CNC pipe forming or other method?
Discussion
Can anyone advise where I could get some parts manufactured from 0.5" OD mild steel tube, approx 1.5mm wall.
What I'm looking for are elbows and various types of joints.
When I look into what's being manufactured I can see some of these are cast and I'd like to get a grip on the costs of having a manufacturing run of cast parts, but I'd also like to see how - or who - could fabricate a small number of parts so they can be evaluated first and maybe used to make a mould from.
Is anyone involved in tube forming who can advise please?
What I'm looking for are elbows and various types of joints.
When I look into what's being manufactured I can see some of these are cast and I'd like to get a grip on the costs of having a manufacturing run of cast parts, but I'd also like to see how - or who - could fabricate a small number of parts so they can be evaluated first and maybe used to make a mould from.
Is anyone involved in tube forming who can advise please?
ReaderScars said:
Can anyone advise where I could get some parts manufactured from 0.5" OD mild steel tube, approx 1.5mm wall.
What I'm looking for are elbows and various types of joints.
When I look into what's being manufactured I can see some of these are cast and I'd like to get a grip on the costs of having a manufacturing run of cast parts, but I'd also like to see how - or who - could fabricate a small number of parts so they can be evaluated first and maybe used to make a mould from.
Is anyone involved in tube forming who can advise please?
Use off the shelf parts...What I'm looking for are elbows and various types of joints.
When I look into what's being manufactured I can see some of these are cast and I'd like to get a grip on the costs of having a manufacturing run of cast parts, but I'd also like to see how - or who - could fabricate a small number of parts so they can be evaluated first and maybe used to make a mould from.
Is anyone involved in tube forming who can advise please?
The only way I can think of, to make quite a complex little angled cross piece or similar is to cut up cardboard tube until the three/four arms and angles come together and fit as they should then cut the arms along their lengths, flatten them, draw around the profile, laser cut them out of mild steel, roll them, weld them and cast from them.
But out of that lot I've only got the cardboard, scissors and tape. I know these are the sort of complex joints that complex spaceframes involve, so maybe I'm looking in completely the wrong places/industries?
But out of that lot I've only got the cardboard, scissors and tape. I know these are the sort of complex joints that complex spaceframes involve, so maybe I'm looking in completely the wrong places/industries?
May be work backwards from the casting process?
The only two casting processes I'm even slightly familiar with, and that's only from seeing them done would be sand casting and lost wax casting. The problem with any sort of casting is that you will need to machine the part afterwards.
Sand casting involves a wood pattern being impressed into a sandbox using a special sand that binds with itself and will hold a shape after the form is removed. Another box is then prepared with the other side of the item, the boxes are clamped together and molten metal is poured into the void. Break the sand off to leave the casting. Only really works with larger single objects.
Lost wax involves making the item out of wax, encasing it in plaster then melting the wax out of the mould and pouring the metal in. The whole thing is then immersed in water which dissolves the plaster to leave the casting. A usual method would be to make a sprue tree with lots of items on it then encase that in the plaster this is a method used by jewellers to mass produce rings etc. A jewellers supply company such as http://www.cooksongold.com/ will have the wax and the tools to create the shape should you want to try that way.
Maybe a 3D printer could produce what you want, or a clay model?
I'm sure there will be more knowledgeable people along in a minute.
The only two casting processes I'm even slightly familiar with, and that's only from seeing them done would be sand casting and lost wax casting. The problem with any sort of casting is that you will need to machine the part afterwards.
Sand casting involves a wood pattern being impressed into a sandbox using a special sand that binds with itself and will hold a shape after the form is removed. Another box is then prepared with the other side of the item, the boxes are clamped together and molten metal is poured into the void. Break the sand off to leave the casting. Only really works with larger single objects.
Lost wax involves making the item out of wax, encasing it in plaster then melting the wax out of the mould and pouring the metal in. The whole thing is then immersed in water which dissolves the plaster to leave the casting. A usual method would be to make a sprue tree with lots of items on it then encase that in the plaster this is a method used by jewellers to mass produce rings etc. A jewellers supply company such as http://www.cooksongold.com/ will have the wax and the tools to create the shape should you want to try that way.
Maybe a 3D printer could produce what you want, or a clay model?
I'm sure there will be more knowledgeable people along in a minute.
I like your suggestion of 3D printing - seeing as they're pretty small parts I think this could be relatively straight forward and definitely achievable - thanks for the suggestion. Incidentally I've been taking a look a few casting vids on youtube (the metal casting type, that is) - but I like the sound of the 3D printing approach.
Give me a shout if you want a quote for 3D printing, I have a big commercial 3D printer and a new machine arriving Monday which although has a smaller build volume it can print to an accuracy of 140 microns, more importantly castable resins are available for this machine. They are quite often used by jewellers to make intricate parts.
Swagelock? https://www.swagelok.com/downloads/webcatalogs/en/...
Depending on the application it's normal to orbital weld tube/pipe fittings unless you're low volume and tig it up.
Depending on the application it's normal to orbital weld tube/pipe fittings unless you're low volume and tig it up.
Edited by dfen5 on Saturday 30th July 09:32
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