Abstract: A machine comprising: a lance, the lance configured to clean insides of tubes; a guide way positioned near the tubes; a transversal drive support slidable on the guide way and configured to move the lance along the guide way towards an insertion head; a rotational drive coupled to the lance for controlling rotation of the lance; and a feeding system coupled to the lance, wherein the guide way forms at least one supporting lance channel over a length of the guide way, the at least one channel forming an enclosure from all sides for guiding the lance, whereby a part on the circumference of the enclosure is made of a flexible lip, which lip can be locally bent by deflectors travelling with the lance.

Abstract: Lances for a heat exchanger tube lancing machine may be continuously supported in radial direction by being guided in a channel. Each channel has one solid bottom and two solid sides. The top of each channel is covered by a rubberlike lip or lip stripes, for instance a semi-flexible polyurethane sheet. Due to the narrow guiding surfaces within the channel it is possible to use more flexible high-pressure hoses as lances, which will not buckle though there might be severe advancing forces.