What You Need To Know About Pipe Bending
Many industries rely on pipes to help with their products and operations. From protecting interior components from one another to strengthening the product, pipes improve the way a product works completely. However, pipes are not added deliberately in these machines and equipment because they must be bent carefully to get the best performance.
What is Pipe Bending?
Pipe bending is one of the post-fabrication processes done on fabricated pipes to transform it into a functional product. Bending can be done manually with the help of a bending clamp and force or by using machines that are calibrated to bend the pipe to a company’s preferred shape.
As a pipe is bent, both its physical and structural properties can be manipulated to get the right structure needed for a certain application.
Pipe Bending Techniques
Pipes can be bent in various shapes and sizes depending on where they will be used and the pipe’s material. Several techniques and tools are often used to get the right structure for pipes and improve their cost-efficiency. It also influences how the entire bending process takes place, with some tools bending the pipes in the right bend ratio which boosts production speeds greatly.
Ram Bending
Ram bending is the cheapest and one of the traditional ways to bend pipes that is still in use today. When you use this method, the pipe will be held in two key points while it is bent with the help of a bending ram. The ram will bend the tubes with the help of fixed rollers and a ramming cylinder.
This type of bending is often used for exhaust pipes in cars, as well as electrical tubes. Applications that require round cross-sections will also benefit from ram bending.
Rotary Draw Bending
If you need precise dimensions and perfect finish, rotary draw bending is the method to use. In this method, special sets of dies – one with a fixed radius and a counter die – will be used to bend the pipe. The pipe will be placed through the stationary die, which will then push the piece on the second die to get the desired bend. To ensure everything stays accurate, the dies used must be on the same centerline radius every time it is used.
There are draw bending machines available that allow industries to repeat the same bending operation on many pipes. This guarantees uniform pieces in a short period.
Rotary draw bending is used for pipes found on handrails, roll cages, conduits, and structure frames.
Ring Roll Bending
As its name implies, ring roll bending is great for shaping circular pipes with large and centerline radiuses. Three separate ring rolls are used for this method. When the process begins, the top roller will input the right amount of downward pressure needed by the bottom rollers to bend the tube. The rollers can be adjusted manually or mechanically if you will be using a machine to do this process.
Ring roll bends are used for appliances, drum rolls, and other pieces that require rounded structures.
Mandrel bending
For pipes that require precise bends with little deformations on its body, mandrel bending is used. In this method, the pipe is bent in a closer radius than they can normally handle without deforming with the help of internal support. To keep the pipes in shape, an internal mandrel will be placed inside the tube and angled in the area where the part will be bent.
Exhaust pipes, dairy tubes, and heat exchange pipes are made through mandrel bending.
Benefits of Pipe Bending
Pipe bending offers a lot of benefits regardless of the industry you are in. First, pipe bending enables you to route your wiring and components efficiently without worrying about pressure or temperature changes. The pipes will serve as a second layer of protection for your components once the system is turned on.
Pipe bending also helps equipment or systems route hot or dangerous substances safely, as well as maintain the pressure levels within a structure to prevent overheating or chemical damage.
Finally, pipe bending can help save you money. Using bent pipes won’t affect the overall design of your project and help you use the right size to keep everything in order.
Which Industries Rely on Pipe Bending
Many industries rely on pipe bending machines to improve their production and products. The most notable industry which uses it is the automotive industry, which requires carefully measured and bent steel pipes for key areas of cars such as its structure, chassis, and engine. To get the right bent pipe for this industry, automobile makers use steel bending machines.
Aside from the automotive industry, aerospace and aviation also require high-quality pipe bending for their products and services. For both industries, pipes must be bent accurately to prevent any mishaps in their operations. In aerospace technology, for example, pipes must be bent accurately so that it can ensure the smooth flow of air and other key components.
Agricultural, construction and electrical industries also rely heavily on pipe bending for some of its projects.
Last Words
Pipes are essential components in many industries that require precise components to improve their operations and use. If standard pipes don’t work well with your requirements, consider using a profession such as Bend-tech to get things done. Do your research about the type of pipe bending technique you will use and once you have a full grasp of its principles, you will easily see other applications for bent pipes in your projects.
