The Process of Bending Pipes for Components of Aircraft Frames and Trusses

Abstract

Demand for bent pipe profiles in various industrial sectors is increasing due to considerations necessitating lightweight construction, safety, as well as space and cost savings. Lightweight construction is becoming increasingly important for economic and ecological reasons. This can be seen in the automotive and aerospace industries, as well as in civil engineering, where curved structures are often required. In order to reduce the weight of the aircraft, the aviation industry often uses spatial truss structures with bent elements. The challenge is to meet all of the stringent requirements regarding design, safety, structure, size, cost, etc., without compromising a structure's stiffness. Profiles with complicated cross-sections and so-called tailored tubes are increasingly used in the production of automotive and aircraft structures (General Aviation). Pipe and profile bending technologies are constantly being improved upon to meet the growing expectations of customers and ensure greater process efficiency. Currently, efforts are being made to increase the level of automation in this area by combining the functionality of modern bending machines with the capabilities of industrial robots. CNC bending machines currently dominate the industrial pipe bending process. A technologically advanced bending machine allows for the production of increasingly complex shapes and profiles.

Keywords

• forming
• bending
• tube bending
• steel tube bending
• tube springback