls, it is also possible to connect to CMM Systems for tube measuring, reverse engineering, and calibration, ensuring that actual tube bends meet the strictest bending standards.  Once the dimensions of the bent part are measured, the data is sent directly to the tube bender and automatically calibrated to the new dimensions.
 
The smart manufacturing solutions provided by SOCO in the construction allowed precise and reliable bending processes for demanding applications such as aerospace.  The next test launch in space is scheduled for May 2022, in which SOCO technologies will be part once again.