Dorn bender: description, device, types and reviews

Work with metal products often involves the implementation of operations that allow changing their shape. To create structures with certain characteristics, in particular, cutting, folding and folding may be required. The last kind of such operations is one of the most difficult. Especially it concerns the processing of pipes, for which it is necessary to maintain the capacity. That is, the internal space at the inflection point should provide the optimal volume of passage of the working medium. Qualitatively to cope with this task helps the dorn bender, performing its function in different modes, among which is automatic.

General information about the dorn bender

In the classical version, this instrument is oriented to work with thin-walled pipes. This means some specialization of its function, but there are quite a few spheres in which such pipes are used. At the same time, the very work with thin-walled products puts a great responsibility on the tool used, since any deviation from the technique of the operation can ruin the workpiece. In this regard, the manual dorn bender is most sensitive, which is used in the household or by workers in small workshops. With regard to materials, most dork models are able to work effectively with copper, stainless steel and aluminum. Depending on the material of the pipe, the equipment settings are also selected. This is already dependent on the design features of the specific unit and its functionality.

The device and the principle of operation

The base of the machine is usually represented by high-strength steel alloys. Functional equipment with a head is more often made of cast iron - this is the most prone to wear, which provides the moment of bending. The constructions differ in the way they perform the clamping action - there are upper and finger clamps. In the first case, the operator is able to linearly move the pipe due to the gap between the locking mechanism and the machining surface. Finger dorny benders, in turn, does not involve the provision of loads on the lever. In some designs, a hydraulic booster is also used to improve performance. During the work cycle, the clamp strip follows the workpiece to be machined, and then takes the starting position. Hydraulic cylinder clearly adjusts the manipulations of the bar, also setting the plane of rotation of the product. Physically, the actions are realized by one or more drives.

Varieties

There are three types of pipe benders with a dorn mechanism. These are mentioned manual, semi-automatic and fully automated models. All of them are united by the fact that the principle of providing mechanical influence is realized by means of roller rigging, on which, in fact, the workpiece is wound. Hand tools are characterized by low power and the need to connect the operator in the immediate workflow. Again, the user himself controls the operation of the hydraulic system. It is more convenient to operate a semiautomatic dovetail bender, which places only a part of the operating actions on the operator, the list of which may vary depending on the design. Automated machines can not simply perform the entire work cycle independently, but also be interfaced with other equipment. Such models are often integrated into full-fledged production lines, in which folding is only one of the operations in the overall manufacturing process.

Features of models with numerical control

These are the same automated lines, but supplemented with numerical control. What does this mean in practice? The role of the operator in semi- and automated machines is usually minimized, but still there is. In this case, it consists in the fact that the staff sets a special program for the automatic operation of the machine. Mechanisms function independently, but strictly according to a given algorithm. In particular, the CNC dovetail bender can be programmed by parameters such as clamping pressure, mandrel position, bending speed of the bending unit, etc. At the same time, the machine memory can store various data on the characteristics of pipes already ready, which further facilitates the technique Evaluation of product quality. Thus, for example, defects, deviations from standard indicators and other features of the product are recorded.

Positive feedback on working with the tool

Experienced users of equipment, which is used in the work with metal products, note several advantages of the drones. First of all, this exclusion of the characteristic waviness or corrugation, which is formed when using other bending devices - as a rule, not specialized. The second positive point is that the deformation is not accompanied by a thickening or narrowing of the walls. Again, unprofessional bending often leads to metal stretching, and this is dangerous from the point of view of further product use at critical facilities. The advantages that the automatic pipe bender with the same CNC possesses also stand out. Such equipment makes it possible to obtain not just an exact fold, but a relatively high-speed qualitative deformation in the serial production mode.

Negative feedback

Aggregates for bending with a dorn mechanism require careful care. Mechanics in this case are represented by difficult-to-connect elements that need constant maintenance. In addition, many operators of such installations note their limited ability to work with multi-format pipes. As a rule, one machine in the base configuration can serve blanks in a narrow size range - this applies to the thickness of the walls and the overall diameter. At the same time, users point to the fact that the arbor bender takes up a lot of space on the work platform, not to mention its considerable mass. Accordingly, the costs of transportation and installation are increased.

Price issue

The simplest manual models from the budget segment can cost about 50-70 thousand rubles. As a rule, they work with small-format pipes, realizing the moment of folding through physical effort. The middle segment is represented by units with automation elements. It can be a functional and productive dorn bending machine, the price of which will be about 200-300 thousand, depending on the configuration. The higher the autonomy and the optional content, the higher the cost. Automated CNC machines are available for 500-700 thousand and this is not the limit. Equipment of this class is often developed with a primary bias toward industrial use at the facilities of specific enterprises.

The device of a self-made pipe-bender

The unit is usually formed by a massive metal frame, to which the other functional components and components are attached. The shaft of the body is supplied with bending multi-ridge rollers, clamping blocks and eccentric elements. The last components of the tooling will act as fixators for the workpiece. Also, to perform the operation, an emphasis will be required from which the direction of the pipe will be set. This system is most often composed of clamping shoes, staples and wedges. To be able to effectively control the dorn bender with your own hands, a guiding knot is formed in the design, formed by a screw and a special steering wheel.

Conclusion

Metal pipes are rarely deformed already in the workplace. Usually the same fold is performed in the factory conditions in accordance with the specified project or in a typical format. Nevertheless, there are situations when in the process of installation operations, this procedure may be required to be carried out expeditiously. For this case, a manual boring type pipe bender is designed. In some modifications, it allows you to work even in the field, which often saves time for installation activities. More robust automated installations do not assume regular movement - they are just used in the plant equipment, when you need to get a high-quality result when processing a large number of blanks.