No need for annealing : Tube benders find success with unannealed materialFabricators are always looking for new ideas. Any new strategy, whether it involves a machine, a process, a technology, or a technique, is... Publish date: February 10, 2010 |
|
Making a workhorse run : Getting the best performance from a vertical compression benderIf an image is not displayed, click the hyperlinked figure number to view it. Figure 1 The use of vertical compression benders became... Publish date: February 11, 2010 |
|
Manufacturing motorcycle mufflers - Fabricator finds improvement with rotary swagingIf an image is not displayed, click the hyperlinked figure number to view it. Photograph courtesy of Victory Motorcycles, a division of... Publish date: September 1, 2009 |
|
Waste not, want not - Reducing scrap in bending tube, pipePublish date: November 25, 2008 |
|
When a good tube bends bad - Part I : How to Prevent Tube From Taking a Bad TurnThe clamp used to bend this 16-gauge, 3-in.-OD aluminized steel tube slipped about 2 in. at about 75 degrees into the bend. The clamp... Publish date: March 7, 2006 |
|
Making the cut - Understanding rotary cutoff blades and extending blade lifeEconomic considerations, spurred by increased competition, have caused companies to evaluate cost-effective alternatives that can provide... Publish date: May 1, 1999 |
|
Welding zirconium and zirconium alloys Part III : Part III: Joining dissimilar metalsA magnified view of a titanium-zirconium weld joint shows titanium (the multicolored area, left), zirconium (the green and yellow area,... Publish date: January 10, 2005 |
|
Welding zirconium and zirconium alloys Part II : Part II: Welding technique, procedures, and quality testingEditor's Note: This is the second installment of a three-part series on welding zirconium. Part I addressed metallurgy, weld preparation,... Publish date: April 11, 2005 |
|
Welding zirconium and zirconium alloys Part I : Part I: Fundamentals for successZirconium is used widely in many industries for process equipment. Major applications include pressure vessels, heat exchangers, piping,... Publish date: October 12, 2004 |
|
Doblando tubos no redondos : Consideraciones para tubos cuadrados, rectangulares y ovaladosRead article in English Aunque la redonda es la forma más común de tubo, abundan las oportunidades de tubos no redondos. Los tubos... Publish date: November 16, 2009 |
|
Shaping profits with a mandrel extractor : The basics of mandrel extractors and their applicationsIf an image is not displayed, click the hyperlinked figure number to view it. Bending a tube and preventing it from collapsing is a... Publish date: September 1, 2009 |
|
Manufacturing motorcycle mufflers : Fabricator finds improvement with rotary swagingYou don't have to look far to find a motorcycle these days. Riders purchased 900,000 motorcycles in 2008, nearly triple the number sold in... Publish date: September 15, 2009 |
|
To think 'in tube' : Tube shop’s success hinges on design for manufacturabilityIf an image is not displayed, click the hyperlinked figure number to view it. Emerging from the plane at the new terminal of the... Publish date: August 1, 2009 |
|
Bending nonround tubing : Considerations for square, rectangular, and oval tubingIf an image is not displayed, click the hyperlinked figure number to view it. Lea este articulo en Espanol Although round... Publish date: August 1, 2009 |
|
Making a 20-degree Marman bead : Rotary or ram forming an airtight sealIf an image is not displayed, click the hyperlinked figure number to view it. Metalworking has a history that goes back thousands of years... Publish date: July 20, 2009 |
|
4 sugerencias de solucion de problemas para un corte rotatorio facil : Instalacion, presion del aire, navajas y materialRead article in English En la economía actual, la clave para la supervivencia es la productividad así como la calidad. Esto significa... Publish date: July 7, 2009 |
|
Focusing on bent tubing : Making measurements using photogrammetryIf an image is not displayed, click the hyperlinked figure number to view it. You have been bending tube and pipe for years, and while... Publish date: June 29, 2009 |
|
Orbital welding technology breaks new groundA welder monitors an orbital welding unit that can perform GMAW and GTAW processes. Automated orbital welding has been a driving force in... Publish date: June 4, 2009 |
|
Teeing up orbital welding : Forming, welding processes make a hole-in-oneIf an image is not displayed, click the hyperlinked figure number to view it. Photo courtesy of T-DRILL Industries Inc. Two innovative... Publish date: June 3, 2009 |
|
Affordable automation : Building a processing cell without breaking the bankIf an image is not displayed, click the hyperlinked figure number to view it. In today's economic atmosphere, manufacturers face many... Publish date: May 28, 2009 |
|
Bending rolled steel sections : Analyzing problems, tracking down solutionsIf an image is not displayed, click the hyperlinked figure number to view it. Bending tube or pipe successfully is a matter of managing a... Publish date: April 1, 2009 |
|
Designing an OCTG finishing floor for welded pipe : Meeting API standards step by stepThe current economic climate has caused pipe producers to search for new ways to generate business by expanding their product offerings. One... Publish date: April 1, 2009 |
|
Titanium trends : Energy demand, titanium demand grow hand-in-handAlthough titanium was discovered in the late 18th century, it wasn't until 1940 that a metallurgist, Dr. William Kroll, first devised a... Publish date: March 9, 2009 |
|
Saving money on complex tube end forms : Stop pinching pennies and start spinning metalIf an image is not displayed, click the hyperlinked figure number to view it. "Cut costs, cut costs, cut costs" is a mantra that echoes from... Publish date: March 9, 2009 |
|
Coax Facts : Cutting, stripping, bending successfullyFigure 1 An automated system for processing flexible coax cable pulls the coax off the spool, straightens it, and then cuts it to a programmed... Publish date: January 1, 2009 |
|
The ins and outs of extrusion bending : A little knowledge can go a long wayExtrusions are everywhere—in conveyor systems, scaffolding, playground equipment, swimming pools, and furniture. They also are key... Publish date: December 12, 2008 |
|
Fabricator lassos an improved packing process : Wrapping system protects the protectorNecessity is the mother of invention, and for traveling the back roads of the Texas hill country, where deer outnumber people, vehicle... Publish date: February 10, 2009 |
|
Teaching an old piercing mill new tricks : Upgrading a seamless mill can improve yield, qualityMany products seem to be in a continuous state of revolution. Equipment steeped in electronics, such as computers and communications gear, are... Publish date: December 2, 2008 |
|
Fact or Friction? : Understanding lubricant types is key to best selectionThe tube and pipe bending process is full of variables and options, all of which you must understand and manage successfully to make the end... Publish date: December 4, 2008 |
|
Serpentine bending in production : Making 180-degree bends quickly, efficientlyYou might not see serpentine bends often, but they are used more commonly than you probably realize. Their main purpose is to transfer heat. A... Publish date: November 25, 2008 |
|
The right stuff : Specifying materials, coatings for tube bending toolsDuring the past half-century, many ideas have come and gone as to what the best materials are for rotary draw bending tools. This is not... Publish date: September 30, 2008 |
|
Reflections on a perfectly symmetric ellipse : Full-time sculptor, part-time fabricator overcomes bending challengeWhile many of BR Sculpture's projects involve casting, the company does quite a bit of fabrication work too. Like any fabricator, BR's owner,... Publish date: September 16, 2008 |
|
Two fabricators are better than one : Motorcycle shops join forces, provide everything from parts to finished bikesIt's no secret that motorcycles—and attitudes toward them—have come a long way since Marlon Brando roared onto the big screen on a... Publish date: August 26, 2008 |
|
Tube prep for the drawing step : A close look at push pointingWhat is push pointing? First, let's start with the definition of pointing. Pointing, sometimes called tagging or swaging, is a method of... Publish date: August 12, 2008 |
|
Cool (pipe) runnings : Pipe fabricator changes approach to bobsled run fabricationFigure 1 A bobsledder tests the track at the Whistler Sliding Centre, built for the 2010 Winter Olympics, Photo courtesy of the Vancouver... Publish date: July 29, 2008 |
|
Gold medal fabrication for Olympic ski jump : Company speeds fabrication of iconic Winter Games structureFigure 1 A ski jump stands nearly complete at the Whistler Nordic Centre, north of Vancouver, B.C. When workers at Dynamic Structures Ltd.... Publish date: July 29, 2008 |
|
From the CAD station to the production floor : Modern programming methods for modern tube bending machinesA 2-D drawing, which is the conventional method for describing components such as bent tubes, contains all the necessary information for... Publish date: July 15, 2008 |
|
Will your tube pass a dimensional inspection? : Check fixtures help, but understanding specifications and tolerances is the first stepAs the manufacturing environment becomes increasingly competitive, fabricators become increasingly focused on productivity, which often takes... Publish date: July 15, 2008 |
|
Custom or standard? : Bender tooling choice not to be taken lightlyContrary to a popular misconception, the output of durable goods in the U.S. has been on an upward trend for decades. This growth is... Publish date: May 13, 2008 |
|
Curving out a niche : Chicago fabricator helps McDonald's mark milestone, reaches one of its ownIn celebration of its 50th anniversary in April 2005, McDonald's® opened a 24,000-square-foot restaurant in Chicago. The fast-food chain... Publish date: April 15, 2008 |
|
Automotive and industrial: A tale of two businesses : Microflex grows in automotive through automation, diversificationEvery morning as John Atanasoski gets out of his car and walks over a parking lot to his office, he looks at an adjacent swath of land. There... Publish date: April 15, 2008 |
|
Machine shop sees the (laser) light : MG Products Inc. learns laser cutting tube complements its CNC machining businessFigure 1 Laser-cut tube parts are given a close inspection after coming off the BLM- Adige LT712D laser tube cutting machine at MG Products... Publish date: March 11, 2008 |
|
Setup or cover-up? : Too much bending pressure can — but shouldn’t — compensate for poor tooling setupEven though we are in the age of CNC machinery, the old phrase "the tools make the bend" is as relevant today as ever. As tube bending... Publish date: March 11, 2008 |
|
Welding more with less : New technologies take a comprehensive approach to orbital welding operationsOrbital welding systems complete multiple passes in a continuous arc without variations or mistakes, providing a consistent weld. Oil and gas... Publish date: February 12, 2008 |
|
Understanding benders and bender applications : Matching them up for optimal outputTube bending methods vary in complexity as much as any fabricating process does. At the simple end are applications that involve tubing so... Publish date: December 11, 2007 |
|
Designing for laser cutting : Fortify your frontline by designing tubular parts to maximize laser’s capabilitiesA revolution is under way in the tube fabrication industry. The revolution is being driven by the need for manufacturers to fabricate tubular... Publish date: October 23, 2007 |
|
Better lubricant control leads to better mandrel bends : Automated system reduces lubricant consumption, eliminates gallingFigure 1 R&B Wagner uses an automatic lubrication application system that has two reservoirs to hold two different lubricants (at left). Its... Publish date: September 11, 2007 |
|
8 FAQs about orbital FCAW : Maximizing a productivity tool for large pipe weldingMechanized, or orbital, gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) of pipe was first introduced about 40 years ago, largely in response to the need for... Publish date: August 8, 2007 |
|
End forming stainless steels : Success depends on analyzing the workpiece, tooling, and machine designCharger®. Mustang®. Camaro®. Challenger®. Barracuda®. Regardless of which muscle car is your favorite, they all share a few... Publish date: July 10, 2007 |
|
Top five questions about anodizing architectural tube : Science and nature come togetherDuring anodizing, the aluminum oxide layer is made thicker by passing a direct current through a sulfuric acid solution, with the tube serving... Publish date: July 10, 2007 |
|
Constant radius or variable radius? : Complex bending requires a sophisticated bending technologyLike many industries, the automotive industry is in a state of perpetual change. Automobile manufacturers continuously strive for higher safety... Publish date: July 10, 2007 |
|
Tube fabricator, machine tool builder automates to accelerate : Hole punching, material handling, cutting operations run stealthilyStealth Manufacturing Inc. fabricated its own tube unloader for its cutoff line. Instead of relying on special Allen wrenches to adjust the... Publish date: June 12, 2007 |
|
4 Troubleshooting tips for rotary cutting made easy : Installation, air pressure, blades, and materialIt's important to check the alignment of the infeed support system to prevent cutoff blade breakage, threading, and poor-quality cuts. Lea... Publish date: June 12, 2007 |
|
Tube fabricator bends with industry changes : 3 distinct business changes put Harco Metal Products in a good position for future successJay Hall, president of Harco Metal Products Inc., Tempe, Ariz., laughs when asked if he ever thought China and other countries would have... Publish date: June 12, 2007 |
|
All-electric tube benders in control : A look under the hood at characteristics, applicationsNew developments in all-electric tube bending technology have been in the areas of report generation and diagnostics. The PC controller with... Publish date: May 8, 2007 |
|
High-speed cutting, end-finishing -- a means to an end : Fluidity is keyTube fabricator Leading Edge Hydraulics, Rockford, Ill., supplies hydraulic tube components to the off-road and construction industry segment.... Publish date: April 10, 2007 |
|
Turning a machine shop into a fabrication shop : Contract manufacturer rolls with the changesLike most contract manufacturers, Target Laser & Machining Inc. started out as an idea that became a concept that evolved into a plan that... Publish date: April 10, 2007 |
|
Reducing tube bending cycle times : Automating benders and peripheral equipmentTwo trends—unrelenting cost pressures and the inclination to send manufacturing jobs to low-cost countries—have left many... Publish date: March 13, 2007 |
|
Safeguarding tube benders with laser scanners : Noncontact, minimal-interference method ideal for large, irregularly shaped areasThe optimal safeguarding equipment for each tube bending operation varies, depending on the application, the identified tasks, the risk level,... Publish date: February 13, 2007 |
|
Fabricator finds tubular niche : Job shop uses laser cutting to complement CNC machiningAlthough Illinois is known primarily for its fertile fields and agricultural output, it's home to many manufacturing companies too. John Deere... Publish date: November 7, 2006 |
|
Luminous aluminum makes light work : Meeting challenges unique to fabricating tubes into light postsHapco had to design and fabricate aluminum light posts to replicate the art deco, Empire State Building period look of cast-iron poles made... Publish date: October 10, 2006 |
|
Lasers loom larger in tube, pipe cutting : Ushering in a new era in tube designIn today's manufacturing environment, 2-D lasers are the standard for cutting flat sheets and plate. Nearly everyone is familiar with laser... Publish date: October 10, 2006 |
|
Selecting a tube end forming method : It's a matter of asking the right questionsYour company has the opportunity to provide a tube assembly, but it requires end forming—a capability you do not have. An Internet search... Publish date: September 12, 2006 |
|
Bridging the challenges : Arizona shop overcomes fabrication obstacles in artistic pipe bridge designMade from API 5L grades X52 to X60 pipe, the Tempe Town Lake Bridge was fabricated in segments and assembled on-site. In an Arizona... Publish date: September 12, 2006 |
|
FMA member custom-builds motorcycle for Foundation auctionThe team at Medalist Laserfab Inc. will custom-build a motorcycle for the FMA Foundation Auction . Oshkosh, Wis., is well-known for... Publish date: August 8, 2006 |
|
French tube fabricator meets volume increase with orbital welding : Attains repeatability, precision on thin-walled stainless steel tubingHeat exchangers and pressure vessels, major components of pharmaceutical systems, are now orbitally welded. CMI Enterprise is a... Publish date: August 8, 2006 |
|
Cutting tube saw costs : Modern machines, modern bladesToday metal tube sawing technology is light-years ahead of where it was just five years ago. A better understanding of the cutting process... Publish date: July 11, 2006 |
|
Tube and pipe bending trends : Equipment-makers weigh in on challenges, opportunitiesPhoto courtesy of Lang Maschinenbau GmbH & Co. KG, Michelstadt, Germany. To many who have only a little experience in bending tube,... Publish date: July 11, 2006 |
|
Flush out four-letter words — rust, dirt, and wear : Part II: Removing soils effectivelyA tubular assembly is cleaned in an Alliance Aquamaster CD-3000 rotary-drum cleaning system with wash and heated blowoff. The drum is... Publish date: June 13, 2006 |
|
Not a one-stock shop : Throwback chopper fabricator relies on skills, not equipment, to create custom bikesIs metalworking a vocation practiced by craftsmen or merely a set of processes performed by machines? Is it a labor of love or just a job... Publish date: June 13, 2006 |
|
The wiper die's feathered edge : The large impact of small thingsIn rotary draw tube bending, the tools make the bend. Indeed, this is why the process often is called mandrel bending. Despite the many... Publish date: June 13, 2006 |
|
Hitting pay dirt -- in pipe : Pipe fabrication, repair companies meet needs in Canada72-in.-dia., 1-in.-wall pipe is being welded using preheating coils on each side of the weld. A torch bracket reaches over the coils.... Publish date: May 9, 2006 |
|
Flushing out four-letter words: rust, dirt, and wear : Part I: How to select a rust inhibitorMatching the best lubricant with your applications requires a comprehensive evaluation of your goals, your operation, and how your operation may... Publish date: April 11, 2006 |
|
Understanding how rotary tube and pipe cutting works : Why 25-year-old technology is still aroundWith rotary cutting, a two- or three-disk cutter head revolves around the circumference of a stationary pipe or tube while the cutters... Publish date: March 7, 2006 |
|
6 steps to successful brazing : Why using correct procedures is importantA brazed joint basically can "make itself"—capillary action, more than operator skill, ensures filler metal distribution into the... Publish date: March 7, 2006 |
|
When a good tube bends bad : Part I: How to Prevent Tube From Taking a Bad TurnEditor's Note: This is the second part of a two-part article that examines tube bending defects, possible causes, and suggested remedies. Part I... Publish date: March 7, 2006 |
|
The basics of rotary cutting : Finding the right machine type and optionsThe rotary cutting concept is not new. Since its introduction in 1919, it has developed into an effective method of production tube and... Publish date: April 7, 1999 |
|
Imagination fabrication : To be a playground equipment fabricator, you gotta have gameBurke's signature play environment this year is a multievent treehouse designed to look like it is in a natural setting, complete with... Publish date: February 7, 2006 |
|
Meeting the challenges of modern architecture : Complex requirements turn conventional bending on its headAs architectural designs grow more sophisticated, fabricators that serve this market must develop new skills and techniques to keep up.... Publish date: December 13, 2005 |
|
Tube-bend tooling: square-back wiper dies or wiper inserts? : Tight bend radii, thin walls create need for wiper diesWiper dies are a fundamental requirement in modern tube bending applications in which tubes are bent at increasingly tight bend radii with... Publish date: November 8, 2005 |
|
Improving welded joint structure, properties in oil and gas pipelines : Pulse welding improves homogeneity, reduces grain size in low-alloy manganese steelsFigure 1 Two samples of 10G2S steel show remarkable differences when welded in steady mode (top) versus pulsed mode (bottom). The... Publish date: October 12, 2005 |
|
Trends for stainless steel tube in automotive applications : Greater use of stainless steel may create more demand for hydroformed tubeWill tubular automotive components now fabricated from carbon steel and steel alloys be fabricated from stainless steel in the future?... Publish date: September 13, 2005 |
|
9 Questions About Annular Cutting : A Twist on Tube and Pipe DrillingA portable magnetic drill allows you to take the drill to the workpiece. When you are using a magnetic drill and pipe adapter accessory,... Publish date: September 13, 2005 |
|
Recreational tube cutting : Polaris Industries forever changed its production methods with laser tube cuttersThe exposed chassis of Polaris' Predator ATV shows just how important tubing has become in the aesthetics of product design. Hear the... Publish date: August 9, 2005 |
|
Managing rotary-draw tube bending : Best practices minimize variation and downtimeMost information published about tube bending relates to a specific aspect of the process, such as tooling, control and equipment features,... Publish date: March 8, 2005 |
|
Selecting a tube cutting process : Methods and applications, pros and consTube fabricators use a variety of methods—sawing, lathe cutting, rotary cutting, supported shear cutting, dual-blade shear cutting,... Publish date: November 9, 2004 |
|
Welding zirconium and zirconium alloys : Part I: Fundamentals for successA magnified view of a titanium-zirconium weld joint shows titanium (the multicolored area, left), zirconium (the green and yellow area,... Publish date: October 12, 2004 |
|
Thinking about an equipment upgrade? : Laser systems offer flexibility from prototyping to productionIt's no secret that manufactured products change continuously. Technological developments and higher consumer expectations are two of the... Publish date: September 14, 2004 |
|
Lean times call for mean tactics—Part 1 : A tube bender’s tools of the tradeEditor's Note: This is the first installment in a two-part series. The second part, which will appear in the October/November issue, will... Publish date: September 14, 2004 |
|
Tips for welding preparation : How machine, materials, and tool bits affect the resultsAdvances in equipment automation and the development of new and exotic tubing materials have affected welding techniques and weld... Publish date: August 10, 2004 |
|
Bending and handling tube : Tailoring equipment to an applicationIt used to be simple: Purchase the tube fabrication machinery necessary for a project and hire motivated workers to get the job done. It's... Publish date: July 13, 2004 |
|
Is your bend good enough? : Standards for hot and cold bendingYou recently acquired a pipe bender to enhance your fabrication capabilities, received an order, procured the pipe stock your customer requested,... Publish date: July 13, 2004 |
|
Flying high with orbital welding : Equipment, applications, and joint designs for aerospace componentsThe first machines developed were large, upright, stationary systems that could be used only for workshop applications. These systems also... Publish date: March 11, 2004 |
|
Low-tech system mechanizes pipe welding: Backing device allows GMAW on open rootA backing system is positioned inside a pipe and copper rings contain the weld pool. A backing device is one such type of mechanized... Publish date: March 11, 2004 |
|
Documenting welds from an orbital welding power supply : Capturing data electronically for quality assurancePhoto courtesy of The Murray Co. Mechanical Contractors, Rancho Dominguez, CA. However, in recent years the demand for logging of... Publish date: February 12, 2004 |
|
Choosing the right robotic weld cell for your operationIf a company does much hand welding, it may have loose tolerances on the prints. However, a robot cannot work with these kinds of... Publish date: January 29, 2004 |
|
Structural tube on campus : Aluminum bridge spans science departmentsA Sculptor and an Architect Carpenter specializes in large-scale public installations, including architectural sculptures and... Publish date: January 13, 2004 |
|
Troubleshooting compression bendingMost compression bending problems are one of three types: Flattening or collapsing on the outside of the bend. Crimping or wrinkling... Publish date: January 13, 2004 |
|
Selecting a welding frequency : Research on the optimal frequency for tube productionHigh-frequency contact and induction welding processes have been used in welded tube production for more than 50 years with little... Publish date: December 11, 2003 |
|
Taking tubular aluminum scaffolding to new heights : Taper, aesthetics, elevated design for monumental structurePhoto courtesy of Fred R. Tannery Photography, Brooklyn, N.Y. Universal Builders Supply, a temporary-structures company with... Publish date: December 11, 2003 |