E Tube & Wire is one of the leading steel tube bending companies offering exceptional CNC tube bending services. We can work with custom metal tube bending for different industries. So you can trust that we are committed to providing you with quality products to meet your needs.
We have a team of experts with the skills and expertise to do any type of pipe bending and fabrication. Our facility has the best equipment to bend aluminum, copper, and stainless steel tubing up to 3″ in Diameter with precision. We also offer hydraulic tube bending services that comply with the strict Mil-Spec standards.
Three types of tube bending
E Tube & Wire uses three tube bending methods, depending on the client’s needs. These are rotary bending, induction bending, and compression bending.
Rotary bending
Rotary bending is a commonly used tube bending method available, which E Tube & Wire offers. It’s done by using a stationary die set. The pipe or tube is then bent to fit the outside diameter. Collapse or wrinkling is common during the process, so mandrels are inserted inside the tube or the pipe.
CNC equipment is used thanks to its high repeatability, and it presses itself against the tubing and then rotates the material to achieve the desired shape. This process makes handling more complex designs, such as sharp angles of up to 180 degrees, easier.
Additional advantages of rotary draw bending:
Broader material options: Since rotary draw bending uses CNC equipment, it can apply force to bend denser and much thicker materials.
Automated process: The automation process of rotary bending allows for better product consistency.
Compression bending
Another method E Tube & Wire offers is compression bending, a technique where machinery bends tubing around a fixed bending die. Furthermore, compression bending is much faster and provides lower per-unit tooling costs than other bending methods.
The drawback of compression bending is that it can’t be used for other complex designs or designs that require mandrels. Compression bending also has a high labor cost on low production volumes.
Induction bending
Induction bending involves heating the material. Once it’s soft enough, the material is forced to bend at a preset radius. It’s a cost-effective and precise method as it doesn’t use special equipment for custom bending. So it’s the ideal technique used in various industries, such as commercial, architectural, industrial, and specialty applications in either small or large quantities.
Benefits of induction bending:
More robust product with uniform wall thickness
Reduced friction and wear with an extensive radius bend capability
High-quality surface finish, ovality, and wall thinning
Faster production times compared to producing separate components
Custom tube bending
Apart from the three main methods above, E Tube & Wire offers various possibilities for creating different carbon tube bending configurations. Our specifications are a maximum of 3″ Diameter x .250 wall and 3/16″ Diameter x .019 wall at a 3/8″ Center Line Radius for minimum round materials.
Tube materials include aluminum, brass, carbon steel, copper, Hastelloy Inconel, mild steel, stainless steel, and titanium. To ensure that we produce high-quality products for you, we meet the stringent standards of Mil-Spec, Nuclear Regulatory Commission-1 Nuclear Quality requirements, and Welders Certified to Meet Federal Contract Specifications.
We have the skills & equipment to bend any type of tubing with precision
Do you have any tubing needs in mind? E Wire & Tubing has the expertise and skills to meet your requirements.
Don’t hesitate to contact us or request a quote, so we can better serve you and give you options that work best for your projects.
Aluminum tube bending is a precision process for forming aluminum tubes without damaging the material or compromising the internal dimensions of the tube. Experienced tube benders can manage complex bending projects without allowing the metal to develop cracks, kinks, or misshapen interior dimensions that may restrict the flow of fluid. As a strong, lightweight, and highly workable metal, aluminum provides a top choice for producing parts that need to undergo precision metal forming techniques.
Considerations When Bending Aluminum
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When you’re determining which tube stock material to use for different manufacturing projects that require tube bending processes, consider the following:
Formability
Different metals and alloys offer varying degrees of formability. Some are hard and brittle, while others are soft and pliable. Aluminum alloys, in particular, offer a good balance between strength and formability—characteristics that are often at odds with each other in other materials. For projects that require bending with tight radii and multiple bends, you may need to prioritize formability over strength and other characteristics. But for projects with mild bends, stronger and less workable alloys will often work just as well.
Thickness and Bend Radius
Like many other metals, aluminum alloys will experience work hardening as they undergo fabrication processes. That’s important to keep in mind for projects with extreme bends. Small-radius (sharp) bends put the metal at risk of cracking, especially if the metal is thick and beginning to harden.
Percentage of Elongation
A metal with low tensile strength has restrictions on the degree to which it can be bent. The higher a metal’s tensile strength, the more resilient it is under stress and the better it can handle tube bending processes.
Best Aluminum Alloys for Bending
Knowing the characteristics of your chosen alloy is just as important as knowing how many bends and what degrees of bend are required for a project. Some of the best aluminum alloys for tube bending include:
Series 3003. Series 3003 aluminums have a 25% elongation rate, making them extremely workable and resilient. These metals respond well to cold working and feature excellent strength characteristics.
Series 5052. Series 5052 metals provide an ideal material for cold forming processes. While not as bendable as Series 3003 metals, this series offers higher strength and resistance to corrosion.
Series 6061. These metals can be heat-treated or cold-formed and offer excellent elongation and tensile strength properties.
Aluminum Tube Bending Methods
Metal fabricators may use multiple processes for aluminum tube bending, such as:
Rotary Bending
This tube bending process uses fixed die sets to shape the outside of the metal tubes. Operators employ mandrels in conjunction with the dies to preserve the interior dimension of the tubes. Mandrels get inserted into the length of the tube adjacent to the bend so the tube can’t crimp shut. Rotary bending is a popular choice because it gives fabricators significant freedom while designing the die set. It can also be used on hard or thick metals with minimal risk of failure.
Compression Bending
Compression bending is a fast, cost-effective method of tube bending. The tubes are moved around a stationary die to bend it into shape. While this process is fast and doesn’t require much initial investment for tooling, it can be labor-intensive. It also can’t be used to create complex designs or designs that require a mandrel to preserve the interior shape.
Induction Bending
In this process, the metal is heated and softened so it can be forced into a bend. This removes the need for high-cost tooling, and works well for production orders of any volume. However, it can only be used with metals compatible with heat forming methods.
E Tube & Wire Custom Tube Bending Capabilities
At E Tube & Wire, we offer complete bending, finishing, welding, and assembly services for metal tube projects. We work with a wide variety of metal alloys and can accommodate complex custom orders. For complex projects, tubes must be in T4 or T0 condition, as T6 tubes such as 6061 T6 can’t always be bent. Contact us today to learn more about our capabilities orrequest a quote to start your next bending project.
Tube bending is a metal forming process that permanently bends or changes the shape of tubes and pipes. There are multiple different types of tube bending processes, such as cold forming, heated metal bending, free-form bending, and form-bound procedures. Precision tube bending is a slow, carefully managed process that requires specific tools and honed skills to properly bend the tube without damaging it.
Stainless steel tubing, whether welded or seamless, can be curved and bent into precise shapes; however, seamless tubes respond best to tight radius bends. Here, we will discuss the various considerations when bending stainless steel tubing as well as the different tube bending methods.
Considerations When Bending Stainless Steel Tubing
Before bending stainless steel tubing, there are many variables and structural considerations that must be taken into account. These include:
Material Thickness. The thickness of the pipe’s walls affects the final product. Thicker walls require more force to bend, while thinner walls may be easier to crack or wrinkle.
Welded Tubing. Welded pipes have a seam that can interfere with the consistency of the bend. The weld itself may have also been improperly formed and cause the tube to not be perfectly round.
Bend Radius. Tighter bend radii require more careful application of force. Depending on the thickness and inner diameter of the pipe, a 180° bend may be possible, but it may require a wider “U” shape to preserve the interior shape and structural integrity. The radius also determines what types of equipment can be used to handle the job; three-roll benders typically handle pipes with a large bend radius, whereas mandrel tube bending processes perform tight radius operations.
Applications. Stainless steel tubing can be used in applications that need to meet high standards of sanitation, including food processing and pharmaceuticals manufacturing. However, the material can’t be contaminated by carbon during the metal forming or transportation process.
Methods for Bending Stainless Steel Tubing
One of the most common methods used for bending stainless steel tube and pipe is rotary draw bending. The radius of such bends is often described as, for example, “2D.” A 2D bend is one whose center-line radius is equal to two times the outside diameter of the pipe to be bent. Rotary draw bending involves clamping on the outside diameter of a pipe and drawing it over a bend die whose radius matches the desired bend radius. Rotary draw bending can employ an internal supporting mandrel and a wiper die to prevent wrinkling on the inside wall of a tight bend. Some rotary draw machines can perform both push bending and rotary bending with a single tooling setup.
Another common method for forming stainless steel tube and pipe is rolling. In this process, rollers move tubing over or around a die, putting enough pressure on the material to force the tube into the shape outlined by the die. This process needs to be handled slowly and smoothly to minimize stress on the metal and reduce the risk of cracks and deformation.
Another common method for forming stainless steel tubing is compression bending. In this process, a roller compresses the tube against a die. To protect the internal shape of the tubing, operators can insert mandrels into the pipes. These help the tubing hold its shape so it doesn’t collapse or pinch.
Other methods include ram bending, which uses a hydraulic ram to push the stainless steel tube against the rollers; and rotary draw bending, which uses a pressure die, a clamp die, and a round bend die to shape the tubing. Rotary draw bending can create accurate, intricate shapes, so it’s a preferred option for creating consumer and commercial goods.
Partner With E Tube & Wire for Expert Stainless Steel Tube Bending
Stainless steel tube bending processes can transform straight lengths of pipe into virtually any shape. However, tubing with different characteristics and intended forms or applications needs to be carefully matched with the right processes.
At E Tube & Wire, we specialize in high-quality stainless steel tube bending processes. We provide CNC mandrel tube bending services to meet the needs of various industries, including food processing, automotive, refrigeration, and more. For more information, or to get started on your stainless steel tube bending solution, contact us or request a quote today.
