Blog

Thin-Walled Niobium-Titanium Capillary Tubes: Magnetic Levitation Guidance

The High-Tech Mandrel Positioning for Thin-Walled Niobium-Titanium Capillary Tubes. In the processing of thin-walled niobium-titanium capillaries, besides controlling wall thickness, mandrel positioning accuracy directly determines product quality. The mandrel, a key component supporting the internal structure of the tube, can cause localized thinning or wrinkling of the tube wall if its concentricity with the outer die deviates. This effect is particularly devastating when the wall thickness is less than 0.1mm.

Industry data shows that if the concentricity deviation between the mandrel and the outer die exceeds 0.005mm, the scrap rate of the finished product will surge by over 80%. To address this challenge, magnetic levitation guidance technology has been developed. This technology uses electromagnetic force to suspend and fix the mandrel in the center of the processing channel. Position control is achieved without mechanical contact, allowing real-time correction of even the smallest mandrel deviations to maintain concentricity within a strict 3-micron tolerance.

Just how difficult is it to achieve 3-micron accuracy? For comparison, the diameter of a normal human hair is approximately 0.07 mm (or 70 microns). Three microns is only twenty-one-twenty-one times smaller. Achieving stable positioning of the mandrel within such a tiny space requires not only a high-precision electromagnetic control system but also a highly sensitive position sensor, forming a "precision navigation system" for thin-wall machining.