Tube End Forming | A Virtual Showcase

Rotary tube end forming is the process of using spinning tooling to form the end of a tube from inside or outside of the diameter. Many applications can be achieved using this type of end forming depending upon the diameter size and material type at hand. Forms such as flares, beads, grooves, punches, slots, norma ball, knurls, cutoffs, and more can be formed across a variety of metals such as 304, 316, & 409 stainless steel, copper, mild steel, nickel-copper, aluminum, galvanized steel, titanium, Inconel, and others by utilizing a rotary end forming process. Many of these tube end forms are used extensively throughout industries such automotive, aerospace, heavy truck, recreation/powersports, water transfer, and more. Proto-1 offers many kinds of rotary end forming machines to provide solutions for our customers.  Proto-1 can also provide a customized approach to meet the customer expectations and cycle times.  Among those various rotary machines, the RFM-6 is one of our most popular. Scroll down to see more information and digital content regarding the RFM-6 tube end forming machine. 

RFM-6 Tube End Forming Machine

DESCRIPTION:

The RFM-6 is a rotary end forming and tube cut-off machine for high volumes of tube and pipe from 1.5″- 6.0″ diameter. End forming applications on the RFM-6 include the following: trimming and cut-off, tube reducing, slotting, hole punch, beading, knurl, flaring, notching, large bead, and Norma Ball, grooving, and inverted flaring. The RFM-6 comes in a single or double head variant for multiple operation end forms that require more than one set of tooling. Automation can be integrated for increased efficiency and safety. Operations like tube cut off after bend are ideal for the RFM-6 as the cutoff process leaves a clean chip-less cut, replacing the need for a saw operation. Cycle times as quick as 4 seconds can be achieve depending upon the end forming application. Proto-1 also offers machines in a larger diameters as well as customized to meet the customers requirement. 

Segmented tube end forming is the process of utilizing an inner wedge with inner or outer segments to expand or reduce the end of a tube or pipe. Proto-1 offers two different lines of segmented machines. Read the description below to see what these two lines of machines are capable of. 

Our Tube Sizing Machine (TSM) line of equipment is ideal for high volume, simple expansions up to 1 inch on diameter (reductions can be done 0.25″ on diameter). These machines provide a quick and effective way to expand tube and pipe for applications such as a slip fit. Unlike other sizers, our TSM line of machines can provide reductions on tube length up to 8 inches on some models. Tooling changeover is significantly faster with our segmented tube end forming machine. These machines do not have dies that require changeover but rather tooling fingers that can be swapped out in the matter of minutes. Tooling cost is inexpensive compared to other forms of tube end forming. 

The Indexing Segment Machine (ISM) is another line of segmented machines that Proto-1 offers. Indexing Segment machines use four jaws to hold the tube in place while inner segments expand, retract, and index the material into the jaw cavity. This process is capable of producing parts with critical tolerances such as marmon beads and holding concentricity on expansions up to 1 inch in diameter of change. Unlike rotary process on large beads, segmented end forming forms parts with less wall thinning. Bent parts can also be formed with our line of index segment tube end forming machines. Index segment machines require minimal lubrication in most end form applications. Aside from expansions, the ISM line of machines is capable of reductions, beads, balls, and more. 

TSM-3.5 Tube End Forming Machine

DESCRIPTION:

The TSM-3.5 is a segmented sizing machine for tube and pipe from 1.0″- 3.5″ diameter.

Proto-1’s TSM-3.5 End Form Applications: tube reducing, slotting, notching, punching, and tube expansion

DESCRIPTION:

The ISM-6 is an auto indexing segmented end forming machine for 1.5″ – 6″ tube and pipe. Programmable indexing for center tooling with outer jaws maintains correct form and concentricity.

Proto-1’s ISM-6 End Form Applications: tube reducing, tube expansion, beading, flaring, large bead, and Norma Ball.

Tube deburring is the process of removing burrs from the end of tube and pipe. Deburring is often needed before an end forming application can take place. Burrs can prevent proper end forming and result in out of tolerance parts, tooling hang-ups, and other trouble shooting issues. Proto-1 Manufacturing utilizes our patented Roto-D-Bur® Head that uses carbide pins and inserts to chamfer and remove burrs on the inside and outside diameter of the part at the same time.  The tooling will outperform traditional means such as wire brushes or sanding discs.  Take the time to discover what our RDM-8 tube deburring machine can do below! 

RDM-8 Tube Deburring Machine

DESCRIPTION:

The RDM-8 is a tube deburring machine for tube and pipe from 0.125″- 8.0″ diameter.