How to Bend Pipe
Choose the right bending tools for your needs.
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Choose the right bending tools for your needs.
There are 6 main bending methods.
Each is best suited to a particular type of pipe.
Ram style bending, also called incremental bending, is usually used for putting large bends in light-gauge metal, such as electrical conduit.
In this method, the pipe is held down at 2 external points and the ram pushes on the pipe at its central axis to bend it.
Bends tend to deform into an oval shape at both the inside and outside of the bend.
Rotary draw bending is used to bend pipe for use as handrails or ornamental iron, as well as car chassis, roll cages, and trailer frames, as well as heavier conduit.
Rotary draw bending uses 2 dies: a stationary counter-bending die and a fixed radius die to form the bend.
It is used when the pipe needs to have a good finish and constant diameter throughout its length.
Mandrel bending is used to make stock and custom exhaust pipes, dairy tubing, and heat exchanger tubing.
In addition to the dies used in rotary draw bending, mandrel bending uses a flexible support that bends with the pipe or tubing to make sure the pipe interior isn't deformed.
Induction bending heats the area to be bent with an electric coil, and then the pipe or tube is bent with dies similar to those used in rotary draw bending.
The metal is immediately cooled with water to temper it.
It produces tighter bends than straight rotary draw bending.
Roll bending, also called cold bending, is used whenever large bends are necessary in the pipe or tubing, such as in awning supports, barbecue grill frames, or drum rolls, as well as in most construction work.
Roll benders use 3 rolls on individual shafts to roll the pipe through as the top roller pushes down to bend the pipe. (Because the rolls are arranged in a triangle, this method is sometimes called pyramid bending.) Hot bending, in contrast, is used considerably in repair work.
The metal is heated at the place where it is to be bent to soften it.;
Detailed Guide
There are 6 main bending methods.
Each is best suited to a particular type of pipe.
Ram style bending, also called incremental bending, is usually used for putting large bends in light-gauge metal, such as electrical conduit.
In this method, the pipe is held down at 2 external points and the ram pushes on the pipe at its central axis to bend it.
Bends tend to deform into an oval shape at both the inside and outside of the bend.
Rotary draw bending is used to bend pipe for use as handrails or ornamental iron, as well as car chassis, roll cages, and trailer frames, as well as heavier conduit.
Rotary draw bending uses 2 dies: a stationary counter-bending die and a fixed radius die to form the bend.
It is used when the pipe needs to have a good finish and constant diameter throughout its length.
Mandrel bending is used to make stock and custom exhaust pipes, dairy tubing, and heat exchanger tubing.
In addition to the dies used in rotary draw bending, mandrel bending uses a flexible support that bends with the pipe or tubing to make sure the pipe interior isn't deformed.
Induction bending heats the area to be bent with an electric coil, and then the pipe or tube is bent with dies similar to those used in rotary draw bending.
The metal is immediately cooled with water to temper it.
It produces tighter bends than straight rotary draw bending.
Roll bending, also called cold bending, is used whenever large bends are necessary in the pipe or tubing, such as in awning supports, barbecue grill frames, or drum rolls, as well as in most construction work.
Roll benders use 3 rolls on individual shafts to roll the pipe through as the top roller pushes down to bend the pipe. (Because the rolls are arranged in a triangle, this method is sometimes called pyramid bending.) Hot bending, in contrast, is used considerably in repair work.
The metal is heated at the place where it is to be bent to soften it.;
About the Author
Jessica Gonzalez
A passionate writer with expertise in home improvement topics. Loves sharing practical knowledge.
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