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  Bend formers:
Bend former
sometimes
referred to as a Bend Die. This is the main tool around which the tube
is bent. It has the shape of the tube machined around the periphery to
contain it during the bending process. The radius from the centre of
the former to the centre of the tube is referred to as the CLR ( centre
line radius ). Bend radius may also be referred to by the relationship
of the tube diameter to the CLR. For example 60mm Diameter tube bent on
a 180mm CLR would be referred to as a 3D bend (3 x tube diameter =
180). Similarly the same 60mm tube on a 60mm CLR would be a 1D bend.
The straight section of the bendformer is called the
former extension. This may be machined as one piece or be detachable, if
detachable it can be replaced with a different type of gripping surface.
The bend radius and the resistance of the tube to bending determine the
type extension selection. As a generalisation the tighter a bend radius
is, the longer the clamp area needs to be to overcome the additional
resistance, although serrations or coating the gripping face will assist
to keeping the length to a minimum.
 
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