3.4 Cold Bending: Yct Technical Guide 3-Section 3 - Installation Guide

3.
4 Cold Bending
(5)
Half-hard copper tubing to BS EN 1057 R250 in straight lengths is in an ideal condition for cold
bending, using either a bending spring or a machine as appropriate. Nevertheless, to achieve
consistently satisfactory bends some basic precautions must be observed:
3.4.1 Spring Bending
During internal spring bending, the use of a little lubricating oil or grease greatly assists the bending
operation and prolongs the life of the spring by preventing rusting.
As with any equipment, bending springs must be kept in good condition and when worn they should
be replaced. Internal bending springs are normally used for half-hard, 12, 15 and 22mm tubing,
although clearly the choice of spring depends on the wall thickness of the tube being manipulated.
For example, the nominal internal diameter of 15mm Yorkex tubing is 13.6mm, whereas that of
15mm Kuterlon material is only 13mm. It is essential to use the appropriate size of spring that fits
snugly into the tube. Bends can usually be made by hand, bending gradually but firmly around the
knee, to a minimum radius of around 5 times the diameter of the tubing in question.
Although some plumbers occasionally use an internal spring for larger tube sizes, it should be noted
(4)
that this practice is not recommended or indeed allowed for in BS 5431 (the British Standard for
bending springs). Hence consistently satisfactory spring bending of tubes in sizes above 22mm
cannot be guaranteed.
External bending springs are also available for half-hard tube in sizes up to and including 10mm.
3.4.2 Machine Bending
Bending machines form significantly tighter bends (minimum root/inside radius approximately 3 x o.d.
of tube) than are possible using a spring. This method is by far the most widely used for bending
copper tubes in the U.K. Machines are supplied by various manufacturers in many forms but
essentially fall into one of two categories, i.e. "non-adjustable" or "adjustable".
3.4.2.1 Non-adjustable Machine Bending
Non-adjustable bending machines are commonly used for bending smaller size tubes (i.e. up to and
including 22mm o.d.). These benders offer two main advantages over adjustable machines in that
they are relatively inexpensive and usually light in weight, hence more portable.
When choosing a non-adjustable bender care should be taken to ensure that the machine is suitable
for bending the specification of the tube being used.
As with any tooling, care should always be taken with maintenance, with particular regard to the
replacement of worn guides or formers (preferably with a matched pair).
3.4.2.2 Adjustable Machine Bending
Adjustable bending machines are readily available in sizes up to and including 28mm. Occasionally,
they may be employed to manipulate half-hard tubing in sizes up to and including 54mm. They have
the advantage of allowing the operator to adjust the pressure applied to the tube, via the guide,
thereby compensating for any slight tooling wear or even marginal differences in physical and
mechanical properties between different batches of tube, albeit within the confines of the
specification.
The point at which bending pressure is exerted on the tube is crucial and must be maintained at a
fixed distance in front of the point of support of the former. If this distance is too small, excessive
necking (or throating) at either end of the bend will occur; too great and corrugations or wrinkles
may result along the inside radius.
Clearly, manipulation of medical quality tubing must be undertaken using equipment applied to the
outside of the tube only, since internal springs will compromise the cleanliness of the bore.
N.B.
It should be noted that bending has no detrimental effect on maximum safe working
pressures of half-hard tubes, since any slight reduction in wall thickness along the outer radii
of bends is off-set by the increase in hardness of the tube in the manipulated region.
YCT TECHNICAL GUIDE
3-6
Section 3 INSTALLATION GUIDE

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YCT TECHNICAL GUIDE

Section 3 INSTALLATION GUIDE

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