ElfinMaster is an electrically powered electronically controlled Patented ‘finning’ machine which uses state-of-the-art CNC technology to swage fins on to tubes with an interference fit that results in a high-quality, yet competitively priced plate-type finned core.
During the development process, several fin placement methods were considered and tested. Pneumatic power is fast but not sufficiently powerful. Hydraulic and mechanical power sources are sufficiently powerful but are too slow. The breakthrough to a major advance in the manufacture of extended surfaces came with the discovery of linear motor technology which is now used to force the fins over the tubes and on to their final position.
A linear motor is essentially a multi-phase alternating current (AC) electric motor that has had its stator ‘unrolled’ so that instead of producing a torque (rotation) it produces a linear force along its length. This technology proved to offer the ideal balance of power, speed, rate of acceleration/deceleration and positional accuracy.
The linear motors used in ElfinMaster finning machines are coupled with a positional encoder and controlled by a modular electronic management system that interfaces with the other relays, sensors, drive motors etc, ensuring that all components work in harmony. This allows connection to a PC for programming, diagnostics and monitoring.
ElfinBlock compares very favourably to vacuum brazed heat exchanger cores but does not require high temperature brazing ovens and is therefore more environmentally friendly, tubes and fins are not weakened or softened by a high brazing temperature.
ElfinBlock is more flexible with regard to material combinations, tube sizes, and configurations, the necessary manufacturing equipment is less expensive to buy and operate. The fixing of tube-plate and header tanks are joined separately, using rubber grommets or other flexible seals, epoxy, roller expansion, welding, soldering or manual brazing, depending on the application. | > Below: ElfinMaster Finning Machine & Example Cores

'ElfinMaster' is a totally unique machine and has been developed and improved over the past 10 years for one task: the assembly of ‘ElfinBlock’ finned products:-
the only machine in the world available for the production of ‘ElfinBlock’
high speed coupled with high power for optimum operational efficiency
powered tube clamping system
semi-automatic scroll-fed or magazine-fed fin feeding system
efficient and non-toxic for environmentally friendly operation
simple to operate and maintain
low cost technology compared with other fin technologies
highly flexible tooling system with low down-time changeover | |