The pitfalls of building a beverage processing facility can be many. Poor welds involving tubing, fittings, and valves provide opportunities for bacteria to grow, creating health concerns and the potential for ruined product. Orbital welding -- which provides higher-quality, consistent welds compared to manual welding -- helps to reduce these concerns.

This article discusses an approach to predicting failure in hydroforming prebent aluminum tubes. While strains are well researched for stamping sheet, this type of knowledge is lacking for hydroforming tubular components. Because the strains are different—prebent hydroformed tubular parts experience stress in the axial direction during bending, then in the circumferential direction during hydroforming—new methods for predicting failures are necessary. Researching these methods adds to the knowledge base of hydroforming, helping the technology gain further acceptance in manfacturing.

Tube Specialties of Tempe, Ariz., wanted to get off the paper trail to streamline its production, accounting and inventory processes. This article looks at the reasons for the change, obstacles to the change and its benefits.

This article discusses tests that are used to evaluate flow stress in tube and why the uniaxial test is not suitable for this application. It discusses a bulge test, which stresses the tube biaxially, including tooling, software, and analysis tools for evaluating stresses.

The requirements and parameters of automated handling of tubular products are worth a second look, especially if you want to do the job well.

End formed tubes are used increasingly in industries as diverse as automotive, furniture, appliance, sporting goods, construction equipment, and temporary buildings. With recent developments in new forming techniques to produce accurate, finished parts at high volumes without scrap, end formed parts are replacing some conventionally machined components.