The A's to XYZ's of Bending Pipe and Tube

A-L

A End: End of bent tube that represents the first tangent.

B End: End of bent tube that represents the last tangent.

CLR: Center line radius (most common call out for bend radii’s of round tube).

CNC V.S. NC: CNC, Computer Numeric Control of the tube in all axis of movement. (X, Y, Z,). NC, Numeric control of only the degree of bend.

"D" of Bend: CLR / OD = "D" of bend

DBB: Distance Between Bends is the straight section of the tube from tangent to tangent.

DOB: Degree of Bend is the measurement of the bend angle.

E-B Factor: (OD /Wall) / (CLR/OD) = E-B Factor
(Empty Bend Factor for evaluating bending without a mandrel)

E-Plane: Bending direction of a cross section done the Easy way.

Ferrous: Mild Steel, Alloy Steel, Stainless Steel.

Gauge: Tube / Pipe wall thickness by established gauge size.

Grip Finish: The typically rough finish applied to tube grooves that grip a tube.

H-Plane: Bending direction of a cross section done the Hard way.

ISR: Inside radius. (most common call out for bend radii’s of square and rectangular tube).

LRA Bend Data: Lengths, Rotations, and Angles, to define a tubular shape.

M-Z

Multi-Radius: Type of tube groove in the bend die or pressure die that prohibits use of a mandrel.

Multi-Stack: Refers to a machines ability to have more than one bend die stacked on it.

Non-Ferrous: Aluminum, Brass, Copper, Titanium, Inconel.

OD: Outside diameter of work piece.

OSR: Outside radius.

Pipe Size V.S. Tube Size: Two different methods for defining the OD of a tube:

Example for 1.0" Pipe = 1.315 OD
Example for 1.0" Tube = 1.000 OD

Rotation: Swing arm direction of tube bender viewed from above. (CW or CCW)

Tangent: The beginning and ending of an arc or bend.

True Oval V.S. Flat Oval: True Oval, does not have a flat surface, and are also elliptical in shape. Flat Oval, has two parallel flat surfaces connected by an arc.

Wall Factor: OD / Wall = Wall Factor

Wall: Tube / Pipe wall thickness.

XYZ Bend Data: Three dimensional intersecting point coordinates, to determine a tubular shape.