Make a manual pipe bender for a profile pipe. A machine for bending a profile pipe diagrams of self-made pipe benders

When working with pipes, it is often necessary to change the shape of the pipe, in other words, to bend it. This can be done using special equipment, or even buy a finished product. But it is much easier and cheaper to make a simple pipe bender with your own hands. Using such a simple tool will greatly facilitate and speed up the work.

Homemade pipe bender device

The simplest design

Everyone can make the simplest manual pipe bender with their own hands. To make such an elementary device, it is enough to have a concrete slab, a drill for working with concrete and steel pins (you need a lot of them).

You can make a homemade manual pipe bender without any drawings and in just three steps:

On the concrete slab a square grid is drawn with the sides of the cells 4 by 4 or 5 by 5 cm.
Holes for metal rods are drilled in the mesh nodes with a corresponding drill (if possible, they should be deepened as much as possible).
At the end of the operation, steel rods are driven into the workpiece.

The process of creating a pipe bender for shaped pipe do it yourself includes several steps:

A wide channel or a series of channels is installed on a solid base until the desired width is reached.
A frame is mounted in the form of the letter P, and a hole is drilled on the crossbar for the clamp coupling.
Two rollers are installed at an equal distance from the frame. The sprockets of the manually driven chain drive are attached to the rollers.
A third roller is attached to a hairpin fixed in the clamp sleeve. A handle is welded to the top of the stud.

To bend the profile pipe on the resulting product, you need to follow the sequence of actions:

a section of a profile pipe of the required length is installed on the feed rollers;
in the process of rotation of the handle of the clamp, the product is pressed against the lower rollers using the third, fixed at the lower end of the hairpin;
with the help of a chain drive connected to rollers, the profile tube is moved through the deformation zone. Read also: "".

Electric hydraulic pipe bender

This device is more efficient than the design described above, due to the replacement of the clamp with hydraulic unit and a chain drive of the feed rollers to the electric drive. Electrification eliminates tedious manual work and speeds up the process significantly.

The creation of an electrified pipe bending machine with your own hands occurs in the following sequence:

Mount the feed shaft on a flat base.
A pulley is attached to the end of the shaft for a belt drive that passes to the rotor electric motor... At the second end, a chain drive sprocket is installed.
At the required distance from the first shaft, a second one is installed, on which the driven sprocket is attached. It should be noted that if steel plates in the shape of a trapezoid are welded to the base instead of ball bearings on the sides, it is possible to use ordinary rope rollers as a driving mechanism, not shafts.
The deforming roller is mounted - from above or from below, in the corresponding hole. The roller shaft is located in the grooves of the plates or the U-shaped frame. The movement of the roller is limited by the piston rod and the pipe itself.

Bending pipes without using a pipe bender

If a one-time operation is planned or it is not possible to assemble the necessary structure, it is possible to bend a circular pipe without using special installations.

To do this, a workpiece is cut out of the tree, the shape of which corresponds to the planned radius of curvature of the finished product. The pipe in the clamps is bent about the workpiece. It is also possible to replace such a template with pins or hooks driven into a wooden support, located according to the principle of the first pipe bender described in the article.

You can also preheat the bending point of the pipe filled with sand or, if the work is done in the cold, fill it with water. After warming up the sand or solidifying the water, the pipe is also bent around a template of the corresponding curvature.

Another way is to make cuts of the appropriate width in the pipe at the place of the future inner radius, then bend the pipe (the edges of the cuts should align) and restore the integrity of the pipe using electric welding. With this technology, pipes of any size and in any direction can be bent.

It is necessary to deal with flexible shaped and rounded pipes not only for specialists in the production sphere, but also for craftsmen in everyday life. For a one-time use, it is enough to contact the workers of the metalworking workshop. But it is even better to know how to make a pipe bender with your own hands if you have to transform many identical segments, for example, to build a greenhouse or a covered shed.

The principle of operation of these devices is based on the laws of mechanics. If you delve into design features any mechanism for obtaining a workpiece of a certain curvature, it is obvious that there is nothing complicated in them.

What are the devices for transforming pipes

Converting the curvature of a thin-walled small-diameter pipe is a quite accessible stage in obtaining metal blanks for frame-type structures.

It is enough to consider the drawings and photos of pipe benders, as it becomes obvious that structurally they have a lot in common:

base (support, emphasis);
frame or frame (open or closed type);
strips, tube stops or holders;
screws or vise for fasteners;
delivery, mechanical or working device (alternative power part).

Important: For permanent work with flexible shaped pipes, a hydraulic pipe bender is needed, which greatly facilitates the process of forming the curvature of the required radius.

Molded aluminum, standard steel and metal-plastic pipes you can practice on the simplest manual device of the template type.

Most pipe benders resemble a compact machine, but they have their own classification:

by the type of impact on pipes (rolling, winding, broaching, rolling);
if possible, move (stationary and portable).

The drive type is also different:

electric;
manual;
hydraulic;
electrohydraulic.

If you use an electric drive or hydraulic jack, it will take all the power load, save time and effort. But for its construction you need at least elementary knowledge and experience in the construction of household machines for metal processing. But such devices are much cheaper than ready-made devices and their multiple rent.

Important: When making a manual pipe bender with your own hands, there are enough drawings, a few simple details and an understanding of the principle of operation.

The most popular and simple in their design are manual template-type pipe benders. Bending around a profile or ordinary pipe along a part of its circumference, they transform a pipe section at a given angle or the required curvature.

How to make different types of pipe benders?

The principle of operation of pipe benders is different - you can influence a piece of pipe in different ways. For example, a spring-type device will help deform polymer pipes due to pressure. Segment devices will stretch them, imparting curvature.

The method of making a template pipe bender is available even to a beginner. To do this, you need to accurately draw a part of a circle of the required diameter (or another type of curvature). This hemisphere or other curve is drawn on wooden blank, as in the photo of a homemade template type pipe bender.

The resulting part must be fixed on a stable base along the plane (wall, table).

Attention: a wooden shield for a rounded template should be wider than its enveloping pipe so that the fixed part does not come off during processing. The pipe should run between the stop, fixed at the base, and the template.

After the template stop is ready, you need to figure out how to use this type of pipe bender. This is clear from the picture - the pipe is fixed between the template and the thrust bar.

By acting on the opposite end of the heated aluminum or thin steel billet, the desired bending is obtained. If it is necessary to obtain segments of different curvatures, make several suitable templates.

Pipe benders options

Another way is to obtain a segment of the required circle by means of metal hooks nailed to the plane, as in the photo. This is the cheapest bending method, although you need reliable hooks and a flexible tube. The advantage of this device is that these hooks can always be interrupted along a different line in order to bend workpieces of a different radius.

Pipe benders for converting shaped pipes are much more difficult - more force is needed to deform. But with a powerful device with pressure rollers, which is not inferior to a hydraulic analogue, in a domestic environment, you can get any curvature, even an ideal circle.

The bending of the workpiece is carried out by means of rollers and a cylinder - winding or rolling is performed, and the cylinder moves freely.

To build a pipe bender, you need parts, as in the drawing - plates and corners, a stop and a handle.

To learn how to make a pipe bender of a more complex type, watch the video.

Photo of pipe benders with your own hands

It is not so difficult to make a home or even a professional pipe bender with your own hands in order to be able to bend pipes at a given angle and, importantly, with a given bending radius.

Contrary to popular belief that this device is most often used when performing plumbing works, in such cases, various fittings and elbows are usually used - pre-bent pipe lengths manufactured in an industrial environment. However, there are limitations for the use of bends, which are determined by their standard characteristics:

angles of rotation (can be 45, 60, 90 and 180 degrees);
bending radii (bends with bending radii of 1.0 Du and 1.5 Du are produced);
use of welding.

Not in all situations, such parameters are able to satisfy those who need to give pipe structures the required shape. It is in such cases that a mechanical pipe bender (or manual pipe bender) comes to the rescue.

Without bending machine steel pipes those owners of summer cottages and private houses who are going to independently make various arched structures, greenhouses, irregularly shaped fences and much more are indispensable.

In this article, we will thoroughly analyze how to make a pipe bender with our own hands. After all, a home-made pipe bender can be used not only at home, but also in semi-professional activities, since its design does not differ transcendental complexity, and serial devices for bending pipes are quite expensive. Therefore, by making a manual pipe bender with your own hands, you will save a lot of money.

Classification of pipe bending devices

Steel pipe bending devices are classified:

by the degree of mobility (stationary and portable);
by the type of drive (manual, electric, hydraulic, electrohydraulic);
by the method of action (rolling (roller), winding, action with a rod (crossbow), rolling).

The essence of the ways the pipe bender affects the pipe is as follows.

Running in

With this method, one end of the pipe is clamped, and a fixed template is used to give it the required bend. Pressure rollers are used to roll the product around the template.

Winding

In such a device, the pipe is pressed against a movable template (roller), onto which it is wound, stretching between the rotating roller and a special stop installed at the beginning of the bending point.

Crossbow pipe benders

In such a pipe bender, the pipe rests on two stationary rollers, and the bending is performed by a template, which is fixed on a movable rod. The template presses on the middle of the fixed section of the pipe, thereby giving it the required bending angle.

Crossbow pipe bender diagram: 2 - jack, 3 - shoe (punch)

Rolling or rolling

The required bend radius is obtained using a three-roll device, the design of which is made up of two support and one central roll. The central roller exerts pressure on the pipe, the position of which determines the radius of its bend. is more universal, in all other machines the bending radius depends on the template used.

The manufacture of a pipe bender operating on the winding principle is not simple, therefore such a device is made predominantly in an industrial way. The crossbow method has another significant drawback: the pressure from the stem with a template attached to it, which is called a shoe, is concentrated in its upper part. This way of acting on the pipe leads to its significant elongation along the outer radius of the bend, which can be accompanied by a decrease in the wall thickness and even its rupture. It is especially not recommended to use the crossbow method for bending thin-walled products.

An example of a self-made pipe bender of a rolling (rolling) type

The machine, operating on the principle of rolling (rolling), practically does not have all of the above disadvantages, this technology is used in the production of bends in the factory.

A DIY pipe bending machine can have different design... You should choose its type based on what radius you need. There is a list of recommendations, in accordance with which the selection of a specific model of a device for bending steel pipes is carried out. Important parameters to consider are pipe wall thickness and overall pipe diameter. Before starting work with the pipe bender, it does not hurt to familiarize yourself with the data in the table, which displays the maximum possible radii for bending steel pipes.

To obtain a bend radius smaller than specified in such recommendations, it is necessary to use either hot rolling, which is used mainly in industrial conditions. A device with a mandrel is more difficult to create at home, so they are much less often made on their own, preferring rolling ones.

In order to independently perform hot rolling of the pipe, you can resort to using a hand-made pipe bender, but provided that it is completely made of metal, and its frame is highly reliable. To perform such a technological operation, an additional blowtorch or gas torch is required.

Making the simplest template type pipe bender

A simple tube bending rolling machine can even be made of wood. Naturally, this will be a manual pipe bender, in the design of which a pressure roller may not even be provided if it will be used for thin-walled products. The template for such a device is made of wooden board, the thickness of which must be such that it exceeds the diameter of the pipe itself.

For the convenience of work, it makes sense to be puzzled by the profiling of the template from the side of its end, in order to avoid the pipe jumping off during the bending process. For this purpose, two boards can be folded, and first cut along one edge, thus creating a kind of gutter. A pre-made drawing will help to avoid mistakes.

When using such a pipe bender, the template is attached to a reliable base, and a stop is fixed on the left side of it (for right-handed people). The pipe, which must be bent along the required radius, is wound between the template and the stop and gently bend it, making sure that it does not jump off the template.

With the help of such a pipe bender, made from scrap materials, it is possible to perform bending along a large bend radius. You can avoid making a wooden template and simplify the fixture by replacing it with metal hooks fixed to the base, located around the circle with the required bend radius. Such a device is convenient in that the dimensions of the bend can be changed at any time by placing the hook-stops around a circle with a different radius.

Equipped with a hand winch, you can significantly expand the range of work performed by significantly increasing the pulling force for bending pipes.

Pressure roll benders

A more complex design is a manual pipe bender, which uses a pressure roller. For the manufacture of such a device, you can use both wood and metal.

For pipes made of soft materials (for example, copper), wood rollers are the best option, since they do not cause metal deformation. Such videos are not difficult to make at home, if you use photos or drawings of such devices, in a large number posted on the Internet. Thick boards or several layers of plywood can be used as the material of manufacture.

A home-made pipe bender of a similar design, the basis of which is made up of rollers - movable (clamping) and stationary - allows you to bend pipes of circular cross-section, even differing in a significant diameter.

In order to understand that such a device is distinguished by its simplicity of design and use, it is enough to look at its photo or drawing. Depending on what loads are assumed for this type of pipe bender, the base for it is made of metal or durable plywood. The U-shaped holder, on which the central and pressure rollers will be placed, are made of metal.

With respect to the axis of the central roller, securely fixed to the base, such a holder must be able to rotate. On the reverse side of the central roller, a handle is attached to the holder, which is a lever, therefore the generated force directly depends on its length. Such a lever pipe bender allows you to perform operations with different bending radii of pipes.

Many people ask the question of whether it is possible to make a winding type pipe bender with your own hands. Naturally, at first it is advisable to study a drawing or photo of such a device, on which there is no emphasis on the base. The design of this type of pipe bender is based on two pulleys, a frame with a lever and a pressure roller, and a reliable base. Bending with the help of such a device is carried out due to the fact that the pipe, placed in the groove of the stationary pulley and clamped with a clamp, is wrapped around the template using a lever and a movable roller.

Bender for soft pipes with two different bending radii

For small and soft products (aluminum or copper), a homemade pipe bender is suitable, which allows you to bend with two different radii. A photo of such a device is easy to find on the Internet. This pipe bender uses one pressure roller, and the template is made simultaneously with two radii on one plate. Naturally, for each bending option, the pipe bender handle must be reinstalled, for which two holes are provided on its base.

Winding type tube benders

Examples of such devices are hydraulic pipe benders used to bend circular pipes. In the design of such a device there is a powerful pulley, to which the pipe is attached at the bend point. This pulley is fixed on a reliable bed, and at its base there is a rod, which is driven by a jack. A significant force is created on the rod with the help of a jack, which is transmitted to the lever, which rotates the pulley and winds the pipe around it. The lever can freely rotate around the axis of the pulley and is connected to it using holes located around its circumference.

A working example of such a pipe bender can be seen in the video below:

A similar mechanical pipe bender can also be made by hand using a rack-and-pinion jack. When using this device, more physical effort is required.

An example of work on video:

Examples of this type of attachment include homemade pipe benders with wood rollers. When working with such devices for bending pipes of circular cross-section, it is necessary to apply significant physical efforts, which are reduced by the movable rotating roller.

An example in the video below:

Crossbow type pipe benders

Such pipe benders got their name because of their resemblance to a crossbow. The basis of the design of such a device is a frame made by welding from corners and a channel. Inside such a frame, on which two movable rollers are mounted, there is a jack, with the help of a special shoe, creating a force directed to the pipe. Pipe benders with movable rollers and a pressure shoe are mainly used for bending pipes with circular cross-section, since they can simply deform products of any other type.

Harsh crossbow pipe bender with no frills

The most popular homemade pipe benders

The most technologically advanced and versatile are pipe benders operating on the rolling principle. It is precisely such devices, often equipped with an electric drive, that are used by professionals who are constantly faced with the need to bend pipes from various materials, including stainless steel.

The design of such a device is based on three rotating rollers, one of which is a pressure roller. Due to the gradually increasing pressure of the pressure roller and repeated rolling for each new position of the roller, the pipe bending is carried out in the most gentle way, its walls are subjected to stretching manipulations very evenly.

Computer model of the pipe bender Drawing of the clamping screw Drawings of the shafts
Ring drawing Pipe bender accessories Assembly process
Engine driven

A pipe bender is a mechanical or hydraulic device for bending pipes, angles, rods and other metal products. It is possible to make a pipe bender for a profile pipe with your own hands, which allows you to bend most types of profile.

There are several main types of pipe benders - cochlea, manual roller and jack. It is more difficult to make hydraulic and electric models on your own, so we will consider mechanical models.

Required tools

To assemble a pipe bender, you need at least the following tools:

welding inverter;
lathe(or buying off-the-shelf parts);
vice;
hammer;
file for metal;
sandpaper;
ruler;
drill.

But, the most important thing is the drawings of the pipe bender. The mechanism must be manufactured strictly according to the drawing. You can take a finished drawing from this material or find another one and adapt it to the required dimensions.

But, without a drawing, it is impossible to make a pipe bender, since accurate calculations are needed to ensure the operation of mechanical parts.

Cochlear pipe bender

The peculiarity of this type of pipe bender lies in the possibility of bending the part along the entire length at the same time, and not in any specific place. This makes the tool more versatile.

Materials for the cochlear pipe bender

When making such a pipe bender with your own hands, the dimensions of the parts must be selected according to individual needs, since this model does not have a specific working diameter. This is also an advantage, since it allows the use of materials at hand.

To assemble the structure, you need:

meter channel;
Sheet steel;
3 shafts;
2 stars;
steel chain;
6 bearings;
two-meter pipe with a diameter of 12.7 mm for the production of cranks;
clamping screw;
bushing having an internal thread.

Making a cochlear pipe bender

The pipe bender should be assembled clearly according to the scheme. Check out the photo of the pipe bender, made by hand, and different options drawings. Choose a suitable scheme and adjust the dimensions if necessary.

Weld the bed from channels (can be replaced with a thick steel plate or 1 channel of sufficient width).
Mount the bearings onto the shafts, which are then welded to the bed.
Place the stars on the shafts and mount the chain on them.
Cut out the rails for the pressure mechanism and weld onto the bed.
Mount the bearings on the pressure shaft and assemble the press mechanism. Use channels or thick steel strips as side restraints.
Make a base for the bushing and weld it to the structure. Tighten the presser screw.
Weld a tubular wrench to the upper end of the screw and the shaft.
Lubricate the bearings and check the operation of the mechanism.

Manual pipe bender on a roller mechanism

It is somewhat easier to make a manual pipe bender on rollers with your own hands, since there are fewer mechanical elements. The device allows you to bend pipes in certain places.

The device must have a long arm because it requires direct manual force to bend the products.

Materials for the manufacture of roller pipe benders

To assemble the mechanism you need:

2 steel rollers 10 cm and 6 cm in diameter. Inner radius - 12.7 mm, thickness - 35 mm;
1.5-inch thick-walled (from 3 mm) steel pipe for the construction of the lever (length from 1.5 m);
4 steel strips 15x6 cm with a thickness of about 5 mm. The mechanism for fixing the device in a vice. Also used to construct handles and link arms;
steel strip 6 cm wide and 3 mm thick;
2 bolts - 60mm 17.78mm and 40mm 12.7mm. For fixing the rollers;
steel plate 30x30 cm (thickness from 3 mm);

Making a manual pipe bender on a roller mechanism

How to make a pipe bender with your own hands at home - step by step instructions:

Make 2 holes with a diameter of 12.7 mm and 17.78 mm at intervals of 80 cm (or whatever you like according to your drawing). The hole in the bed is 19.05 mm. Fit the corresponding bolt into it and fix by welding.

Weld a U-shaped piece from 15x6 cm plates, a 12.7 mm bolt, a small roller and a 35x60 cm strip of steel. Pre-assemble the roller with a bolt in the previously prepared holes. Weld the bolt to the plates. As a result, you will get a product that resembles a spear.

Weld a tube that acts as a handle to the base of the assembled part. Weld the tube support bar to the base of the entire product. There should be a distance between the plank and the main bolt equal to the radius of the main roller (which is the largest in your drawing) with an addition of 12.7 mm.

At the bottom of the base, weld a 15x6 cm strip, by means of which the structure is fixed in a vice. Mount the main roller into the spear piece. Put the latter on the main bolt and secure with a nut. Fix the device in a vice and test it in action.

Jack pipe bender

Simple and convenient device for bending profile pipes. For manufacturing, you need the following materials:

jack;
4 corners 40 cm long with equal shelves of 50 mm;
2 rollers with grooves for belts. There should be through holes in the center. If they are absent, drill by measuring the middle;
equipment for a jack in the form of a semicircle with a recess inside;
2 channels 60 cm long and 10 cm wide;
bed;
2 fixing screws.

Construction of a jack pipe bender

Weld the corners vertically onto the steel. Make holes in the channels for installing the rollers.

Weld the channels on the corners (2 corners - 1 channel). Place the channels with platforms towards each other. The spacing between the parts must match the length of the rollers. Fit the rollers into the prepared holes and secure with bolts.

Mount the semicircle rigging on the jack and place it in the center of the base between the channel structures.

Diy pipe bender photo

When working on a site or in a garage, it is quite often necessary to bend several pipes along one or another circle. Or, alternatively, make the flat steel strips semicircular. For this, a device such as a pipe bender is used, but purchasing a factory model for performing a couple of operations is not a cheap pleasure. It is easier to make a simple do-it-yourself pipe bender that can bend the pipe to the required dimensions. We will get acquainted with the simplest and most popular options for this design today.

What are pipe benders used for?

Profile pipes with different cuts are considered the most in demand today. metal products and are used in the construction of greenhouses, sheds, garages, to create fences, during the laying of pipelines and so on. And in the manufacture of most of these products, pipes must be bent at one angle or another, and without special equipment there is no way to cope with it.

So, a pipe bender is a special device by means of which, in most cases, pipes are bent, and the bending angle can be different (within 0-180 degrees). The drive of a modern pipe bender is often electromechanical or hydraulic.

Note! With the help of the device described in the article, you can bend products of any configuration (boiler rooms, gas and water supply; moreover, pipes can be either steel or copper, aluminum or metal-plastic).

The scope of application of the pipe bender is quite wide - it can be found on construction sites, when creating heating / water supply networks, at industrial facilities, etc. A hand-made pipe bender is an indispensable item in the household, which can be used for a variety of jobs. If, for example, you intend to install an air conditioner with your own hands, equip a ventilation or heating system, it will not be easy to do without this unit.

How does a pipe bender work?

The specific design of the device depends, first of all, on its purpose, but without fail, the pipe bender includes:

frame;
a pair of pipe stops;
hydraulic cylinder;
strips (top / bottom).

Note also that the frame can be either open or closed. As for the hydraulic cylinder, it is the main part of the device that performs the power function.

Also, in the do-it-yourself pipe bender scheme, there is an injection device that is located on the back of the body; in the same place is the bypass valve screw, the handle. But on top of the cylinder there is a plug, through which oil is poured inside and its level is checked. The unit bar located at the bottom is screwed onto the thread on the front of the housing, and then pressed with a special fixing nut. Additionally, the bar is secured with a lock and a couple of screws.

For manual reinforcement, a retractable rod is used, which returns back thanks to a spring that is located in the cylinder. The bender bars are made as a welded structure. The transverse plates have holes through which the stops are installed. In the lower part of the body there are also threaded holes for adjusting bolts, adjustable in height.

Note! The stop is made in the form of a pivot, and the stops, which are located at its ends, are inserted into the holes on the strips. The bending product will rest on the stream located in the middle of the stop. The bending elements are made of precision cast steel.

Considering a pipe bender with your own hands, one cannot fail to note the fact that shaped pipes with thin walls have become increasingly popular in recent years, moreover, they make it possible to create durable and attractive designs, as well as save on construction works... It is from such pipes that greenhouses and various sheds are made today. What is the difference between a profile pipe and an ordinary one? First of all, the cross-section, which in this case is not round, but oval, rectangular or square. This is what explains the design features of the pipe bender for this type of pipes - the rollers must be of the same section as the products being bent, otherwise the section of the latter may be deformed.

Types of pipe benders

With a hand tube bender, you can bend rings and arcs. Such a device weighs relatively little (about 65 kg), so that it can be transported to the place of work with small metal structures (the same greenhouses, gates, sheds). Here are the main characteristics of materials that can be handled by a hand tool: round tube with a section of 3 centimeters, square - 4x4 centimeters, a rod - 1.6 centimeters, a strip - 4x1 centimeters and, finally, a square - 1.6x1.6 centimeters.

Thanks to various mandrels, the range of processed products can be expanded, and the pipe bender, in turn, can be turned into a profile bender. Price hand tool is such that it can be purchased or made with your own hands, even for minor industries.

As for electric pipe benders, they are used on an industrial scale when working with products of various sections. Such units are very productive, which is primarily due to additional functions, including the rotation of the rollers in two directions at once, the use of foot pedals, and adjustment using the control panel.

The possibilities of electric pipe benders include the bending of arcs from square (8x4 centimeters) and round (3 centimeters) pipes. In order to match the configuration of the section and the diameter of the products, the devices are equipped with special replaceable mandrels for each specific case.

A hydraulic manual pipe bender is considered more modern, the strength of which is such that it can handle sufficiently large steel products. It is this option that is desirable to use for water or gas pipelines. In this pipe bender, the drive is equipped with a special hydraulic unit, which distinguishes it from a conventional device (the operator's work is noticeably easier).

Hydraulic devices can be of several types at once and can be used for various pipes and fittings. Thus, a portable pipe bender (TPG) can be used for solid steel pipes, as well as for round rolled products (we are talking about the bulldozer method, when the pipes are not filled with sand or other fillers). There is also a manual unit (RGU), with the help of which water and gas pipes, fittings or, again, rolled steel are bent.

Note! From the point of view of operating conditions, the pipe bender (including with your own hands) can be manual and stationary. Representatives of the first group are more suitable for domestic use, while representatives of the second group are more suitable for enterprises where bending of pipes or other products is required.

The principle of operation of the pipe bender

At first it may seem that there is nothing super complicated in bending pipes, but in reality this is not entirely true. If handled incorrectly, you may encounter all sorts of defects, including crushing (may cause a change in diameter) or stretching of the thickness at the bend (due to this, the strength characteristics of the pipeline may suffer). For this reason, the device must be selected correctly, knowing the principle of its operation - this way you minimize possible defects.

The very principle of operation is as follows. First, the required size of a semicircle is drawn on folded boards or pieces of chipboard, after which they are cut along the line and fixed with nails on the floor, wall or fence. It should be remembered that this shield should be somewhat thicker than the bendable product (by about two to three centimeters). An emphasis is fixed from the edge of the board in the side part. The pipe edge is inserted between the latter and the template, and then, in accordance with this template, a smooth bending is performed (for this you need to grasp the other end of the product with your hands).

Important information! If we are talking about a short pipe or a small bar, then the second end is built up with a pipe cut that matches its diameter.

Also note that there are enough difficult decisions problems with bending pipes large diameter, however, they provide for locksmith skills and the use of professional equipment. It is not only difficult to make such a pipe bender yourself, but also expensive - it is much easier to purchase a manual unit already in use.

Video - DIY pipe bender for profile pipes

A simple pipe bender for ordinary pipes with your own hands

To assemble a simple pipe bender with your own hands, you only need what can be found on any summer cottage... More specifically, you will need:

wooden shield;
two small bars;
large hooks;
several sturdy boards.

Draw a semicircle on the finished shield, according to which the pipe will bend. If the unit will be used several times, draw a couple of semicircles at once. Next, nail the bars or boards vertically from below (they can help with the installation of the pipe and fixing its ends). Then attach the large hooks along the semicircle. This unit is quite convenient, but its disadvantage is that the hooks will have to be outweighed each time in order to obtain different bending angles.

Making a pipe bender designed to work with profile pipes with your own hands

For this kind of pipes, the design described above will no longer work. For this reason, you will need a special do-it-yourself roller pipe bender. If you look at the drawings and step by step instructions, you can easily make such a machine with your own hands.

From the materials you will need:

a pre-made frame made of steel profiles;
rollers;
jack;
three rollers.

After preparing everything you need, you can proceed directly to the manufacturing process.

Step one... Craft metal carcass... At the bottom, you can additionally weld fasteners to fix it on the table top. After that, place a couple of vertical supports: on the side and in the center. On the opposite side (where there is no support), the profile will rise, and therefore it must be bolted. This part will be lifted with a jack.

Step two... Weld the shafts to the finished frame. Two are on the sides, while under the third, supports must be prepared in advance. The shaft will be attached to the latter.

Step three... Weld the steel tube handle to the center shaft. With the help of this handle, the product will be bent.

Step four... Fix between the shafts on the sides and the central one by two shafts, as well as a roller, so that the bendable product does not move. The fact is that this way the pipe will not move much, and therefore the work will be done with maximum accuracy.

Step five... Finally, place a jack under the movable part of the profile (the one with the roller). The jack, by the way, can be either a simple rack and pinion jack or a bottle jack. If necessary, fix it to the structure.

Note! Make careful measurements before starting work. Draw a diagram, check how well the parts are welded together. In addition, we advise you to check out the video below.

Video - Making a simple pipe bender on your own

Making a compact pipe bender-snail

To make a pipe bender with your own hands, you can use ready-made construction drawings. Familiarize yourself with several options, measure their complexity and your capabilities, the availability of the required skills and equipment. So you will be able to choose the most optimal design... So, check out a few more options for pipe benders that you can easily assemble with your own hands.

To begin with, for the correct bending of shaped pipes, it is necessary to clearly understand what the physics of this process is. As a rule, in hand-held devices, a so-called circular bend is used, due to which the risks of damage to the product, the appearance of cracks or creases are minimized. To bend the pipe in such a unit, it is necessary to fix the pipe in it, and then push the lever. The product will bend as it rolls over the roller, which in turn pushes it against the main wheel.

As for the necessary equipment and materials, then you will need:

sheet of metal 6 mm thick;
ruler / tape measure;
Working wheel;
hammer;
pressure roller;
corners made of steel with dimensions of 5x5x0.25 centimeters;
welding machine (and skills to work with it, of course);
a piece of thick pipe with a diameter of 2.5 centimeters;
Bulgarian;
axis of rotation;
washers, nuts;
a piece of metal rod with a square section (2x2x4 centimeters).

Note! When constructing a pipe bender with your own hands, be sure to follow the safety requirements! This applies especially to welding and cutting metal!

How to calculate the structure. Drawing

Before you start making a pipe bender with your own hands, determine under what radius you will need to bend pipes most often. The dimensions of the impeller will depend on this (they should be the same as the inner radius of the finished bend).

The drawing above was created for shaped pipes with a diameter less than one inch. With the help of this unit, it will be possible to obtain a bend radius of up to 12.5 centimeters (this is 1/2 the diameter of the impeller). But if you require other bending parameters, apply the appropriate calculation methodology.

So, the main size of the fork is the distance between the axes of the roller and the impeller (here a = 200 millimeters). This gap is chosen in this case, taking into account that the limiting diameter of the profile pipe will be 25 millimeters, but we recommend adding a few more "reserve" millimeters.

Here is the formula for calculating the distance between the axes:

d + r1 + r2 + 2= a, in which:

d is the exact diameter of the product;
r1-2 is the radius of the roller / impeller.

Note! If the design of the future unit provides for the presence of a kind of ridge pulley, then measure, starting exclusively from the lowest point of this element.

To determine the size of the fork, take 10 millimeters as the gap between the base and the roller, then add another 30 "spare" millimeters. But to determine the internal clearance, add one to two millimeters to the wheel thickness.

Important information! For a more versatile design, punch a few holes in the sides of the fork. When rearranging the roller axis, you will change the distance between the surfaces of the rotating elements.

How to make such a pipe bender - a detailed guide

As you can see from the above diagram, the structure consists of:

thick iron plate (base);
forks;
impeller;
and, finally, a video.

To make a pipe bender with your own hands, follow the sequence below.

Step one... First, make a roller and impeller. If you have a lathe, this is very good, but in the absence of such equipment, these elements can also be made without any difficulties. For a reasonable fee, a specialist will quickly grind you pulleys.

Note! Don't skimp on creating movable parts! They must have a groove for a pipe with a limiting diameter, in addition, the roller must have a seat for a rolling bearing.

If necessary, you can make adjustments to the design of the knee surface; the groove of the roller / wheel is shaped. When the roller rolls, it will leave a mark on the outside of the knee, while the wheel will leave it on the inside. To facilitate the work and reduce the cost of the total cost of the structure, you can install two ball bearings of the required dimensions instead of a roller.

Step two... Using the same machine, it is necessary to make an axis for the roller and impeller. It is important that the thickness of the elements matches the inner diameter of the bearing you are using. As for the axle length, it should be the same as the outer width of the fork. The length of the axis of rotation of the wheel will be slightly larger, since the thickness of the base plate of the unit will also be taken into account. If you refuse to install bearings, you can thereby significantly reduce the cost of the process, and in this case, long bolts with nuts will act as axes. Be that as it may, remember that working on such a device will be much more difficult.

Step three... After that, take a sheet of metal, cut out the back wall and side surfaces of the fork from it; in addition, you need a piece of thick-walled pipe to act as a lever.

Step four... Drill holes in the roller / wheel fork according to the diagram.

Step five... Weld the fork elements. At the same time, make sure that the right angles of this product are especially high quality.

Note! It is best not to attach the arm end-to-end to the fork, as this type of attachment will be unreliable due to the large applied forces. The best option is to drill a hole in the back wall, where the end of the pipe will subsequently enter. If you weld such a connection using a welding machine, you will get an extremely strong joint as a result.

Step six... We continue to assemble the pipe bender with our own hands. So, now arm yourself with a grinder and cut the frame with it. Then drill a hole in it of the appropriate size for the stationary axle of the wheel.

Step seven... If necessary, press the bearing into the roller.

Step eight... Place the roller in the fork and then secure with nuts or a welding machine.

Step nine... Install the assembled fork on the base, fixing the wheel axle in the same way as when installing the roller.

Step ten... Weld on a piece of square section - this will be a kind of clamp for the workpiece.

Finally, punch holes in the corners of the base to mount the unit to the workbench. Do not forget to clean up the welds so that the structure looks more attractive in the end. Also paint the bender with enamel to prevent rusting.

Another design of the bending machine

Here, as you can see, the roller is pressed by means of a threaded gear. In this example, a hydraulic jack and a manual drive will be used, in which the elements of the gas distribution mechanism will be present (we are talking about those in automobile engines). And one more thing: don't forget about your personal safety! Always use personal protective equipment when working!

Now - directly to the process of making a pipe bender with your own hands

Step one... First, make a pressure shaft and support shafts. If you do not know how to work with a lathe, then you will need the help of a professional. In this case, it is important that the rollers have the shanks necessary for mounting the sprockets.

Note! The chain, as well as the sprockets, can be any.

Step two... Attach the bearing supports to the shafts, fasten the gears to the keys.

Step three... Weld the frame of the future pipe bender. First of all, make a square frame, on which there are support legs, and then install a structure on it, through which the plate with a roller will move.

Step four... In this case, a channel (H- or U-shaped) will serve as a plate. To install the pressure shaft, make holes in the edges of the plate, taking into account the dimensions of the bearings.

Step five... Hang a piece of the channel with a roller on four springs from above the frame (in the corners, pre-weld the nuts, which will serve you as mounting loops). Then finally install the hydraulic jack.

Step six... Fix the drive shafts to the lower frame.

Step seven... Put the chain on the sprockets, press on it below in order to determine the place where the tensioner will be located. Install the latter on the frame of the structure.

Step eight... Install the handle to rotate the shafts of the structure. We recommend using a handle with a rotating tube for easier handling and no blisters on your hands.

Step nine... You can process the finished pipe bender with your own hands with a special rust converter, and then paint it.

In the end, it remains only to check the resulting structure for performance. That's all, we hope that you will definitely get the desired result by following our instructions! And at the end - one more thematic video.

Good luck with your work!

Video - Making a simple pipe bender

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