In this blog our tooling expert Luke Gibson is going back to basics, breaking down each item in a typical set of Rotary Draw Bending Tooling.
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The Bend Die is used to form the tube and determines the radius of the bend. There are many different design types depending on the application and/ or machine being used.
Other names: Bend Rad, Rad, Bend Former, Former, Roll
The Clamp Die is used to grip the tube against the Bend Die as the Bend Die rotates. Various grips available depending on application and marking allowances.
Other name: Loose Clamp
The Pressure Die presses the tube into the Bend Die and applies the pressure required to bend the tube.
Other names: Follower, Follower Slide, Slide
The Mandrel supports the inside of the tube to prevent collapse and wrinkling during bending. Various style of Mandrels are available dependant on the application and or customers preference.
Steel/ Chrome or plastic Mandrels are used for bending: Steel, Copper, Aluminium & Bronze Tubing.
Aluminium Bronze Mandrels are used for bending: Stainless Steel, Titanium & Inconel Tubing.
The wiper die supports the tube on the inside of the bend to prevent wrinkles.
Correct setup and tip thickness is critical for producing quality bends and prolonging tool life.
Steel/ Chrome or plastic Wiper Dies are used for bending: Steel, Copper, Aluminium & Bronze Tubing.
Aluminium Bronze Wiper Dies are used for bending: Stainless Steel, Titanium & Inconel Tubing.
The Collet holds, positions, and rotates the tube to the correct orientation between bends.
At Unison, we design and manufacture bend tooling, for any machine make and model, at our HQ in Scarborough, UK for shipping around the world.
Contact sales@unisonltd.com for assistance with your application, or visit our free to use Tooling App for guidance on your requirements.
Make sure you keep an eye out for Luke’s next blogs, when he will go further into detail on each aspect of Rotary Draw Bending Tooling.
