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    Pipes bent at an angle have found application in the oil and chemical industries, machine and apparatus construction. No architectural or construction project can do without them.

    For turns, you can use all kinds of fittings, but then a leak may occur, and sometimes it is simply unacceptable for aesthetic reasons. More attractive appearance and high reliability is ensured by bending of pipes - a process that does not violate their integrity.

    We will tell you how best to bend a metal pipe using both cold and hot technology. The article presented by us describes the specifics of bending pipes made of various materials... The features of working with profile and conventional round pipes.

    Each metal has its own characteristics, without taking them into account it is impossible to give a complex shape to rolled metal. Radial and tangential forces act on the bent pipe.

    The former deform the section, and the latter contribute to the appearance of folds. The main requirement for the final result is that the section of the pipe should remain unchanged, and there should be no corrugations on the walls. Bending allows you to minimize the number of welds when laying pipelines with all kinds of branches.

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    During the repair, during construction works there is a need to install a water supply system, heating systems. And if there is an opportunity to attract a professional team to solve the problem, the process ends quickly, the result is pleasing. But what if you have to do without the help of a specialist, and the necessary tools are not at hand - how to bend a pipe without a pipe bender on your own? Consider possible options.

    Simple pipe bending methods

    Bend manually

    Do not despair if you have to install a complex structure using curved pipes, and a professional tool is not available. Even if it was not possible in advance to purchase blanks with the desired bending angle, you can make parts for the work yourself, at home and with a minimum of tools.

    How to proceed? Grab the structure with your hands, grip it tightly and bend it gradually. Be careful not to damage the part. Smoothly, centimeter by centimeter, move along the length of the pipe. You need to repeat the manipulation in 5-6 approaches. Manual work is not suitable in all cases, since bending an aluminum pipe, for example, is much easier than doing the same with a metal product.

    Tip: practice on the unnecessary section before starting to finish. Act smoothly so as not to deform or break the part; the number of "approaches" depends on the diameter and length of the structure.

    The pipe can be bent without a pipe bender - by hand

    Manual way effective when working with pipes with a diameter of 16-20 mm. With a larger cut, the process will stretch and be more laborious, but this is real.

    We apply the hot method

    We figured out aluminum, but how to bend a metal pipe on your own so that the result does not disappoint? A gas burner will solve the problem.

    Algorithm of actions:

    1. We fix the metal piece in a vice.
    2. We warm up the section of the future bend.
    3. When the dross appears, proceed to bending.

    How do you know when to start work?
    If the material is aluminum, bring a piece of paper to the surface of the pipe. Its fire or smoke will serve as a signal. If there is another metal, the heated area will turn red.

    Please note: the heating method is not suitable for working with galvanized parts - damage to the coating is guaranteed, the coating will become unusable.

    Advice: since it is more difficult to bend a square pipe without kinks and deformation, use a powerful blowtorch or torch, warm up all sides of the product before starting work.

    Heating - effective method safe bending of pipes

    We use fillers - sand and water

    The use of fillers allows you to bend both a professional pipe and aluminum pieces large diameter.

    Working principle with sand:

    • we fill the sand inside the structure, put plugs on the ends of the pipe (watch the tightness);
    • we fix the part in a vice;
    • the place of the bend is heated with a soldering iron or a gas torch;
    • when the site heats up, we bend the structure with a rubber hammer or a wooden mallet, gently tapping on the heated surface;
    • upon completion of the manipulations, remove the plugs, remove the sand from the cavities - everything is ready.

    The sand protects the pipe from deformation and uneven bending.

    1. Galvanized parts are bent in this way without heating
    2. Fill the cavities tightly so that the interior is filled to the brim.
    3. Process square pipes on each side - this will help to avoid irregularities.

    Ensure the tightness of the pipe closure when working with sand and water

    The principle of working with water is almost identical - we pour water into the part, put plugs. Before bending a PVC pipe or a product made of another material, let the water freeze (expose it to frost or place it in the refrigerator). After the liquid freezes, we give the structure the required bending radius with translational movements.

    According to this principle, you can both bend a sheet of metal into a pipe (only without using water and sand), and give a bend to the pipe itself.

    Pipe bending devices

    Plane-parallel plates

    If heating and cooling is not your case, use a plane-parallel plate. A primitive, but trouble-free and proven method.
    The plate is a bent wood or metal blank with a groove. Suitable for working with steel and metal-plastic products with a diameter of up to 45 mm.

    How it works:

    1. We place the pipe in a clamp on a plane-parallel plate, fix it (clamp it).
    2. We bend, repeating the shape of the workpiece along the groove, remove it.

    Fast, reliable, low cost. The disadvantage of using plane-parallel plates is the unchanged curvature of the workpiece. The use of plates with a different radius of curvature will help to solve the problem. Will give in and steel structure.

    The peculiarity of the method is the limitation in length, the shape of the short tubes is easy to change, and it is impossible to bend a product with a high quality, the length of which exceeds the length of the workpiece, thus it will not work.

    Plane-parallel plate - reliable, affordable way bend the pipe yourself

    Consider how to bend a pipe with a spiral with your own hands or give the product an angle of up to 90 °.

    A metal spring is best used for working with parts made of plastic non-ferrous metals. The spring prevents deformation of the structure. The choice of size depends on the inner "girth" of the tube.

    How to proceed:

    1. Insert the spring into the part (insert up to the bend).
    2. Gradually apply a bend at the knee or pre-clamp the structure in a vice.

    The spring simplifies the process by taking compression / tension and load on itself. When working with soft, pliable materials, select springs of medium stiffness and small diameter. Precautions will prevent parts from bursting or bursting.

    Please note: Before placing the steel spring inside the pipe, attach a strong string or long wire to one of its ends. This step will make it easier to remove the spring after bending.

    Metal springs serve as a "frame" for the pipe when bending

    Drastic measures - welding

    Bending of metal sheets and pipes is carried out using a grinder. Welding is a cardinal method that solves a problem if other options are not suitable for objective reasons. Required tool - welding machine and a grinder.

    Algorithm of actions:

    1. Make calculations - estimate the radius of curvature of the product (for correctness, you can sketch a drawing and make markings on the parts).
    2. On the bent section along the length, three transverse cuts are applied (on three sides).
    3. Details add a bend.
    4. The sawn sections are welded.
    5. The bent end of the pipe at the welding site is ground to remove "sawdust" and irregularities.

    The bend is neat, aesthetic and durable.

    As you can see, the answers to the question of how to bend the pipe are enough - it will not be difficult to choose the method that is relevant for solving your problems. It is enough to have the right tool and desire. Consider the diameter of the product, its length and the material to be worked with.

    The above methods have two disadvantages:

    1. The likelihood of product damage, breakage and rupture.
    2. Getting a uniform aesthetic bend at home is problematic.

    Welding - quick way give the pipe the desired bend

    There is one way to insure yourself against troubles if you do not have the skills and experience in pipe bending work - to attract a professional.

    If there is no desire or opportunity to use the services of a specialist, do not despair. Before starting the event, carefully study the mat. part, watch videos or master classes from professional builders (there are plenty of them on the Internet).

    Video recommendations: how to manually bend a metal-plastic pipe

    Prepare the right tools- and get down to business. Dare, the road will be mastered by the walking one.

    In this article, we will talk about how and where to bend the pipe so that it does not crack and is fully exploited for a long time. The topic of the article is relevant, since today the market offers a wide range of pipes made of various materials.

    Some materials can withstand deformation and subsequently do not crack at the bend, while other materials are not designed for such loads. But almost all the rolled metal required for the construction of pipelines can be bent with your own hands, using special devices.

    What can be bent and what not

    Many compatriots are wondering whether it is possible to bend polypropylene pipes and how to do it correctly ().

    Consider which materials are subject to mechanical deformation without prejudice to subsequent operation, and which are not.

    • You can bend almost all metal products, including aluminum, copper and steel tubes of various diameters. It is more difficult to change the configuration of products made of stainless steel and similar hard alloys.

    For the correct deformation of all metals, without exception, a special machine for bending pipes is required. Using a special machine will not only provide optimal quality fold, but will also allow you to complete the task with minimal physical effort.

    Important: You can do without a special machine by changing the shape of the metal-plastic. Products made of this material are easily deformed by hand, but a special spring is used to keep the cross-section at the bend area constantly round.

    • You cannot bend pipes from various polymer materials, not reinforced with a metal layer.

    Some plumbers, to save fittings, heat polypropylene with an industrial hair dryer and bend to the required shape. It is impractical to do this, since due to deformation in combination with heating, a curved plastic pipe will have an uneven wall thickness at the outer and inner radius.

    As a result, the operation of the constructed water supply system will be short-lived, since under the pressure of the liquid medium, cracks will appear in the thin wall over time.

    Important: some polypropylene manufacturers, for example Ekoplastik, allow the possibility of deformation of pipes when heated with hot air, taking into account the minimum bending radius equal to 8 pipe diameters. Therefore, before deciding on the relevance of bending work, read the manufacturer's recommendations given in the instructions.

    Choosing the right tool

    The spring is an effective tool for working with metal-plastic. The springs on the market are of two types: external and internal. Both types of tools are distinguished by an affordable price. The tool should be selected according to the outside or inside diameter of the pipe.

    The fixture is made of polished steel. The smooth surface of the coils allows the spring to be removed from the bent pipe. The use of a spring ensures the same diameter cross section all over the fold.

    A pipe bender is a wide range of machines or devices designed for deformation of rolled metal, taking into account the required angle and bend radius. The devices are actively used in the construction of pipelines for various purposes of various configurations and sizes.

    Classification of pipe benders

    All modern pipe benders meet the following requirements:

    • the ability to bend up to 180 degrees;
    • the ability to work with pipes made of various materials, including aluminum, copper, steel and polymer compositions.

    Such equipment, according to the type of drive used, is divided into the following categories:

    • Manual modifications, as a rule, are used for work with small diameter pipes. The device is driven by a collar to which a substantial muscular force is applied.
    • Hydraulic modifications Is the best choice for handling pipes up to 3 inches in diameter. The operation of hydraulic devices allows you to work with pipes without excessive physical effort. There are mobile and stationary hydraulic pipe benders on the market.
    • Electromechanical modifications presented on the market universal devices designed for high-precision folding. The main advantage of such pipe benders is the ability to work with thin-walled rolled metal without the threat of damage.

    In accordance with the method of bending and the configuration of the working part, the tool can be:

    • Crossbow, where a replaceable metal guide shape is used as a deforming element, which is selected for a certain pipe diameter.

    • Segmental, where the rolled metal is pulled out by a special segment that wraps the pipe around itself.

    In the photo - a mandrel machine

    • Dornov, where work with rolled metal is carried out both from the outside and from the inside of the pipe. This feature allows the device to be used to change the configuration of thin-walled pipes without the threat of metal rupture or the formation of folds along the inner diameter.

    Pipe bending technology

    The instructions for changing the configuration of pipes by means of an external spring are as follows:

    • The spring is put on a metal-plastic one;
    • Then the pipe is gripped with both hands at a distance of 20 cm from the spring and bent until the desired angle is obtained;
    • After the desired angle is obtained, the spring turns around its axis and is removed.

    The use of an internal spring differs in that the device is inserted from the edge of the pipe, where it can then be pulled out.

    A bent pipe end can be obtained using a pipe bender. In this case, the device, in accordance with its modification, is adjusted to the required parameters. Then the pipe is inserted into the receiving gap and the device is activated by means of one or another actuator.

    Output

    A bent pipe in accordance with GOST is an integral attribute of the construction of pipelines for various purposes. That is why it is so important to choose the technology and the appropriate tool, by means of which it will be possible to ensure high bending quality and the absence of damage to the pipe walls.

    More useful information you can discover by watching the video in this article.