Hey all! First time poster and soon to be new Makerspace member here. I’m trying (in my mind) to make a fairly straightforward semi-circle bend in a pipe/conduit/tube (I understand those are three different things, but let’s go with “tube” for now).
What I’m trying to do is take a 1’’ diameter tube, bend it in a circle-ish shape and then flatten the ends / drill holes in them so I can then bolt them under the handlebars of my Vespa so I can mount a little phone holder.
Not the most ambitious structural project ever attempted, I’m sure, but eager to learn and try to do it at the DMS!
And here is a rough attempt I tried to create with hand tools - which didn’t come out so great. The cardboard template is a cut out of the clearance I need under the bolts to turn the handlebars once the pipe is mounted. I need a U-shaped or wider circular shape bend such that the center of the flattened pieces are about 6 3/4’’ apart
I originally thought it wold be easier / lighter to do this in aluminum, but this 3/4 steel electrical conduit works fine (if I can get it to the right shape and all without kinking it).
Adding on to Ray’s advice: Here’s an example using a spring, the video shows it being bent manually. If you are doing with conduit, then you’ll get really good results using both of these - the spring will allow for a tighter bend radius. The bender mandrel will help keep everything straight and reduce likelihood of a kink.Spring bender
So on 1 diameter”, you are looking about a 3” CLR. That would give you a outside diameter of about 7”. Any tighter & you might start to kink.
Here is what is Pro-Tools has to say.
“Does DMS have the tools to give me the bend in the pipe I want? (ideally 3/4’’) or if not, what are my limitations? Smaller diameter pips on the roller? Less bend on the larger machines? What are my constraints?”
So what happens is the tighter the bend, the more likely you will kink on the inside of your bend. You may be able to achieve your diameter since it’s close to the minimum bend. If you were to go with 3/4 outside diameter, it could be achieved easily.
As to if we have the tool, I’d have to check dimensions of the tooling we have. The tubing bender that is on loan does not have that die size currently.
A standard 1/2 conduit bender (1/2 in conduit is about .706 OD)will get you in area of about 8 1/2 outside diameter.
That said, we do have a large radius roller that might could be used to give you that diameter, I’m not certain on the diameter of it at this time. When I say this I mean using the upper roller as a die similarly as you would use on a conduit bender.
I’m thinking the radius roller might work perfectly… a half circle or larger scribed parabola / circle would work, then we just cut the circle at the space I need for the holes.
bump - would love to come up to DMS and see if we can make this pipe bend work. How do i go about scheduling a time / trainer / orientation for the metal shop?
