Bending pipe to a tight radius often requires the use of an internal mandrel to keep the round pipe from becoming oval, wrinkling or cracking during the bending process. Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) usually do not have the expertise to do mandrel bending of pipe. Or they choose to subcontract this work because specialists can do it better, faster, and/or less expensively.
A customer required a flat-back-u shape made from 4in Schedule 40 pipe with two 90 degree bends of 15in center-line radii. Each end has a 15.4in straight tangent. The flat section between the two radii measures 8.11in. The customer supplied a tight-fitting template as a go/no go gauge.
Seeing some 200 of these in the shop, I was curious as to the application. Was it for process piping or for bollards? It looked too heavy for playground equipment. It turns out that the requirement was for a heavy duty hitch for tractors. A new design, Chicago Metal provided two samples which were successfully tested before the remaining parts were formed.
I asked how the customer found our company. After being turned down at a number of rolling houses, he called one of his regular suppliers who referred him to us. Referrals are probably the most common way specialty fabricators get their business.
Read more information on mandrels for bending.
