TPT July 2017

T E CHNOLOG Y

Non-round is no problem for Bend Tooling TAKING on a rotary draw bending project involving square or rectangular (non-round) tubing has often been considered a risky proposition, but by following a few simple guidelines and using the correct tooling, favourable results can be obtained. To ensure that the CNC or NC tube bender has the

power to take on the required forces, it is best to add one inch to the major width of the material and choose a machine with a capacity of that value or greater. For example 2" x 3" rectangular x 0.12" WT tubing would require a bender that has a capacity to bend 4" diameter x 0.12" WT round tubing. Furthermore, to avoid committing to a dangerously tight bend radius, it is usually wise to make sure the inside radius (ISR) is not less than 1.5x the tube’s horizontal width. The use of a special bend die actuator isacommondeterrent whenapproaching non-round tubing applications, but with the availability of ‘tapered leaf’-style tooling, such actuators are no longer a requirement. If necessary, mandrel and wiper tooling may also be used in conjunction with tapered-leaf tooling.

Bend Tooling Inc – USA Fax: +1 616 454 9958 Email: info@bendtooling.com Website: www.bendtooling.com

Bending square tubes

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JULY 2017