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How Swagelok Minnesota | North Dakota | Appleton Uses the CNC Tube Bender 

 


From the demanding oil fields of North Dakota to medical device companies in Minneapolis and paper and pulp facilities in Wisconsin, cnc tube bending from Swagelok Minnesota | North Dakota | Appleton plays a critical role in the design and assembly of these organizations' fluid systems. Tube bending is invaluable for reducing the number of potential leak points by minimizing connections and for improving overall fluid flow efficiency by creating smoother, less restrictive pathways.

In the following sections, we’ll explore some of the benefits of tube bending for fluid systems and spotlight how Swagelok utilizes CNC tube bending machines in the design and assembly of numerous solutions including fluid systems and grab sampling which meet the most demanding requirements.

IAN, a technician at Swagelok Minnesota | North Dakota | Appleton, puts our CNC tube bender to the test, creating precise, high-quality bends with ease! In this video, we’ll walk you through the bending process, showcase the machine’s capabilities, and provide insights into how CNC bending improves efficiency and accuracy.


Why Bent Tubing is Best for Fluid Systems

Choosing bent tubing over pipe systems offers significant advantages for fluid systems. Every connection is a potential leak point, so bending tubing significantly reduces the number of connections needed, making the system much stronger and lowering leak risks. Smooth, continuous bends allow fluids to flow more efficiently by reducing turbulence and pressure drops, optimizing system performance. This approach also saves money and time by reducing material costs and speeding up assembly. Furthermore, bent tubing can be neatly routed to create cleaner, more compact fluid system layouts, and continuous tubing run often handles vibrations and stress better than numerous rigid connections, contributing to a longer lifespan.

 

CNC Bending Process for Tubing

 

1. Plan and Prepare


Get the Blueprints: All plans begin with detailed drawings to understand the exact size and bend needs.  

Load the Program: Project schematics are then loaded to the CNC bending machine

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2. Set Up the Machine

Adjust for Tubing Size: The CNC tube bender is carefully set up for the correct tubing size. This includes choosing the right tools and clamps to hold the tubing firmly without damage during tube bending.

 

3. Bend and Check

Pick the Right Program: The exact program for the tubing is selected, ensuring the machine makes the right bends and movements for the fluid system's design.

Do a Dry Run: The machine runs the program without tubing first. Technicians watch to catch any problems early, preventing mistakes.

Test with a Sample: Then, sample tubing is bent using the actual material to check it by hand.

 

Swagelok CNC Machine Pipe bending

 

 

4. Quality Control and Production

Measure and Adjust: The sample tube is carefully measured. If it's not perfect, immediate, small adjustments are made to the CNC program.

Confirm Accuracy: Once the sample is perfect, production confidently begins. This ensures every tube in the batch meets high quality standards for the fluid system.

Bend All Parts: With the program confirmed, the CNC bender quickly and consistently bends the rest of the tubing, ready for your fluid systems.

Finish Up: Finally, the bent tubing is trimmed to the exact length and deburred. This makes it ready for clean and secure installation into a fluid system.

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Swagelok CNC Tube Bender Measuring

Swagelok CNC Tech PIpe Bending 2

 

 

Swagelok Minnesota | North Dakota | Appleton uses advanced CNC tube bending technology to provide precise, reliable, and cost-effective fluid system components. This process delivers high-quality bent tubing that enhances system performance and durability across various industries.



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