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Pipe bending repeatability

Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 5:39 pm
by Slunnie
We run a Dawn bow and arrow pipe bender in the workshop, but are struggling with repeatability and angular accuracy when bending.

So far we have found for example a 90 degree bend in 25.4 (20NB) is when the tube is pressed through to 40mm over the top of the bender, but some come out over 90 degree's, some come out good, and others come out under 90 degrees.

Are there any tricks to repeatability.

Likewise are there any easy ways to measure angles, or is it just a matter of running a magnetic inclinometer and calculating the angles.

Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 7:15 pm
by Weiner
Something like this to measure the angles? Angle finder.



Image

Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 7:37 pm
by Slunnie
Thats a good trick!

Can that be used in the bender?

Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 8:20 pm
by Weiner
Slunnie wrote:Thats a good trick!

Can that be used in the bender?
Don't see why not, you could make something work.

Not too expensive

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/MULTI-FUNCTION-A ... 240%3A1318

Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 11:09 pm
by locktup4x4
I use a digital magnetic angle finder for the fist bend and once I've achieved the angle I want I measure the stroke of the ram. If I need to make identical bends I take the measurement off the ram. I know at 3 1/8" of ram showing all my bends will be 45 degrees.

Jason

Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2009 8:39 pm
by bru21
bosch angle finder. I love it!!!

Buggy would have taken heaps longer without it.

In the past I have used two s/steel rulers bolted together with a nyloc to form a hinge thats tight as.

Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 8:48 am
by scuba steve 22
locktup4x4 wrote:I use a digital magnetic angle finder for the fist bend and once I've achieved the angle I want I measure the stroke of the ram. If I need to make identical bends I take the measurement off the ram. I know at 3 1/8" of ram showing all my bends will be 45 degrees.

Jason
this way works best 4 me too

cheers steve

Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 10:54 am
by Slunnie
At the risk of sounding a bit dim, do the digital magnietic angle finders compare the angle in relation to the material either side of the bend, or in relation to down like how the swinging angle gauges do? I'm just wondering what the manufacturing implications are to whether the bender cna be used laying flat or if it needs to be standing up.

Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 11:24 am
by bru21
It measures the angle between its left and right half.

http://www.newwoodworker.com/reviews/boschmtrfndr.html

you can buy a cheaper version from hare and forbes for $61

cheers bru

Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 8:01 pm
by blurredvision
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/DIGITAL-ANGLE-ME ... dZViewItem

I got one of these and it is very good for the price.

Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 8:26 pm
by Slunnie
These things are very cool.

Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 4:01 pm
by dar_sbb

Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 4:50 pm
by Fathillbilly
how about one of these :D :D :D

http://www.ercolina-usa.com/megabender.htm

this is what i have been using for the last 8 years

Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 7:03 pm
by SuperiorEngineering
Fathillbilly wrote:how about one of these :D :D :D

http://www.ercolina-usa.com/megabender.htm

this is what i have been using for the last 8 years
Ercolina benders are awesome, you just need a spare 20k :D
I used the 030 mega bender ( previous model ) at zillmere eng when working for them years ago and we used to do alloy and steel pipework, all repeat work .
Steel was easy but the alloy is harder to get perfect as depending on the temperature change throughout the day.
If you are looking at doing it for business go this way, if its for home jobs it is way out of the budget for most.

Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 9:07 pm
by lokka
Been lookin at these angle finders and i rekon this oil filled job is the go better than the jap one in the previous link and its cheaper

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ANGLE-FINDER-for ... 240%3A1318