How to Avoid Wrinkles with Proper Mandrel Tube Bending
A mandrel tube bender is designed to avoid the issue of wrinkling along the inside of pipes and tubing. The mandrel stays in a fixed position as the outer radius of the tube experiences pressure. This pressure causes the pipe to stretch into the desired bend.
There are a wide range of reasons why you may be seeing wrinkles from faulty tube bending, so you may have to experiment to determine the actual issue. One of the first things that people typically do is to increase the tube pressure. It stands to reason that, with more pressure, there won’t be room for the tube to wrinkle as it should remain smooth throughout the draw.
However, if you increase the pressure and still experience wrinkling, then you will have to take additional factors into consideration. Checking the mandrel insertion rate, the amount of lubrication in use, and the condition of the wiper die may also eliminate the issue.
Or, you may find that you are using the wrong mandrel for the type of metal you are trying to bend. Always remember to use a soft mandrel when bending hard tubing and a hard mandrel when bending soft tubing.
Reliable Mandrel Bending Results
Because of the number of defects that can be introduced during the tube bending process, it may be more cost effective – and easier – to work with an experienced contract manufacturing company like Axenics. By doing that, you reduce material waste. Our expert technicians can ensure the correct bend, every time, based on 35 years of technical experience. Our equipment is also re-calibrated and serviced regularly to ensure our results are accurate every time.
Another important advantage to obtaining tube bending services is that we have a Class 100 cleanroom to ensure every tube is bent using a clean process, should that be necessary for your industry or operation. This service is desired by OEMs in a range of industries where tube contaminants have the potential to ruin assembly systems or end products. By having your tube bending services performed by Axenics, you get a reliable and durable bent tube that meets your specifications every time.