The Basics on Tube Forming and Tube Bending Machinery

In order to keep complex machinery running, it needs more than just a source of power. It also needs a way to transfer that energy from one place to another, whether that’s through gasoline or through electricity. The tubes that we see in vehicles, for example, are used to send gasoline from the tank to the engine. Other machines might use metal or plastic tubing to protect wiring. From plumbing and electrical fixtures in the home to machine parts in passenger vehicles and aerospace equipment, there are many uses for pipes, hoses, and tubes, and all of these objects are created using tube forming and tube bending machinery.

What is tube bending? Tube bending is a catchall phrase used to describe the process of permanently forming pipes and tubing, such as the kinds you find in your home or car. These tubes are usually made from a metal, such as alloy, aluminum, steel, or titanium, but plastic tube forming is also necessary for some applications. The first step in using tube bending machinery involves clamping the tube between two tube bending dies; this can be the clamping block and forming die, and the tube may also be held by a wiper die and pressure die also. From there, the pipes are bent at a specific angle, depending on the purpose for which they will be used.

Many tube bending machines are often CNC machines, which stands for computer numerical control. These types of machines are used for large-scale production jobs, usually in factories, and they can store the settings of each project. While some tube bending can be done manually, the CNC process eliminates the room for human error, so tubes are bent at the precise angle required for a machine. In order to prevent a pipe or tube from collapsing, a mandrel is placed inside of it to retain its shape.

Additionally, some tube bending machinery requires the use of extreme heat in order to form metal tubing. The heat induction process requires an induction coil to be placed around the pipe at its bend point. It is then heated anywhere between 800 and 2,200 °F (430 and 1,200 °C), and then pressure is applied to bend the pipe. This type of tube bending is used for larger applications, such as in power plants or for petroleum pipe lines. Hot slab or sand packing forming can heat the tube in a furnace to 1,600 °F
(870 °C) or hotter before the pipe is formed and bent.

Because a tube bending process must be 100% precise, those operating it must use the most accurate tube bending calculations to determine the size and angles of a tube. Tube bending machinery is generally fairly complex equipment, only operated by manufacturing experts. Have questions about pipe and tube bending?
Feel free to leave a comment below and contact a manufacturer about the tube bending machines your company requires.

Responsible for the content of this press release: TFS Tube Form Solutions