In addition, it is not recommended for minor bending as it results in minor bending deformation (mandrel required). Most of the time, cold bends are used for pipes or pipes that require large bends.
Cold bending process is generally performed using molds to press the material to a shape.
Figure 1 Hot bending VS Cold bending
BENEFITS OF COLD BENDING
No fuel is needed to heat the steel before cold bending, saving extra time and energy to heat and cool the steel.
The surface of the cold-bent workpiece is smoother and more polished, and usually reduces the deformation of the workpiece.
Another benefit is increased strength during cold bending. Because working steel at high temperatures means that it crystallizes after processing, it is not stronger than raw steel. Heating already cold-bent steel will cause the material to lose the additional strengthening gained from the process, allowing the steel to restore its internal crystal structure.
The trade-off between cold and hot working processes is that in exchange for the added strength of cold working the steel can become more brittle, while heat worked steel generally retains greater ductility.
WHY CHOOSE COLD BENDING?
With cold bending service, you will be able to use a variety of metal alloys.Because hot bending will expose the profile to high temperatures, the performance of many metals will be destroyed or greatly weakened. No matter what metal you use, you can’t risk weakening the metal’s properties.Therefore, the cold bending method will be your best choice.
COLD BENDING OF PIPE BENDING
Cold bending is any type of bending that does not use any extra heat to bend a pipe. The process is typically performed by winding pipes or other material around a mold or shape that causes the pipe to bend.
Cold bending of the tube bending process is quite fast, even faster, because it does not need to be cooled or treated in any special way after bending is complete. Since the machines used for cold bending are generally not very expensive, and since they are not particularly complex or advanced, cold bending can be a good option for small companies without a large budget.
Figure 2 BLMA Cold bending of Pipe bending