When it comes to metal fabrication, not many people have heard of roll benders. Some refer to them as section bending machines, but the purpose is still the same. They form raw pieces of metal into desired shapes and sizes. If you have ever seen roll benders, you would agree that most are constructed in a vertical steel frame. It is common that the bending portion of the machine is located on one side, with the power and drive of the machine on the opposite side.
Small roll benders are powered by an electric motor with a reducer. The power transmission is accomplished by gear trains or chains combinations. These are units used in small job shops and rod iron fabricating establishments. The new generation of the section bending machines is powered by hydraulic systems. These are used for bending from the smallest bars to very large wide flanged structural beams.
Bending of round sections, pipes and round tubing require special tooling other than what is usually provided standard with roll benders. In special cases with square and rectangular tubing where the wall thickness is low, the manufacturer should be consulted as to whether special all section enveloping tooling is required to avoid the section from collapsing under the bending forces.
The large hydraulic roll benders have a double pump hydraulic system, with one providing the flow for the rotation of the rolls and the other for the extension and retraction of hydraulic cylinders attached to arms carrying the bending rolls. Some roll benders use one main hydraulic motor, usually mounted to an epicyclical in-line reduction gear, which imparts rotation to all three rolls. Another variation is each roll having its individual hydraulic motor/ reduction box combination directly driving it.
Roll benders operates in a way that is the best known way to bend metal, perhaps because it is the least costly. Roll benders uses an appropriate size die that adjusts to the steel tube, angle, pipe, channel, bar or steel beam and revolves at the same peripheral speed, turning in opposite directions. As the metal passes through the roll, the machine applies pressure to bend the tubing or the beam to the desired radius.
Roll benders is effective when the material - metal, plastic, glass, whatever - must be bent a great deal. For instance, it can produce metal bends up to 360 degrees. This method is ideal for producing steel coils, spiral staircases and the like.
There are different kinds of rolling processes. Hot rolling, which is above the recrystallization temperature, mostly produces sheet metal. Most non-ferrous metal structures are rolled cold, but steel is usually rolled hot. Because roll benders requires less set-up work and uses pre-made dies, the cost is less than other ways to bend and form steel, so companies often choose this when it suits their specifications.
For all you roll benders needs, contact Tauring Group USA in Ontario, California. They have a variety of roll benders and similar machinery. Their website address is www.tauringroupusa.com and their contact details are 909-476-8007.