Fabrication

• Is there a difference between Tube and Pipe?
  Yes. OD tube is measured by its exact outside diameter. For example, 1″ OD Tube is exactly 1″ across. Pipe, on the other hand, is measured by its inside diameter, but the actual measurement may be slightly more or less than stated. For example, 1″ Pipe may be more or less than a 1″ inside diameter. When ordering dies, it’s important to know if you’ll be bending pipe or tube. Tube dies will not bend pipe and vice versa. The proper die for your stock will eliminate possible problems or delays in your job. If you are not sure what you have, please send us a sample. We’ll be happy to help determine what you need.
  
  
• What is minimum wall or wall gauge for Tube?
  OD Tube comes in many different wall gauges. The Hossfeld Bender will bend .049″ thru .134″ depending on the diameter of the tube and radius you wish to bend.
  
  
• What is Schedule 40 Pipe?
  Pipe comes in wall thickness called schedules. The HOSSFELD UNIVERSAL(R) Bender bends Schedule 40 without difficulty. It’s possible to bend lighter schedule depending on the size of pipe and radius you wish to bend. We may ask for samples of your Pipe stock to ensure our dies can bend it to your satisfaction.
  
  
• What is American Pipe?
  American Pipe refers to American-made vs foreign-made pipe. Foreign pipe may not produce the results you want. American pipe specifications allow pipe to be bent. Foreign pipe specs are not as stringent. We commonly find two problems: the specifications for pipe sizes are not as strict, and the pipe may not even bend. What we find is that foreign pipe often has a bigger OD and does not fit into our dies properly. If you’re using foreign pipe, we may be able to make our dies fit the pipe; return the die to us with a piece of sample pipe, and we will try to custom-fit the die. Unfortunately, if the foreign pipe does not bend, we can’t alter the pipe’s characteristics. For the best results, always make sure you use American-made pipe.
  
  
• Can I bend hot stock in the bender? Will it wreck my tooling?
  Small quantities of parts can be bent hot on the HOSSFELD UNIVERSAL(R) Bender. The bender is designed to bend stock cold, however there may be times when stock will bend easier if it’s hot. Small quantities of parts may be bent hot on the bender. However, the bender pins and frames are heat treated, so it’s important NOT to remove the temper from them. Our cast iron dies will stand up better to hot parts, but long runs may take their toll on your dies.
  
  
• Can I bend aluminum?
  Yes, although the hardness of your aluminum will come into play. T4 is usually the best for bending. T6 may be bent but not to smaller radii, because the stock is brittle and will break. In addition, T6 doesn’t stretch, and tube must be able to stretch when it bends. We will gladly make sample bends and return them to you before your purchase for your inspection and approval. We can usually reduce scratching and marring of your stock by the die, if you let us know you will be bending aluminum.
  
  
• Can I bend chrome-molly tube?
  Yes. But you will need to stick to the recommended minimum wall thickness for the particular die set. If the die set calls for .095″ wall, that’s what you should use. With steel tube, you can sometimes deviate slightly from the recommended wall thickness. But with chrome-molly, you cannot. Minimum wall thickness is listed in the parts catalog for each die set.
  
  
• How much tubing will I use up when I make my bend?
  Good question. Here’s an easy formula to remember:
  
  RADIUS X 6.28 X BENDING ANGLE / 360″
  For example, to calculate the amount of tube used to bend 90º with an 8″ radius:
  8″ X 6.28 X 90º / 360º = 12.56″ of tube from start to finish of bend
  
  Using the trigonometry of a circle, here’s why the formula works:
  To calculate the amount of tube you will use in a bend, start with the formula for the circumference of a circle: 2πr. π = 3.14, and the radius of the circle, r, is the radius you want to bend. Your tube will bend in an arc along a portion of this imaginary circle. Once you know the circumference of the circle, you can figure how much tube you will use with your degree of bend. First divide the degree of bend by 360 to get a ratio: degree_of_bend / 360. Then multiply the total circumference of the circle by that ratio.
  
  Formula: (2πr) x (degree of bend / 360)
  Example (same as above):
  (8″ X 2 X 3.14) X (90º / 360º) = 12.56″ of tube