Bending the profile pipe: a test of sharpness

15-06-2018
Pipes

The profile tube has an “angular” shape - square and rectangular. At first glance, it seems that it is impossible to give it an arched shape. But firmly deciding to use such material for greenhouse frames, sheds, while creating architectural solutions in the garden (arches, trellis, pergolas) - the desired can be achieved. The profile pipe is flexible along the radius - it’s quite simple to do this with your own hands, everyone can handle it.

Profile pipes can be bent in unexpected ways.

Principle of operation of the pipe bender

The design of this device is quite simple - 2 stops and shoe, driven by a lever. With the help of this simple device you can bend a pipeline with a diameter of 5 - 150 mm.

Open tube bender

At the same time, for large diameters, the physical strength of the operator is no longer enough, especially with a thick wall. In order for the bending to take place smoothly and without problems, the device is equipped with a hydraulic drive, by the way, this causes a significant increase in the cost of the device.

If you need to bend a very small tube, you can use a variant of pipe benders for pipes with an open frame. From the point of view of security, this is not the best option, because the risk of a pipeline run-off is large enough.

As for large diameters, in this case only devices with a closed frame are used. Due to this, the pipe will not jump off the stops under any circumstances.

Pipe bender with closed frame

The pipe bender can work on a different principle. In this case, the profile tube is simply pulled between the rollers (stops), thus deforming.

Bending of a profile pipe on the pipe bender

Profiles of different metals and different sections react to bending, too, in different ways. For example, it is a pleasure to work with non-ferrous metal pipes - copper, brass, duralumin, aluminum, of a small section. They are plastic and well bent, embodying the wizard fantasies of the master. Excellent withstand low temperatures.

Folk "recipes" profile bending

Invented ways of bending the profile pipes in the home are sometimes the only way to carry out our plans. Despite the seeming primitiveness of the technology, the results obtained are capable of striking quality, geometric accuracy and perfect forms.

Technology from own workshop

Bending a profile using a grinder and a welding machine is the most familiar and therefore popular method.

It includes several sequential operations.

  1. First of all, the bend radius is carefully calculated..
  2. You can make a wooden pattern. It will make the most accurate bend.
  3. On the area that will change the shape, transverse labels are applied.. It is for them that cuts will be made, passing along 3 sides of the pipe (left - bottom - right or, for clarity, an inverted letter "p").
On the pipe you need to make cuts
  1. By attaching and securing the profile on the template to the untouched side, flexion can begin..
  2. Bits and grinders.

Note! It is advisable to use this method when working with a large section profile, because the process itself takes a sufficient amount of time.

On the photo - graceful arched ceilings of profile pipes

Using sand to bend the pipe

The sand is able to hold the form not only in the form of a sculpture on the seashore, but also to help maintain the shape of the profile during the bending process, preventing flattening or cracking.

This operation is almost equivalent in time with work on a pipe bender and it will need the following materials:

  • quartz sand;
  • wooden caps from 10 to 20 cm long;
  • gas-burner;
  • drill;
  • a pig whose diameter is equal to the internal bend radius of the profile;
  • rubber mallet.
River sand bending pattern

Note! The sand must go through 2 stages of preprocessing before it can be used: thorough sieving, washing and final drying. It should be kept until use in a clean container.

Folk instructions for bending with sand includes mandatory sequential operations.

  1. One hole of the pipe is tightly clogged with a wooden plug.
  2. Through another hole sand is poured to such a level that the second cap enters.
  3. The remaining hole is sealed tightly.
  4. By means of a pig it is made bending. If you want to achieve a small radius, the bend is heated by the burner flame. It is important not to overheat the surface and to prevent the appearance of scale, which degrades the quality of the pipe.
  5. Tapping with a rubber mallet, the bend is brought to perfection.
  6. From the finished product knocked out, burned or drilled cap.
  7. By shaking and tapping pouring filler.

Profile and water harmony

Severe frost will be a loyal assistant in bending, for example, copper pipe. Of the tools and materials will need only water and a pig. The technology is also pretty simple.

Tightly plugging one end of the pipe with a stopper, water is poured inside and the second hole is plugged. After the water has completely frozen, the material is ready for use.

It is noteworthy that the applied physical efforts are minimal - flattening does not occur, and the cross section is almost not disturbed.

Flexing duralumin pipe by pattern

Use spring for bending

It is flexible with use of a spring in a cavity of a profile is based on the principle of force of internal counteraction. In addition to the profile pipe, blowtorch or gas torch and a template of the appropriate diameter, you will need an unusual square spring. It is made of steel wire with a diameter of 2 to 4 mm, which is bent with the size of the cross section a little less than the internal section of the pipework.

Scheme of pipe bending with spring inside

Note! The spring should be very close to the profile cavity. The optimal gap between the outer section of the spring and the inner pipe is from 1.5 to 2 mm.

By placing the spring inside the workpiece, the blowtorch begins processing the surface of the deformable part of the product. Enough heated part, securing the disc, bend and bring to the desired radius with your own hands.

Spring will facilitate pipe bending

Note! Do not ignore safety guidelines. The price of carelessness is too high. Protective gloves, goggles and pliers for gripping hot pipes will reliably protect against burns. For fire safety should be next to a container with water or sand.

Summarizing

The scope of application of profile pipes is wide enough. The high cost of professional pipe benders designed to work with this material often makes it impossible to use them.

It becomes difficult to realize the author's ideas. Sometimes the situation can only be saved by bending the profile pipe with your own hands.

The video in this article shows an example of bending a profile pipe.

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