Top Tube Bending Experts in Edmonton Rely on Leading-edge Tools

Properly implemented tubing plays a vital role in industrial plants and facilities. Tube configuration influences the flow and pressure of gasses and liquids being moved through the tubing. Tubing also supports the overall infrastructure. It is no surprise that tubing needs to be properly bent to have tubing at the correct angles without creating weak or thin sections of the tube wall. This is all while considering what substances will be going through the tubing and how the tube will be used (e.g., in a high-pressure or low-pressure situation). 

Poorly bent tubing can cause a range of issues that may result in plant shutdown or machine component failure. Tube bending needs to be done properly and with many facility characteristics in mind, but what are the best tools to achieve this tube bending, how should these tube bending tools be used, and when should these tools be used?

This article will discuss leading-edge tube bending tools, how to use them, and when. It will also discuss the characteristics and common problems of each type of tube bending tool. Finally, this article will discuss how working with experts at Edmonton Valve & Fitting can help with determining which tool to use and how.

The Leading-Edge Tube Bending Tools

There are several leading-edge tube bending tools. Each tool has unique characteristics that make it best suited for specific situations. Selecting an inappropriate tool for the needed bending method will result in increased leakage and structural problems. 

Here, we discuss these tools and how they can best benefit industrial facilities:

Hand Benders

High-quality hand benders can be used to form single, offset or other bends. Unlike other types of benders, they are extremely portable. They can be especially useful in facilities where tube bending is a common maintenance need in many locations around the facility. Further, their cost—relatively inexpensive—makes them a good option for facilities where tube bending needs are unexpected or only occurring on a few occasions.

Tubing System Design Best Practices

When planning the layout of a tubing system, there are several factors to consider. Here are some best practices to keep in mind:

Roll Benders, Angle Roll Benders, or Section Roll Benders

Roll benders (also known as angle roll benders and section roll benders) use either a two-, three-, or four-roll system to press against a tube. This allows for multiple bends to be created of different radii with variable angles. However, each tube needs to be manually processed when utilizing a roll bender, and this makes utilizing roll benders a slow process for producing multiple tubes. These machines are commonly used for construction projects and coiled tubing.

Bench Top Benders

Bench top benders are tube benders that are attached to a benchtop. Though not as portable as other tube benders, high-quality bench top benders produce accurate and repeatable bends. This is especially important in facilities where tube bends need to be the same throughout the production cycle. Bench top benders can also be used for many shapes of tubes or material such as round, flat, or square stock. Further, bench top benders are also relatively inexpensive. The bench top bender is ideal for situations where tube bending is somewhat infrequent but must be accurate and repeatable. Compared to electric or computer numerically controlled tube benders, bench top benders tend to be slower. They are also less mobile than hand benders.

Electric Benders

Electric benders provide extreme reliability and efficiency to tube bending. They do this through utilizing a motor to bend pipes. This requires less physical effort than other tube bending options for operators. Electric benders are a great choice for facilities that frequently need to bend tubes in a very accurate and repeatable manner. However, they are more expensive than other options, have limited mobility due to size (though many will have wheels attached), and have limitations due to needing a power supply to operate.

Computer Numerical Controlled Tube Benders

Automated CNC (Computer Numerically Controlled) tube bending is typically a faster, more precise, and controlled environment option than traditional hand tube bending. This method of tube bending is ideal for high volume, mass production tube bends, one-off specialty tube bends, reverse engineering tube bends, and shaping for R&D or prototyping. It helps reduce the time spent on bend projects where hand bending limits output.

Coordinate Measure Machine (CMM)

A coordinate measure machine provides extreme reliability in measurements for tube bending. These machines scan tubes and provide data to the operator through software. Data can be collected on tubes before bending, tubes after bending (to verify a successful bend or make corrections to the tube), and while tube bending occurs. A high-quality CMM is particularly useful in projects where exact and precise tube bending is essential to the fabrication process.

Tooling Station

The tooling station itself is an important component of tube bending. The tool station needs to have options for different types of material. For example, tubes composed of soft material should have a mandrel of hard material. This prevents the tubing and the mandrel from sticking together. Other aspects to consider for the area around the tooling station include having lubrication nearby to apply to tubing to prevent friction damage and the proper space around the tooling station to follow safety guidelines. 

To properly utilize these tools, the needs of the facility and its tubing should be properly identified. Working with Edmonton Valve & Fitting can provide the expertise to help you select and utilize the proper tool based on your tube bending needs.

Local Tube Bending Tool Experts in Edmonton

Edmonton Valve & Fitting has the experts to help with the selection and use of leading-edge tube bending tools. We will start by taking detailed measurements to determine the flow and pressure requirements for your tubing needs. Then, we will bend the tubing and fabricate based on your specific industrial needs. We will also help implement fabricated tubing and verify proper installation.

In addition to consultation services, Edmonton Valve & Fitting also offers a CNC bender. This tool utilizes computers to exact tube bending that can be easily replicated. The CNC bender can handle any tubing from a quarter-inch diameter up to one inch and any wall thickness. It can bend any angle, even 180-degree bends. Its size allows it to handle bends with a radius of up to 42 inches. We also have the ability to verify the accuracy of bends with our in-house CMM equipment, ensuring the bend meets your precise specifications. 

Edmonton Valve & Fitting can help determine what tool you need for tube bending. It can also help with the implementation of one of the most advanced tube bending tools—the Edmonton Valve CNC bender—at your facility.