Tube bending services have been one of our main specialities for a very long time. As a result, we can provide the best solutions for all kinds of clients. We’ll adapt to bend different types of tubing effectively to suit the application.

If you are thinking of using metal tubes for any kind of project, it is important to consider bending. Some materials are highly malleable, so they are easy to work with and don’t require specialist tools or techniques. Others have poor malleability and there is a chance of cracking or breaking. On top of that, some metals can spring back, seeking to return to their original shape.

The most important thing is to look at individual metals to see how easy they are to bend and what to do. Let’s have a look at some of the main ones here.

Copper

We’ll start with one of the most malleable metals. The only materials that can beat it are soft previous metals like gold and platinum. The malleability means you can bend it really easily without to suit various needs.

Aluminium

The tricky thing about aluminium is there are so many different types. There are some that are relatively easy to bend, including 3003 and 5052. At the other end of the scale though, there are some like 6061 that are incredibly difficult to work with and have a high likelihood of cracking. You’ll need the right skills and techniques here, probably even professional tube bending services. They will ensure you can get the right bends for different types of aluminium.

Titanium

Next we have another material that causes problems because there are so many different types. There is also a big challenge in general here; titanium is strong and has low elasticity. That means it is difficult to bend in the first place, and tricky to make it keep bends. You need specialist tooling here to make sure the titanium won’t break it. Plus, you should always over-bend to account for the springback.

Brass or bronze

Bending alloys can be a bigger job than working with pure metals. That is very clear here. Both of these materials include significant amounts of copper. However they both have lower ductility and are harder to bend. Brasses with higher volumes of zinc in the alloy are very tricky; you may need to heat them to allow bending. Bronze is harder to work with because it is brittle and has low ductility. Typically, bending it isn’t a good idea.

Steel

Finally, we have the most popular alloy in the world. However, it can create some big challenges for tube bending services because there are so many different types with some radical differences in properties.

One thing you need to think about with steel is the carbon content. The lower it is, the more ductile the material will be. So, if you want to prioritise bendability, you want low carbon steels like mild steel. If you have high carbon steels or strong, less malleable alloys, you may need to heat before bending.

Stainless steel can be tricky to deal with too. The ductility can differ greatly depending on the alloy, particularly if it contains a large amount of carbon and higher levels of chromium. You’ll likely need specialist equipment, including a mandrel. Heating can help too, but you need to work quickly and quench effectively to avoid excessive hardening.

Talk to us about tube bending services for different metals

Multiform Tubes Engineering Ltd can bend different types of tubing with skill and precision. We’ll choose the perfect technique for each project, including selecting the right tooling and cold or hot bending. We’ll also account for things like springback.

So, get in touch with us if you want to arrange tube bending services. We’re always happy to advise if you need help too.