Tube or pipe bending is required in a variety of industries. With the correct machine, it can be done precisely and efficiently. While most heavy-duty benders are designated for larger enterprises and machine shops, several are more economical and practical and may be used by people with little to no training.
A tube’s equilateral composition allows it to be bent at various angles and directions without losing much tensile strength. A tube can be bent safely up to 180 degrees. Its apertures can also be made to fall on different planes-a technique known as three-dimensional bending.
The process in each type of machine follows a basic premise. A tube is fed into a bender, which is pinched between two dies. The pipe is pushed against a die by mechanical force, which forces it to conform to the shape of the guide. This is frequently accomplished by rotating or rolling its end around it (die).
The basic principle stated above is applied in the many classes of benders listed below. Each bender type has a different method of using mechanical force to accomplish the bend.
Press Bending
The push bender is the most basic sort of bender. Mechanical force, as the name implies, bends the tube by forcing it against a die. Depending on the machine’s setup, the pressure is often applied hydraulically or pneumatically. Because of the lack of internal support, this type of bender can be used on cold pipes, although it frequently deforms the cross-section at the bend to an oval shape.
Rotary draw bender
Because it has a constant center radius, a rotary draw bender can make more accurate bends. On both sides of the curve, counter and former dies work together to accurately guide the tube as it travels the length of the bend. This bender produces beautiful bends with minimal to no distortion. As a result, it’s a common material for making rails, frames, bike, and motorcycle handlebars, and racing car roll cages.
Heat-induction (method)
While not technically a bender form, heat-induction is frequently used in conjunction with an external
tube bender machine. Heat is induced into the piece of pipe that will be bent in heat induction. Pressure is applied to the pipe using a machine when it is hot. It can also be used on larger pipes that are difficult to bend with bender-petroleum lines, power plants, and so on.
Roll bender
A roll bender differs from the others in that it alters the bend radius in the pipe gradually across multiple passes to the rollers. The rollers are typically used in groups of three, sometimes in a pyramid shape, with only the uppermost moving and applying the force to move the tube and generate the bend.
The Fundamentals of Tube Bending
Tubing benders are metal-bending equipment that use automation to bend or shape metal. Consider a trombone, tuba, trumpet, french horn, or brass musical instrument as an example. Similarly, a lot of plumbing contains metal bars bent by automated devices.
There are various types of tube bending, and it is not as simple as bending a bar or piece of metal. Processes involving heat and cold are employed on occasion. A tubing bender can also press bend, rotary draw bend, and three-roll push bend.
CNC machines are automated equipment capable of bending tubes into specified forms. CNC machines, or Computer Numerical Controlled machines, are another name for them. This implies that the machines may be programmed to bend and cut metal tubing to extremely exact dimensions.
Most CNC machines can bend tubes in multiple directions. Tubes are bent around an object known as a die. The dice control the bend angle. As the tube is put into the machine (either mechanically or manually) and bent around the die, the die remains motionless.
Tube bending is also known as pipe bending. Pipe bending can be classified into several types, including compression pipe bending. This is the process of bending a pipe into a very tight radius. To do this, mandrel tools can be employed. Draw pipe bending is utilized for thin-walled tubes and allows for the most control over wall thinning. Because aluminum is such a hard substance, bending it may be the most challenging form.
Bending tubing by hand is far more complicated than using a tube bending machine. These machines can be handled or installed on the floor. The user holds one end of the tube while the tubing bender machine drives it through itself and bends it around the focus point.
A mandrel is occasionally put inside the tube to prevent wrinkling and breakage during the bending operation. The mandrel provides additional support to the tube. A plug mandrel, a forming mandrel, a ball mandrel without a cable, a ball mandrel with a cable, or simply sand poured into the tube are all examples of mandrels.
Bending springs are sometimes used in manual bendings to perform the same function as mandrels. Bending springs are put into the tube during bending to support the pipe wall.
Depending on the purpose, the materials utilized in tube bender applications can vary substantially. Steels of various alloys may be used based on the shape of the object to be bent into.
