Other forms of processing including pushing stock through rollers that bend it into a simple curve. Often, stock tubing is held firmly in place while the end is rotated and rolled around the die.
The process of tube bending involves using mechanical force to push stock material pipe or tubing against a die, forcing the pipe or tube to conform to the shape of the die. The tube is also loosely held by two other dies, the wiper die and the pressure die. Tube bending as a process starts with loading a tube into a tube or pipe bender and clamping it into place between two dies, the clamping block and the forming die. Depending on the bend angle, wall thickness, and bending process the inside of the wall may wrinkle. To reduce this the tube may be supported internally and or externally to preserve the cross section. One side effect of bending the workpiece is the wall thickness changes the wall along the inner radius of the tube becomes thicker and the outer wall becomes thinner. When calculating a two plane bend, one must know the bend angle and rotation (dihedral angle). A 2D tube has the openings on the same plane a 3D has openings on different planes.Ī two plane bend or compound bend is defined as a compound bend that has a bend in the plan view and a bend in the elevation. More complex geometries include multiple two-dimensional (2D) bends and three-dimensional (3D) bends. Common simple bends consist of forming elbows, which are bends, and U-bends, which are 180° bends. The very first machine went into service in 1996 and is still in production.Ī tube can be bent in multiple directions and angles. The first all-electric tube bending machine was invented in 1995 by UK company Unison Ltd.īased in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, Unison developed bending machines with 20mm, 40mm and 65mm tube capacity. Other factors involved in the bending process are the wall thickness, tooling and lubricants needed by the pipe and tube bender to best shape the material, and the different ways the tube may be used (tube, pipe wires). However, square and rectangular tubes and pipes may also be bent to meet job specifications. Generally, round stock is used in tube bending.
Freeform-bending processes, like three-roll-pushbending, shape the workpiece kinematically, thus the bending contour is not dependent on the tool geometry. These processes can be used to form complex shapes out of different types of ductile metal tubing. Straight tube stock can be formed using a bending machine to create a variety of single or multiple bends and to shape the piece into the desired form. Tube bending may be form-bound or use freeform-bending procedures, and it may use heat supported or cold forming procedures.įorm bound bending procedures like “press bending” or “rotary draw bending” are used to form the work piece into the shape of a die. If you need extra labour to assist with your project, please call any of our friendly Jamestech staff at anytime on +61-7-55473600 (outside Australia), or 1300 732 881 (freecall within Australia).Tube bending is any metal forming processes used to permanently form pipes or tubing. All have recently finished projects installing and commissioning instrumentation and are searching for a new project. Recently I have received emails from Tradesmen, both Electrical and Mechanical who are all experienced in Instrument/Impulse/Process tube bending. The specific instrument artificer trade ceased in Australia several years ago and it has fallen into the domains of Electrical trades – completing the wiring and calibration and the Mechanical trades – completing the field installation, impulse tubing.
Old faithful was the Swagelok Hand Tube Bender Manual though these days there are numerous videos on youtube that can assist.įield Instrumentation installation has previously been the domain of the Instrument Fitter. At the completion of the tube run these projects where perfect and absolutely pieces of art.ĭue to my youthful impatience, it was not until several years in construction where I developed the patience and detail to complete such tubing runs. The time taken to complete such installations always surprised me, with the instrument fitters completing the runs sometimes taking several weeks to complete the installation. Little did I know at the time, the skill required to ‘bend tube’ that is bend multiple thick wall stainless steel impulse lines into a perfect parallel run, all having to be positioned perfectly side by side with no crossovers. It was great training and the tradesmen teaching us where all experts at their trade. As stated in previous Newsletters I completed my apprenticeship at Queensland Nickel as an Electrical Fitter / Instrumentation tradesman.