Aluminium is extensively used in the world around us. Because of its properties and cost effectiveness, aluminium is used in building pipes for plumbing, in constructing windows and window sills, in the production of various kitchen utensils like pots, pans, serving spoons etc. and most of all in the production of wires.
Aluminium is also very perforated aluminium sheet lightweight and can easily be moulded into different specifications according to requirement and is thereby used in producing a variety of products. One of the commonly used methods to bend aluminium pipes is the Induction Method.
In the Induction Method, heat is applied to the part of the aluminium pipe from where it has to be bent. The heat is produced with the help of a coil that can be raised to very high temperatures ranging from 800 to 2200 degrees. The temperature is set according to the degree of bend that is required along with the thickness of the pipe.
When the coil raises the temperature of the aluminium, pressure can then be applied on it to create the bend. It is easy to bend the metal when the temperature is high on the metal. After the bending process is complete, the pipe is then cooled down with the help of water spray or air spray.
Induction bending is a popular method because in this method, heat is only applied to the specific area which has to bent, and that is why the rest of the pipe is not affected by it. Moreover because you can achieve the bend of the desired radii through this method, you don’t need to cut the pipe and then fix mechanical and/or joints to it. The induction method will therefore give a smooth finish where the bend is.
The induction method is also preferred in aluminium bending because it keeps the overall cost down. The amount of energy that is required is minimum and this method also doesn’t require sand filling and internal mandrels like other processes do and this further reduces the cost and keeps the process fairly simple.
Moreover, the whole process doesn’t take that long and doesn’t require a whole lot of equipment either. So not only do you save time and effort but a whole lot of money too. All in all, the induction bending method is quite a lucrative method and can be used for aluminium sheets as well as pipes.