The Comprehensive Guide to Tooling and Accessories at Tubela

Precision, Versatility, and Custom Solutions

At Tubela Engineering, we pride ourselves on providing extensive tooling and accessories that complement our tube and pipe-bending machines. 

Whether you need standard tools or bespoke solutions, our products are designed to meet the diverse needs of industries such as construction, automotive, aerospace, and petrochemical. 

Let’s explore the various types of tooling and accessories available at Tubela and how they enhance the performance of your bending equipment.

1. Formers and Guides for Precise Bending

Formers and guides are essential for tube and pipe bending machines, helping to ensure precise, accurate bends. At Tubela, we offer a variety of formers and guides tailored to different machines and applications. These tools are crucial in preventing deformation and ensuring smooth, even bends across materials ranging from mild steel to stainless steel and more exotic alloys like CDS and T45.

• Pipe Formers: Designed for hydraulic pipe bending machines, our pipe formers come in several sizes and are available for specific materials such as gas and black pipe. These formers ensure clean, accurate bends, even in thicker-walled materials​.

• Thin-Walled Bending Kits: We offer specialised kits such as the Tubela Model 3 Thin-Walled Bending Kit for users working with thin-walled materials like aluminium or lightweight steel. This kit includes formers and guides optimised for minimising distortion while maintaining bend accuracy​.

2. Tooling for Square and Section Materials

Bending square and section tubing require specialised tooling to achieve precise, repeatable results. Tubela provides a range of square tooling options for various machines, including the Model 32 SQUARE Tooling and Model 3 SQUARE Tooling​. These tools are ideal for industries like architectural steelwork, where square tubing is commonly used for handrails, frames, and structural elements.

• Applications: Square tooling is frequently utilised in industries such as construction, automotive, and furniture design, where structural integrity and aesthetic appearance are equally important. The precise control over the bend radius helps maintain the material's original cross-sectional shape without distortion​.

3. Custom Tooling for Non-Standard Bending Radii

Sometimes, standard tooling doesn’t fit the unique requirements of a project. That’s where Tubela’s custom tooling solutions come into play. We can design and manufacture formers for non-standard centerline radii, ensuring that your bending machine suits your specific needs​. Custom tooling can also be made from durable materials such as stainless steel, which is ideal for use in highly specialised industries like petrochemical and nuclear.

• Why Choose Custom Tooling: Custom tooling provides the flexibility to bend materials to precise specifications without compromising the structural integrity of the tube or pipe. This is particularly useful in critical applications, such as nuclear power plants or chemical processing facilities, where safety is paramount​.

4. Rollers and Twin Roller Holders

Rollers play a crucial role in maintaining the alignment and smoothness of the bending process. At Tubela, we offer a range of rollers and twin roller holders specifically designed for machines like the CBC UNI42, UNI60, and UNI70. These rollers ensure that the material feeds through the machine smoothly, reducing friction and ensuring consistent bends across the entire length of the tube​.

• Applications: Rollers are indispensable for long, continuous bends, particularly in railings, frames, and structural components where the material must maintain its integrity throughout the bending process. Our twin roller holders ensure that even heavy-duty materials such as steel and aluminium are precisely bent​.

5. Specialised Tooling for Hygiene-Sensitive Industries

Maintaining hygiene standards is crucial for industries like food processing, pharmaceuticals, and chemical manufacturing. Tubela offers specialised stainless steel tooling designed to meet the rigorous demands of these sectors​. Stainless steel is highly resistant to corrosion, making it ideal for applications where hygiene and durability are paramount.

• Why Stainless Steel Tooling? Stainless steel is the material of choice for hygiene-sensitive industries because it prevents bacterial growth and is easy to clean. Tubela’s stainless steel tooling ensures that your tube and pipe bending processes meet stringent cleanliness standards while maintaining precision and efficiency​.

6. Seal Kits for Maintenance and Longevity

Regular maintenance is critical to ensuring the longevity of your bending equipment. Tubela offers various machine seal kits, including the M-series Ram 1st Aid Seal Kit and the Staffa A1 Round Body 1st Aid Seal Kit​.

These kits are designed to keep your hydraulic systems running smoothly, minimising downtime and extending the lifespan of your equipment.

• Importance of Seal Kits: Seals in hydraulic systems wear out over time due to constant pressure and temperature fluctuations. Replacing these seals promptly prevents leaks, ensures consistent performance, and reduces the risk of catastrophic equipment failure​.

7. Mandrel Bending Tooling

For industries that require tight radius bending, such as automotive exhaust systems or aerospace tubing, mandrel bending tooling is essential. Mandrel bending prevents the tube from collapsing during the bend, especially when working with thin-walled materials. Tubela provides mandrel attachments that can be added to existing machines like the CBC UNI60 and UNI70, offering users the ability to achieve bends with extremely tight radii without deformation.​

• Applications: Mandrel bending is commonly used in the manufacturing of exhaust systems, fuel lines, and hydraulic tubing, where precision is key, and the structural integrity of the material must be preserved throughout the bending process.

8. Accessories for Enhanced Functionality

In addition to formers, rollers, and guides, Tubela offers a wide range of accessories that enhance the functionality and versatility of your bending machine. These include plane of bend clamps, digital angle rules, and tube notching tools​.

These accessories are designed to streamline the bending process, offering users greater control and precision during operation.

• Digital Angle Rules: Perfect for measuring and setting precise bend angles, digital angle rules ensure that every bend meets exact specifications. This is especially important in applications where consistency and accuracy are critical​.

Why Buy Tooling from Tubela?

Choosing Tubela for your tooling needs comes with several benefits:

• Extensive Range: We offer comprehensive tooling solutions, from standard formers and guides to custom-made tooling for specialised applications.

• Industry Expertise: With over 30 years of experience in the industry, Tubela is a trusted name in tube and pipe bending. We understand the complexities of different industries and tailor our tooling solutions accordingly​.

• Custom Solutions: If you need something outside the standard offerings, Tubela can design and manufacture bespoke tooling to meet your exact requirements​(.

• Quality Assurance: All tooling products are manufactured to the highest standards, ensuring durability and precision with every use.

In conclusion, Tubela is your one-stop shop for all tube and pipe-bending tooling needs. Whether you require standard formers, mandrel bending equipment, or custom solutions for specialised applications, Tubela’s wide range of products and expertise ensures you have everything you need to achieve precise, repeatable bends. For more information or to discuss your specific requirements, contact us today.

FAQs based on The Comprehensive Guide to Tooling and Accessories at Tubela:

1. What are pipe formers, and how do they aid bending?
   Pipe formers prevent deformation during bends, ensuring smooth and accurate results, particularly for hydraulic pipe bending machines.

2. What tooling is available for square and section materials?
   Tubela offers specialised square tooling, such as the Model 32 SQUARE, ideal for industries like construction and automotive.

3. Can Tubela provide custom tooling for unique bend requirements?
   Yes, Tubela can create bespoke formers for non-standard centerline radii, tailored to your specific project needs.

4. What industries benefit from Tubela’s stainless steel tooling?
   Stainless steel tooling is essential for hygiene-sensitive industries like food processing, pharmaceuticals, and chemical manufacturing.

5. Why are rollers important in the bending process?
   Rollers help maintain alignment and reduce friction, ensuring consistent bends across long tubes, particularly in structural components.

6. What is the purpose of mandrel bending tooling?
   Mandrel bending is essential for achieving tight radii without deformation, particularly for thin-walled materials in automotive or aerospace industries.

7. How does Tubela help extend the life of bending machines?
   Tubela provides seal kits like the M-series Ram 1st Aid Seal Kit to maintain hydraulic systems, ensuring longevity and minimising downtime.

8. What accessories enhance the functionality of Tubela’s machines?
   Accessories like digital angle rules and plane of bend clamps improve precision and control during the bending process.

9. What makes Tubela’s custom tooling beneficial for nuclear and petrochemical industries?
   Tubela’s custom tooling, made from durable materials like stainless steel, ensures precision and safety in highly specialised and critical applications.

10. Why choose Tubela for your tooling needs?
    With over 30 years of industry experience, Tubela offers a wide range of standard and custom tooling solutions, ensuring durability and precision in every use.

• Phone: 01371 859 100
• Email: [email protected]