pipe bending die

[KMartin]

Hi Everyone

 

I need to make the bottom half of a bend die – for

Bending tubing. I have drawn out the surface using

The contour of the surface and the radius of the tube (1.5 R).

As per my supervisor he wants me to use a 3.0 dia cutter

.625 Wide on and arbour. I’m using a 3axis mill. Is this

Possible to program. I would rather just use a Ball nose

And rotate the part but he wants me to try and machine

The bend surface all in one shot with the part laying on the table .

And the cutter on and arbour .

 

Thks for any help

 

 

MasterCam X4 MU3

Mill Level 3/Solids

Intel 5150 2.66GHz, 2.0 GB RAM

Windows XP Pro SP3

NVIDIA Quadro FX 3450

[toy4x4]

I make the tube bending dies for our company and I have never heard of what your boss wants to do. I have my parts setting down flat and cut with a ballnose endmill.

[LaszloK]

You are better off using the ball nose end mill. If I understand correctly he wants you to use a 3" dia X .625 slotting type cutter mounted on an arbor. The die will not come out right since that cutter will gouge the part as it turns around the corner. It will take longer to machine the die with a ball nose end mill, but it will come out correct.

[KMartin]

I have done it before using a convex contour cutter but

The cutter was the same radius as the pipe .I just

Used the contour toolpath not a surface.

 

Thks for the

Help I’m able to

Pass this on .

 

 

MasterCam X4 MU3

Mill Level 3/Solids

Intel 5150 2.66GHz, 2.0 GB RAM

Windows XP Pro SP3

NVIDIA Quadro FX 3450

[crazy^millman]

When I made bending dyes in a former life we use to make them on the lathe and then come back and machine the square are after the lathe work was done.

[John Summers]

I have had great success milling bending dies with a flat end mill or face mill (depends on size), and about 45 degrees lead/lag. Large ball mills are very expensive, and don't cut as well as flat mills or face mills. Email me if you need more help.

[[email protected]]

We make chair leg bending dies alot and I just surface them standing up in a 3 axis VMC G19 arcs. They're not a full 180 degrees like a pipe bending die but it still might work for you.