With years of experience and the positive testimonies of past clients behind us, we have become one of the best providers in the country when it comes to tube manipulation. Acting with professionalism and utilising the most up to date technology, we never let our clients down. Whatever your request, we will go the extra mile to ensure that the job is done right.

Certain tube models, especially those that possess thin walls, need to be manipulated with the utmost care to prevent misshaping. A series of articulating balls that are able to flex on the end of mandrels can be used in this. They support the tube inner diameter (ID) during the bending process.

The placement of said balls matters greatly during the setup of a machine. Usually, a mandrel should be placed so that they line up with the bend’s starting tangent area. The mandrel is then moved slowly forward until the preferred bend is produced. If it’s moved too far forward though, some of the balls could break off within during the bend. This is particularly important to be aware of if working with ultrathin-walled tubing.

Mandrels that have articulating balls fit tightly to the tube’s ID. If the clearance between the surface and mandrel shank is roughly 0.009in, then the clearance between the ID and the balls might be slightly larger, but not by a great amount. A tight fit like this would result in excessive friction should the correct lubrication not be applied.

In terms of lubricants, nonpetroleum-based variants are increasing in popularity. Typically supplied in gel or paste form, they can be diluted to any consistency that is needed by the application.

Speaking in general terms, heavy-duty bending and tube manipulation with tight radii and thick walls normally requires lubricants with greater concentration. In order to prevent premature wear, wiper dies also need adequate lubrication at the contact point.

At Multiform Tubes we take every precaution to ensure that your tubing remains in pristine condition during its alteration. All you need to do is supply us with your specifications and we’ll handle the rest. Let us know if we can help in any way with your tube manipulation services.