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bending an 8 mm aluminium tube
02GF74 - 10/10/06 at 02:12 PM

I want to bend into a 120 mm circle a piece of split 8 mm diameter aluminium tubing.

The idea is to make a wooden disc, 120 mm diam. and two strips of steel running from a central pivot. Allowing for tihickness of the tube, a bolt/roller or pad arrangement is fitted to the strips that will press on the tube when it is laid along the edge fo the wooden disc.

As the strips (levers) are moved, the tube is brought toward the disc bending it in the process hopefully without kinking it. (to stop the slit from clsoing up, a strip of ali is put into the tube).

So rather like the windscreem frame making jig in the book.

Is this likley to work - anyone done smilair?

MikeRJ - 10/10/06 at 02:26 PM

quote:
Originally posted by 02GF74(to stop the slit from clsoing up, a strip of ali is put into the tube).


I think that will cause grief, you will be trying to bend a strip if ally in it's stiffest plane, very likely it will just kink and warp.

Probably better if you make you wooden wheel from two halves with a slightly larger aluminium wheel of the correct thickness in the middle. This will guide the tube and prevent the slit closing.

02GF74 - 10/10/06 at 02:31 PM

ah yes, but where exaclty is the slit?

ok, I sould have explained better.

draw three 3 concentric cicles. the largest and smallers are the tube, the line in the middle is the slit. the strip to hold the slit open will bent easist along that pane.

RichardK - 10/10/06 at 07:26 PM

Can't ya fill it with sand and then plug the ends? Then bend it

Rich

[Edited on 10/10/06 by RichardK]

zetec7 - 10/10/06 at 08:15 PM

If possible, bend it BEFORE you split it!!