Author Topic: Tubing bender (Read 36470 times)

Divided he ad · « **on:** March 08, 2009, 12:36:38 PM »

Well it's about time I got off my ass and made something I suppose!!??

This is a side project that has been threatening for a while, it's all in order of completing my Aeolipile!! (yep I know.... About time!)

So here are a few photo's... I know, from the dates you can see I've been holding out on you.... I've been a little preocupied

I'm using a plan.... When I say using I'm basically using the bits I like.... I'm re-modeling the rest as I go

Well, here they are..... Not my finest work.... But it's meant to be and will be functional

Start with some scrap...

faced off top using the saw cut as a datum ..... This was a seriously rough piece of scrap! I also made a little facing down the sides to allow parallel mounting for the wider faces, (the bottom one was done after this photo... it was remounted and the side cut first so the bed hadn't been moved) once the part was set up on these smaller cuts and the rough side faced it could be turned over and faced down far enough to remove them.

The block was mounted in the 4 jaw and a bit of reducing performed.... Free hand.... Not going to effect anything important. (edit... The numbers in circles are my machining order... 1 shape the part as seen, 2 drill and tep, 3 pivot hole and slots and finaly 4 the big slot... planning you see

)

The pivot hole was drilled and two holes for the end of the slots,(no DRO's at the mo.... Cold weather kills them!!) then the slot cut in the top only as far as required to pass into the path of the larger slot which is yet to be cut. The part was then turned over and the bottom slot was cut.

The larger slot is then cut, this shows the areas of the smaller slots and the pivot holes being exposed as material is removed. (1" end mill)

And here is the part completed.....

Now there was a lot of thought put into the machining process here... I held the solid block in the lathe first so that it was easy to machine.

The smaller slot and pivot holes were drilled and milled into the solid block to keep them in line. (if done after the larger slot when two bits of thinner metal they could flex under pressure at the ends.)

Then when the larger slot is machined it all comes into order, and now that the parts structure is weakened it's ok... You've already done all the little fiddly bits!

I''ve already made the base and clamp..... I'll be posting that later.... Else this would be a ginormous post!!

There are some small errors, but nothing that will prevent the tool from doing what it is designed for.... I'm ok with that, it's a tool.... not a display piece!

Hey it's not a total science.... Most of this home shop hobby is fun..... Well it is for me anyway

Feel free as always to comment..... You'll comment more once you see the base!!

Ralph.

bogstandard · « **Reply #1 on:** March 08, 2009, 01:56:15 PM »

Ralph,

Quote

There are some small errors, but nothing that will prevent the tool from doing what it is designed for....

You are not alone, but it is such an easy design it can just be modded on another part so it doesn't matter. Mine works a treat.

John

Twinsquirrel · « **Reply #2 on:** March 08, 2009, 02:36:35 PM »

Looks good so far Ralph, what plans are you using?

David

Bernd · « **Reply #3 on:** March 08, 2009, 03:34:29 PM »

HeHe, I see what you were doing that day.

I take it this going to be a "_small" tubing bender. Probably call it more of a pipe bender.

Those side projects to get the main project moving can be time consuming. I'm working on a side project so I can finish up on that clamp plate for my indexhead.

Nice job by the way. I think I'm going to need one of those benders sometime down the road.

Bernd

Brass_Machine · « **Reply #4 on:** March 08, 2009, 03:59:17 PM »

Nice start Ralph. Which design are you doing again?

Eric

sbwhart · « **Reply #5 on:** March 08, 2009, 05:16:46 PM »

Good one Ralph its nice to see you giving Aeolipile a mention I was going to give you a

but no need now.

Look forward to next installment.

Cheers

Stew

Divided he ad · « **Reply #6 on:** March 08, 2009, 07:38:33 PM »

John, I have learnt that when you haven't got a 5mm end mill, use the 6mm you do and make the other bit fit it

Seems to have worked so far

I've also used a detail of three from the one you showed me... I'm always absorbing something when I come to visit

You'll see it soon enough

David and I have had a chat about the plans.... I'm not thinking they can be posted?

Quote

I take it this going to be a "small" tubing bender. Probably call it more of a pipe bender.

You say pipe I say tube.... You've no doubt heard another version of that phrasing?

It'll probably do a 10mm annealed tube though

Erm... Eric, you'll see soon.... I'm not too sure about publishing the pic's?

Stew, I knew you'd be getting itchy about the Aeolipile.... It's been niggling me too!!

Soon, it'll all start to work, I hope

Thanks to all for the positive posts

Ralph.

Bernd · « **Reply #7 on:** March 08, 2009, 09:22:24 PM »

Ralph I remember once reading a disscusion on a forum about "pipe" and "tube".

Tube usally meant a thin wall, were as pipe was something heavier. For example a water pipe. Much thicker than EMT (electrical conduit over here). But then I ask why do they call it an exhust pipe why not an exhust tube since the exhust uses a much thinner wall.

Rather confusing, and I'm getting

here.

Now I remember what the disscusion was a "tube bender" versus a "pipe bender". Ok that's enough disscusion, on with your subject.

Bernd

bogstandard · « **Reply #8 on:** March 09, 2009, 11:27:13 AM »

Twinsquirrel David,

If you send me an email, you will get plans by return.

John

Twinsquirrel · « **Reply #9 on:** March 09, 2009, 02:37:28 PM »

Thanks John, PM sent

Divided he ad · « **Reply #10 on:** March 10, 2009, 09:35:43 PM »

Ok.... A quick one before I get the sleep I should be having!

Not much explanation more pic's .... I know,

The base blank.... A piece of garage door arm

Drilled and recessed for the screw and pivot. Then the holes were drilled and tapped for the clamp.
(mistake of the day.... I snapped a centre drill in the last hole I was drilling

So 2 new holes just to the left of the now useless ones, and the clamp base will be made to fit.... Bespoke??

)

The clamp base.... Scrap bit of ali from an old metal carport

cut to height with the slitting saw... Worked a treat (plenty of "bog water" on the blade eh Stew?.... Lubricating spray to the rest of you

)

two slots in the correct place for the adjusted holes

Clamp base finished!

The clamp upper chucked up ready for a but of shaping, drilling and tapping.

shaping,drilling and tapping completed.

Cut the recess into the clamp upper.

The clamp parts so far.

mock up of the clamp parts... The bolt is to be changed.

A little shaping.... Got the tools might as well!!

Well, that's it for now.... These were all made last week.... I'll try and get some more done this week, we will see!

Ralph.

bogstandard · « **Reply #11 on:** March 11, 2009, 01:51:38 AM »

Lookin' good Ralph.

You'll be going round the bend in no time, if you haven't already

Bogs

Divided he ad · « **Reply #12 on:** March 11, 2009, 03:52:27 AM »

Quote

You'll be going round the bend in no time, if you haven't already

I think I'm firmly on the way John.....?

Ralph.

sbwhart · « **Reply #13 on:** March 11, 2009, 04:04:22 AM »

Nice neat job Ralph, looking good.

Broken centre drill

turning the plate over and drilling from the other side would have sorted the broken bit out

Have fun

Stew

Divided he ad · « **Reply #14 on:** March 11, 2009, 07:22:08 PM »

Quote

Broken centre drill turning the plate over and drilling from the other side would have sorted the broken bit out

Well you see Stew.... I wasn't willing to spend the time flipping and re-positioning for the sake of a clamping screw hole.....(it's only a tool, and that bit will not interfere with it's working) I killed a drill bit the last time I tried that too!
I'd have sooner made the base again if it were that much of an issue... Got loads of old garage door arms around here

Still haven't made any further progress.... Friday will be the earliest now..... Snooker tomorrow

Ralph.

sbwhart · « **Reply #15 on:** March 12, 2009, 02:49:42 AM »

Quote from: Divided he ad on March 11, 2009, 07:22:08 PM

Quote
Broken centre drill turning the plate over and drilling from the other side would have sorted the broken bit out

Got loads of old garage door arms around here

They look a useful size:- hint, hint, nudge, nudge.

Cheers

Stew

Divided he ad · « **Reply #16 on:** March 12, 2009, 08:25:14 PM »

Quote

They look a useful size:- hint, hint, nudge, nudge.

I'll transport some your way next time I'm over there Stew.... I'll take a look through my stock and get you some varied sizes

Ralph.

sbwhart · « **Reply #17 on:** March 13, 2009, 12:02:20 AM »

Thanks Ralph

I'll get you a little goody bag together.

Stew

bogstandard · « **Reply #18 on:** March 13, 2009, 12:48:37 AM »

You really do leave yourself wide open Ralph.

You are forcing me to ask for some now

, and you know I don't like begging.

Bogs

Divided he ad · « **Reply #19 on:** March 14, 2009, 02:56:49 AM »

John.... You are correct you shouldn't have to ask.... But where would it end? I could fill your metals bin with many differing unknown grades of mild steel of all sorts of shapes..... But you'd never find anything else!

Well with business being a little slow it'd take a short while..... But I'd get it full

I'll see you both right, don't worry about that

Sadly I've got to work today

But I'm at the office/yard.....

I'll hunt some bits out of the scrap skip and put them on one side

Back onto topic!! I'll be aiming to get a bit more done tonight, was aiming for last night..... But fell asleep at 18:00 and woke up bout an hour ago!!!

Anyway, I'll see where I get to later?

Ralph.

Divided he ad · « **Reply #20 on:** March 22, 2009, 09:24:10 AM »

Quote

I'll be aiming to get a bit more done tonight,

Well.... So much for that!!!!

Well last night got a little workshop time in and made a few more bits....

My new phone doesn't seem to like to store all the photo's you take!!! So very few good ones saved as a result.... So here are a few exploded shots as to where I left the job last night.

I had to give it a little sprucing up.... It's just felt like it needed it

Hopefully the block on the bottom for holding in the vice and the rolls will not take me too long? Then it'll be back to the Aeolipile (is that the correct spelling.... Still haven't got that down properly in my head!!)

Time to re-mount the RT to my mill!

Hopefully I'll be a little quicker with the results than last time!?

Ralph.

Bernd · « **Reply #21 on:** March 22, 2009, 09:57:18 AM »

Glad to see a little more work done on the bender. I'm going to be building one in the not to distant future, so make sure you are doing it right. I'm going to fullow your build.

Bernd

Brass_Machine · « **Reply #22 on:** March 22, 2009, 11:46:35 AM »

Very good Ralph!

You are coming along quite nicely.

Eric

Divided he ad · « **Reply #23 on:** March 22, 2009, 12:52:53 PM »

I wouldn't follow my build Bernd.... It'll take you ages!!!

Thanks Eric, slowly but surely

Maybe more this evening?

Ralph.

Darren · « **Reply #24 on:** March 22, 2009, 02:16:13 PM »

That's looking very shiny Ralph.....

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Author Topic: Tubing bender (Read 36470 times)

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