Monday 18 January 2016

How to Achieve the Perfect Bend in Pipes and Tubes

At Woodward Fab, we get a lot of queries from novice fabricators. A common question is how to achieve the perfect bend. While having the right tube bender can be a great advantage, it is also important to have some basic knowledge of pipe bending and the right procedure.

  Points to Achieve the Perfect Bend in Pipes and Tubes The following points will help you to understand the basics of pipe bending.
  • Know your Basics: Tube bending starts with knowing your fundamentals. What is the pipe going to be used to transport – air or fluid? How much wall thickness does it have? What is the outside diameter of the pipe? What is the bend angle? What is the centerline radius? Also, what are the inside and outside bend radii?
  • Understand Common Problems: There are certain problems that can occur during the bending process. It is important you understand these problems before you start the process.
    • Springback: This refers to the pipe returning to its original form after bending. It also leads to radial growth. Springback occurs in pipes with small centerline radiuses and a hard surface.
    • Elongation: Elongation occurs when the outside radius of the pipe stretches, causing the outside surface to cave in.
  • Know the Types of Bending: There are certain types of bending procedures you can try. Once you understand them, you can choose the procedure based on your requirements.
    • Ram Bending: This is a simple bending method. It utilizes a ram that uses rollers and pivot blocks to bend the pipe.
    • Roll Bending: This method is generally used for large work pieces. It entails using a sheet metal bending machine. The machine consists of three rollers in the shape of a pyramid. The metal is passed through the rollers to create a curve.
    • Compression Bending: Similar to roll bending, compression bending uses a bead roller. The roller consists of dies, which compress the metal to create a curve.
Achieving the perfect bend can take time, but with these helpful tube bending tips, you will be on your way to creating bends as per your requirements.

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