CNC pipe forming or other method?

[ReaderScars]

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?

[ReaderScars]

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?

[ReaderScars]

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.

[ReaderScars]

Great, will definitely PM you with a set of illustrations.

I need to try to draw another couple up which are a bit tough to represent away from a 3D environment but I should be able to get my requirements across.