Do you need a tube bender for HVAC and more industrial purposes?
To answer this question, you must first understand how tube benders work to determine whether or not tube bending is good for you.
Tube benders are a sort of pipe and tube fabrication machine that is used to bend tubes. To fulfil your application needs, these machines come in various types, features, and specifications. It is necessary to understand benders to choose the best tube bender. It's also crucial to assess your bending requirements. Along with these, there are several other aspects to consider while selecting the correct tube bender. This article discusses the considerations for choosing the finest bender for your needs.
In fabrication shops and manufacturing units, roll cages, gates, railings, and other sheet metal fabrication operations are all done with tube and pipe bending tools. These bending tools are available in various specifications from several major brands.
TUBE BENDER TYPES
Tube benders are generally classified according to their operating mechanism. This tool is usually classified into four types based on its design. Because of the unique pipe bending method, each design has a use. These are the types:
Open Rotary Tube Bender
It's the greatest roll cage tubing bender since it can handle most pipe and tube sizes, lines, and other things that most people need. Because of its versatility and durability, it is one of the most preferred choices.
Mandrel Bender
Mandrel Bender is the tool to use when you need to maintain the tube's inner diameter. They're perfect for making tight bends and bends that don't distort much. To give further inner profile control for the pipe or tube bent, professionals use a bronze alloy internal plugs or further circular flexible supports.
Roll Bender
This type of bender makes coiled pipe or bend pipe into circular arcs. These bending machines have a pyramidal structure with three triangular rollers. The tube is rolled on the rollers until it reaches the desired diameter.
Ram-Style Benders
Using this bender, it forces a die into a tube with a ram to bend the tube into a specified form. Hydraulic, pneumatic, or manual pressure can all power the ram.
It's a low-cost pipe bender that you may use to create tubular buildings, fencing posts, and exhaust systems, among other things.
HOW TO USE A TUBE BENDER
A tubing bender is a relatively basic tool that can make consistent and accurate bends on various tubes, including copper, steel tube bender, and aluminium-based tubes. While there are different electrically and hydraulically powered automated tube benders on the market, these devices can be cumbersome and are not suited for on-site applications when necessary power connections are not available. Manual tube and pipe benders can be operated with considerable ease and with little training in such situations. Most manual tubing benders can bend tubes and pipes up to 180 degrees in a final form. In just a few easy steps, you may learn how to use a tube bender:
Step 1: Find the right type of tube bender.
The tube or pipe size that a manual tubing bender can efficiently bend will have a suggested limit. The limitation may differ depending on the tube's material and its cross-section and thickness. Ensure the bender you're using is acceptable for the application you're working on before you utilize it.
Step 2: Set up your tool.
The adjustment dial on the bending tool will need to be set based on the radius you want in the tube and the total number of degrees required in the bend. It may require adjustment calculations to attain the correct results based on the radius you attempt to accomplish. The distance around a sharp turn, for example, is always greater than the distance along a radius bend. Calculations can be done using standard bend adjustment charts.
Another point to consider is whether or not to employ a vice. Most manual tube benders may be set up with a vice, as this will be necessary if you plan to bend a tube with a substantial wall thickness. If you're new to tube bending, it's best to start with a vise to keep things safe.
Step 3: Mark reference points and bed directions.
The tube's reference and measurement marks will ensure that you get the results you want and can track your progress. It would help if you labelled your tube with a longitudinal line that you can use as a reference because you may be performing many bends on a single tube. This line should always be pointing in the opposite direction of the bend you intend to achieve.
Step 4: Align and insert the tube into the bender.
To place the tube into the bending die, you'll need to swing up one of the two bending arms while keeping your reference lines visible. Once the tube is in place, a second arm with a latch mechanism is usually lowered to hold the tubing while minor modifications are performed.
Step 5: Begin the bending process.
Begin the bending operation by firmly grasping the roll support arm and lowering it until the correct degree mark on the bending die is reached. It's important to remember that most tubes and pipes will spring back after being bent. When compared to steel pipes, copper pipes have a lower spring back. During the procedure, make careful to account for spring back.
Step 6: Take the tube out of the bender.
You can remove your finished tube from the tube bender by lifting the roll support arm, which will unlatch and detach the tube from the die.
OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE BUYING A TUBE BENDER FOR HVAC
Depending on the sizes and types of materials (aluminium, steel, Chromoly/4130, titanium, etc.) it handles, one tubing bender may be the greatest choice for one person. At the same time, others may find it unsuitable for their task. When purchasing a pipe/tube bender, consider various variables. The most crucial are:
1. Knowing the Type of Tube Bender You Need
Tube benders are classified into four types based on their design. Because of the unique pipe bending method, each design has a use.
2. Know Your Required Operational Requirements
When choosing the best tube bender for your needs, you must first assess your needs. Under your operational requirements, the following elements are critical to consider.
Speed Operation
A manual bender may not be the best option if high-speed tube bending is required. Electrical and pneumatic actuators, in general, are suitable for high-speed operations. As a result, high-speed blending will be accomplished using electrical or pneumatic benders. Hydraulic benders are suited for low-speed or heavy-duty bending because hydraulic actuators react well to high-load applications.
Production Batch Size
When selecting a tube bender, you should consider the manufacturing batch size. Mandrel bending or CNC bending are preferred for batch bending.
Cost and Demand of Operation
Budget and demand are two significant selection criteria. Only invest more if there is a higher demand. The operator should invest in an efficient CNC or electric bender if there is a strong demand. If bending operations are infrequent, the operator can save money using a manual bending machine.
Machine and Material Compatibility
The material used must be compatible with the bender. You must consider the tube's material, wall thickness, and diameter, among other things. It would help if you chose a suitable tube bender based on these parameters.
3. Check Other Tools and Accessories
A set of dies and bending tools are included with the tube benders. When choosing benders, you should search for pipe and tube bending tool kits, rolling machines, multi-purpose tube benders, and other accessories.
4. Ensure Design Quality
If you're going for the high end, you'll want a tube bender that can handle everything you need, has a great design and is high quality.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A PIPE AND TUBE BENDER
Whether the material to be bent is a tube or a pipe, if it is very large or very small, you will need to employ a machine that can handle either specification. There isn't much distinction between a pipe bender and a tube bender. A device that can bend a tube can bend a pipe as well. Only very large or very small tube and piping would be an exception.
While there is no distinction between a pipe bending machine and a tube bending machine, one is between a tube and a pipe. And it turns out that determining that distinction can be difficult.
You can obtain various responses by doing a fast search for tube versus pipe. The conventional opinion holds that the distinction is due to how they are measured. The pipe's internal diameter is measured, whereas the outer diameter of a tube is measured. When measuring pipe, many sources will mention the use of a schedule, which refers to the wall thickness of the pipe.
WHERE TO BUY A TUBE BENDER IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA AND THE REST OF THE COUNTRY
There's no better coincidence than reading this article while looking for a tube bender. There's no better place to buy HVAC equipment and tools in Australia than at HVAC Shop! We offer the best brands with their best products to make sure you're well-equipped no matter what work is needed.
We offer tube benders from Mastercool, Robinair, and more.