SURE
Surface Uniformity & Radius Evaluation
Laser Vision for Unmatched Precision
Autonomous Measurements and Adjustments that make anyone a Bending Expert.
SURE is an add-on to SweBend's SEVEN X CNC control.
01 / Check the plate
Is it the right plate?
The plate lies flat and the sensor sits at plate height, facing its end. One sweep along the roll finds both edges, which gives the plate width.
01 / Check the position
Is it in the centre?
The two edges also show where the plate sits. Crowning is made for a plate in the machine centre, so SURE compares the distance from the centre to each edge and catches a misplaced plate before rolling.
02 / Roll the plate
The plate is rolled to its curve
With width and position confirmed, SEVEN X feeds the plate partway through the rolls toward the sensor side. Only the part that has passed the rolls is bent, and the rest stays flat. The curve is checked before the bend is finished.
02 / Stop the plate
Measure with the plate at rest
Roll a section, then stop. The plate stands still for every reading, so a check can follow any part of a pass.
03 / Move and rotate
The unit moves up and rotates to face the plate
The whole SURE unit travels up its own axis (Y) and rotates about its own roll axis. The laser can then read from the best position and always meets the rolled plate at a right angle.
03 / Precision
A laser reads the plate surface
The sensor never touches the plate, so a reading adds no force to the bend. It works at micrometre level, and the positioning of the unit is part of the system.
Radius accuracy depends on plate, material and target radius. SweBend confirms it for your application.
03 / Measure
Radius at the position you choose
At each stop SURE reads one spot on the plate's curve. The whole unit then moves up its axis and rotates to the next spot, and so on up the curve. Together the spots give the radius at that point along the roll.
03 / Move along the roll
The unit travels, the plate stays
The sensor runs along the rail to the next position and reads again. Each stop adds a radius from another part of the width.
03 / Any number of positions
One reading, or five, or more
The job sets the number: one, two, five or more along the roll. A fixed sensor reads one position. SURE goes wherever the plate needs checking.
03 / Compare
See how the bend varies
Side by side, the radii show if the plate is bent more in the middle or at the ends, or skewed to one side. Crowning effects show up too.
03 / Scan the width
A straight line across the plate
Near the start of the bend, SURE reads one straight line along the plate width while the plate stands still. The start and end of a plate can come out barrel or hourglass shaped when it is pressed and bent. This line shows it, and SURE can warn.
04 / Plate edges
Edges after rolling
The unit stays square to the plate and travels along the rail. The beam drops away at each edge, so both edges of the formed plate are found. A one-metre plate in a three-metre machine is found at both ends.
The unit also reaches off-centre positions, so a narrow plate lying at one end can be measured there. Placement follows the machine's instructions.
04 / Width and position
Width and position again
The edges give width and centring on the formed plate, so a plate that shifted during rolling shows up.
04 / Cone bending
The same travel measures a cone
A cone has a radius that changes along the plate. Because the sensor moves along the roll, readings at several positions can follow that change.
Cone measuring is a further use of the unit's travel. SweBend confirms range and accuracy for your cone.
05 / Review
The operator decides
SURE proposes a correction from the readings and shows it on the SEVEN X screen. The operator accepts or edits it before the machine continues. Fully automatic rolling is possible, but it must approach the radius cautiously to avoid overbending, which is slow. A confirmed step is the recommended way to work.
05 / Park
Parked clear of the work
Once the operator accepts, SEVEN X carries on in the same forward pass and rolls the plate into a closed cylinder. The unit runs to the side of the rail and stays out of the working area, so a plate handled on the machine cannot land on it.
In brief
What is SURE?
SURE (Surface Uniformity & Radius Evaluation) is a movable laser measuring unit for SweBend plate rolls. It is an add-on for the SEVEN X CNC control. The unit travels along the rolls, checks the plate edges and position, and reads the radius where you need it. It moves up and rotates to stay square to the plate, and scans a line across the width at the start and end of the bend. The operator confirms each correction.
Compare
SURE compared with fixed measurement
A fixed device is one sensor at one position, usually the machine centre. The table shows what each system handles.
| Capability | Fixed measurement | SURE |
|---|---|---|
| Measures the radiusReads how tightly the plate is bent. | Yes | Yes |
| Measures anywhere along the rollThe sensor moves to the spot you want to check. | No | Yes |
| Takes several readingsOne, two, five or more, as the job needs. | No | Yes |
| Compares the bend across the widthShows if the radius differs between centre, ends and sides. | No | Yes |
| Stays square to the plateThe whole unit moves up its own axis and rotates, so each reading is perpendicular to the rolled plate. | No | Yes |
| Scans a straight line across the widthRead at the start and end of the bend to warn of barrel and hourglass shapes. | No | Yes |
| Finds plate edges and widthConfirms it is the right plate before rolling. | No | Yes |
| Checks plate positionShows if the plate lies in the centre of the machine. | No | Yes |
| Reaches a narrow plate at one endNarrow plates can lie at one end of the rolls. The sensor still reaches them. | No | Yes |
| Measures a coneReadings along the roll follow a radius that changes. Range confirmed per job. | No | Yes |
| Parks out of the wayMoves to the side when idle, so plates cannot hit it. | No | Yes |
Describes a sensor fixed at one position. Products vary. Range, accuracy and cone performance are confirmed with SweBend for your job.
Benefits
What you gain with SURE
BENEFIT
For fabricators and job shops
Reach the right radius with measured corrections
After each section SURE reads the radius on the plate itself and proposes a correction. The operator confirms it, so the bend is steered toward the target radius one measured step at a time.
BENEFIT
For plant managers and operations directors
Support operators who are still learning the machine
SURE shows the radius at several positions and proposes the next correction. A newer operator has measured readings to check the bend against, and the experienced operator keeps the final say.
BENEFIT
For large manufacturers
Lower the risk at the machine
SURE checks plate position and width before rolling, so a plate lying too far toward one end is caught early. The unit parks to the side when idle, which keeps it clear of plates handled on the machine.
SEVEN X
SURE is an add-on for SEVEN X
SEVEN X is SweBend's graphical CNC control for plate rolls, section benders and other bending machines. SURE adds measurement to it, so readings, corrections and rolling all happen in one control.
ONE CONTROL
Measure and roll from the same screen
SURE readings appear in the SEVEN X interface the operator already uses. SEVEN X carries out the confirmed correction, so there is no second system to learn.
BUILDS ON IRMA
Measured data for radius adjustment
IRMA is the SEVEN X tool that corrects radius deviations and stores adjustments for consistent batches. SURE measures the radius on the plate itself and gives that correction a measured starting point.
NO SEVEN X YET?
Upgrade the machine and add SURE
SEVEN X is built to be retrofitted on existing machines, and an upgrade can be finished in 2-3 days with tuning and training. SweBend support can reach the control online.
Talk to SweBend
Bring us your bending job
SURE is an add-on for the SEVEN X CNC and is offered as an option on the PB4 range, for customers who want to verify the bend automatically or build the measurement into an automated workflow. Send us your PB4 model, whether it runs SEVEN X, and a typical plate with its width, material, thickness and target radius. We will review which measuring configuration fits your work and what radius accuracy to expect.
Questions
SURE: common questions
What is SURE?
SURE (Surface Uniformity & Radius Evaluation) is a movable laser measuring unit for SweBend plate rolls. It is an add-on for the SEVEN X CNC control. The unit travels along a rail beside the rolls, moves up and rotates to stay square to the plate, and measures it without touching it.
What does SURE measure?
SURE finds the plate edges, which gives the plate width and shows whether the plate lies in the centre of the machine. After rolling it reads the radius at the positions you choose along the roll, so you can see how the bend varies across the plate. A straight-line scan across the width at the start and end of the bend shows barrel and hourglass shapes.
Does SURE need the SEVEN X CNC?
SURE is an add-on for SweBend's SEVEN X CNC control. SEVEN X shows the readings and carries out the confirmed correction. A machine without SEVEN X can be upgraded to it, and SweBend can tell you what that involves for your machine.
How is SURE different from a fixed measuring sensor?
A fixed sensor reads one position, usually the machine centre. SURE moves along the roll, so it can read one position or several, find the plate edges, reach a narrow plate lying at one end, and follow a cone.
Does the operator stay in control?
Yes. SURE proposes a correction from the readings, and the operator accepts or edits it before the machine continues. Fully automatic rolling is possible, but it has to approach the radius cautiously, which is slow.
Which machines is SURE offered for, and how accurate is it?
SURE is offered as an option on the PB4 plate roll range. Radius accuracy depends on the plate, the material and the target radius, so SweBend confirms it for your application. Send your machine model and a typical plate to start the review.