Re: [ATM] bending square aluminium tube

["Bob May" <bobmay@nethere.com>]

Supprisingly, the tool is usually built fairly small and the size of the
material and the stress needed to do the work is more what controls the size
of the tool.  I'd probably use 3" OD wheels (this leaves about 2" for the
inner radius of the groove to hold the 1" tubing) and put them about 5"
apart on the one side with the third one centered between the other two.
Use a pull structure on the third wheel and you get the easiest design.  Use
a pair of roller bearings on each of the wheels with stationary axles and
the force to move the material through the bender will be minimal.
You end up with ends that are straight, usually on the order of the distance
between the two stationary rollers but that is easily cut off.  The thing
that is nice is that you can easily keep rolling til you get the diameter
that you want just by rolling the stock through the rollers and cranking
down on the adjuster for the third roller.
Bob May
bobmay@nethere.com
http://nav.to/bobmay
http://bobmay.astronomy.net

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