Tube bender.

[mtt.tr]

I will be making a tube bender for CDs 31.75mm od 12g (about 2.7mm). I'm not keen on borrowing.

My question is is there any reason why the followers are blocks not a round follower I would image a round follower would reduce resistance and any chance of gouging.

 

[mtt.tr]

http://www.eastwood.com/professional-tubing-bender.html


Like that design.

 

[Moosevan]

You might want to have a look at this company:

http://www.gottrikes.com/Tube_Bender.htm

 

[ibrooks]

I've had a think about the various ones similar to the Eastwood one. I'd want it for bending exhaust tube so would need a mandrel and I've thought that design would lend itself to having a frame added horizontally on the feed side. How long would depend on the lengths of tube that you are going to be feeding it. From the end of that frame a beefy length of bar (maybe 3/4" diameter) would support the mandrel that's set to the apex of the bend with some threaded adjustment. The question is how to make the mandrel - turned balls threaded onto a piece of wire rope? how to retain them and then hold them on the end of my bar?

And then I think of how often I'd actually use the thing and just go out and buy bends. Someday though.......

Have you looked at the "Affordable Bender"

I suspect the lions share of the cost in any of them is going to be the forming dies - they ain't cheap.

 

[mtt.tr]

The dies I intend to machine my self. Will just turn them on the horizontal mill.

I will post .y drawings at some point.

 

[hotrodder]

My question is is there any reason why the followers are blocks not a round follower I would image a round follower would reduce resistance and any chance of gouging.

I don't quite get what you mean? Layout and terminology differ with tube bending kit and the Eastwood destructions use the term follower and die interchangeably but the bending die is rarely circular on commercially made stuff. The Eastwood thing is only capable of bending upto 90° (60° max for many sizes & materials) so it should only gouge the tube if the operator goes beyond that. The followers/dies are cast and bolt to the die block which is a chunk of steel with bits welded to it. No reason why the die can't be circular, more common to cut a section out like

to fit an insert for the clamp die for kit that's capable of bending beyond 180°

I've had a think about the various ones similar to the Eastwood one. I'd want it for bending exhaust tube so would need a mandrel and I've thought that design would lend itself to having a frame added horizontally on the feed side. How long would depend on the lengths of tube that you are going to be feeding it. From the end of that frame a beefy length of bar (maybe 3/4" diameter) would support the mandrel that's set to the apex of the bend with some threaded adjustment. The question is how to make the mandrel - turned balls threaded onto a piece of wire rope? how to retain them and then hold them on the end of my bar?

What's needed in the way of mandrels depends on 'bend difficulty' http://www.tubebendingconcepts.com/bending-processes/appropriate-applications There are plenty of rotary draw tube benders about that'll produce clean bends on typically exhaust sized stuff but obviously they won't be as tight of a bend radius as mandrel bends. Initially a plug mandrel is all that's needed to go tighter on CLR with segmented balls and wiper dies being added as bend radius gets tighter still. Google tube bending difficulty factor chart and some of the results will be tube bending guides that cover different styles of mandrel

Probably already aware of this thread but fwiw http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/internal-mandrel-material.45507/#post-504665

 

[AdrianH]

I made one for my roll bar 1 and 3/4 inch CDS tube have a link to a build thread on't web:
http://www.tamarisktechnicals.com/pages/tubebend.html

If it gives a bit of an idea then all the better, have a go!

Adrian

 

[mtt.tr]

I think your missing my point I'll post a diagram