If metal fabrication and manufacturing is your bread and butter, then you want to make sure that work tasks are performed properly as well as timely. Well, this can be achieved in a jiffy with a hydraulic pipe bender. Compared to its manually-operated counterparts, it can be utilized to bend different metal pipes as well as electrical conduits to specific angles.
On the one hand, it is safe to say that a hydraulic pipe bender is a worthwhile investment, especially if your business puts a premium on efficiency. On the other hand, once you get a hold of this essential equipment, it is best to fully understand how it works and perform caution when operating. This, to ensure that you can use it to the fullest without compromising the welfare of your employees and hampering business operations.
Without further ado, here are the factors that you need to pay attention to when operating a hydraulic pipe bender.
Thoroughly inspect your hydraulic pipe bender
First thing’s first: make a thorough inspection of your pipe bending machine before trying it for the first time. Remember, just because something is brand new doesn’t mean that you can be complacent since nothing is going to go wrong. Along the way, check the overall quality of the machine, paying particular attention to tubing, wiring, frame, and the like. Along the way, look for cracked, bent, broken, or missing parts.
In case you find issues during inspection, don’t operate your hydraulic pipe bender until they have been resolved. By doing so you can significantly reduce the probability of collapse accidents, shock injury, and so on.
Feeding the material
Feeding materials into a pipe bending machine is easy, but because of your excitement, you may neglect a couple of points. If you need help regarding this, you can check these easy steps that can deliver successful operations.
- Make sure that the work area is appropriately set and free from bystanders. Also, the on/off button should be in the off position. Afterward, mark the pipe so that you know where it needs to be bent.
- Choose the right bending form for your pipe. Mark the forms with their catalog number, size, and the like. Afterward, place them on the end of the ram.
- Carefully place the pipe in the frame and place supports beneath the pipe to ensure that it is kept in the proper bending position. This measure is essential because it prevents your hydraulic pipe bender from tipping over when in operation.
- Put an appropriate amount of grease on the corner bracket where the pipes make contact and make sure that the supports are properly placed in their assigned symmetrical holes. This ensures that they won’t be damaged when in operation.
- Shut the frame; then insert the support pins in the corner with the use of frame wings. Next, align the corner brackets in such a way that the specific marks on the angle indicators are aligned with the mark above the ring. Bear in mind that open-wing pipe bending machines don’t come with angle indicators, but make sure that the pins are properly and fully inserted into the lower leaf so that the pipe as well as the machine are stable.
- Also, when in use, don’t reach over or place hands, fingers, and basically any part of your body. Remember, accidents are inevitable and it’s best to be cautious all the time.
Summing up
By taking note of the aforementioned measures, you can achieve proper and safe operation. As a result, you can tap the full potential of your metal fabrication as well as manufacturing business.
