How to flare a copper tube

How to flare or bead copper tubes with your own hands

When installing or repairing pipelines, heating or cooling devices, it may be necessary to connect copper pipes to each other or to other structural elements. To create a strong connection, you have to resort to flaring - expanding the edge of the pipe and giving it the shape of a socket, which allows you to connect structural elements without loss of throughput.

The essence of the process

Pipes in heat generating and heat exchange units usually have a small diameter. Therefore, when butt welding such pipes, the burr formed inside significantly reduces the throughput of the unit, disrupting the performance of the pipeline.

The use of shaped elements inserted into the pipes being connected leads to the same result - the internal cross-section is reduced.

If, before connecting, the end of the pipe is widened and then put on another pipe, fitting or pipe of the connected device, loss of throughput can be avoided.

Note! Flaring, beading or beading is the expansion of one or both ends of the pipe and changing the shape of the edge. This forming makes it possible to make a socket of the desired shape at the end of a straight copper tube, which is necessary for connecting it with other structural elements.

The essence of the process is that a thin layer of metal softens under mechanical load and gradually takes on the desired shape. This increases the surface area and reduces the wall thickness of the pipe edge.

You can roll a pipe from any material, but in most cases it is technically difficult and does not justify the labor costs, since you can always buy either ready-made socket products or the necessary connecting elements.

At home, it is mainly copper tubes that are flared, which are relatively easy to deform due to the softness and elasticity of copper.

Flaring technology and stages

Copper tubes are connected to each other or to other elements of the pipe structure by welding or coupling.

Depending on the connection method (fitting or welded), the technology for preliminary preparation of the pipe edge differs.

• To complete the welded assembly, the end of the pipe is expanded - the hole is expanded until its internal diameter becomes 0.1-0.2 mm larger than the external diameter of the attached part. The gap between the elements to be connected will be filled with solder during the soldering process, which will ensure the strength and tightness of the assembly.
• To make a fitting connection between parts, the hole in the copper tube is not simply expanded to the required size, but a chamfer of the desired shape is prepared at the end, usually at an angle of 45⁰. This increases the contact area, thereby ensuring the reliability of the unit. The natural plasticity of copper also helps with this - when the joint is compressed with a fitting, the softened metal tightly grips the part attached to the pipe and fills all the gaps.

Regardless of the flaring task, the process steps are the same:

• The pipe is cut strictly perpendicularly, the edges and the outer surface near the cut are cleaned, and if the pipe was deformed during cutting, for example, flattened, the round shape of its cross-section is restored. Even partial failure to complete this step can lead to the fact that the connection will not be reliable and will easily depressurize.
• Fix the pipe in the matrix of the flaring tool or vice so as to leave approximately 5-6 mm of the pipe free. If the assembly will be made using the fitting method, first put a crimp nut on the pipe and only then fix the pipe in the holder. Putting a crimp nut on a flared pipe is problematic.
• A stamp of the required size is inserted into the end of the pipe and gradually screwed inward. In this case, the metal softens, stretches, and the edge of the pipe takes on a conical shape.
• Remove the expander from the pipe, release it from the holder and carefully inspect the resulting socket. If burrs are found along the edge, they are cleaned off.

It is important! If the bell has cracks, its edges are not parallel to each other or are skewed relative to the axis of the pipe, it is necessary to cut off the entire flared edge and repeat the beading process from the beginning.

Tools

You can increase the diameter of a soft and elastic copper pipe manually by simply pulling it onto a conical blank of a suitable size.

However, it is very difficult to obtain a bell with the correct geometry using this artisanal method. The walls may have uneven thickness, causing thinner ones to stretch too much and thick ones not to stretch at all. The force applied by a person is also uneven, so it is possible that the pipe will bend during operation and the blank will be skewed, as a result of which the socket will turn out to be asymmetrical and skewed.

To make the beading carefully and form a socket of the desired shape from the edge of the pipe, which can subsequently ensure a reliable connection of structural elements, various tools are used.

Expander

This is a manual mechanism in which flaring is carried out simply by applying force, just like when using a conical blank. The expander consists of two handles and an expander - a sliding conical element that is inserted into the pipe. When the levers are acted upon, parts of the expander diverge in different directions, stretching the pipe.

The expander is inexpensive and allows you to get the job done quickly and without much labor. However, it is difficult to obtain high-quality results using this tool. The walls stretch unevenly, and thinner sections may rupture.

Cone flaring machine

This is a small set of two tools: a matrix and the flaring machine itself.

The matrix is ​​a vice with several cylindrical holes, widened at the top to 45⁰. The hole sizes correspond to standard pipe diameters.

The flaring machine consists of:

• housings with guides,
• conical expander,
• control mechanism,
• power screw.

When the power screw that activates the control mechanism rotates, the expander is gradually screwed into the edge of the pipe, expanding it. The guides ensure that the relative position of the pipe and the expander remains constant, so that there are no distortions and a smooth and neat socket is obtained.

Mechanical flaring machine

This tool is similar to the previous one, but its working body is not a cone, but a set of rollers. The rollers do not stretch, but roll out the walls of the pipe, expanding it evenly and gradually, due to which the metal has the same thickness over the entire flared surface, and the socket is neat and symmetrical.

Electric flaring machine

Such a rolling apparatus, in addition to a mechanical flaring machine, has an electric drive, due to which pipe expansion work is completed faster and with less labor.

Recommendations for flaring

Independent beading of copper tubes is an easy task only if you have practical experience. At the same time, the tightness and reliability of the connections made depend on the quality of flaring.

Therefore, before installing a copper pipeline, installing or repairing heat-generating devices, it is better to practice on pipes of different diameters.

Note! When choosing a tool for flaring, you should evaluate its necessity and rationality of purchase.

A specialist professionally involved in the repair of pipelines or equipment will need a set of professional tools, which, in addition to a flaring tool, includes a pipe edger, a pipe bender and a pipe cutter. For rare repair work, an inexpensive flaring tool with a minimum set of attachments will suffice.

Recommendations to help you perform flaring correctly:

• Before starting work, carefully check the pipe: there should be no burrs or debris on it, the edge and walls should be smooth and free of bends, only pipes with a round cross-section are allowed for flaring.
• During flaring, it is important to ensure that the expanding tip does not skew relative to the pipe. Otherwise, the socket will be asymmetrical and will not be able to provide a reliable connection.
• When expanding a pipe manually, the taper blank should be screwed in rather than pressed into the hole. This will help distribute the force and avoid damaging the pipe.
• It is better to carry out beading of a pipe with an expander in two or three stages. First, widen the edge a little, and then turn the expander and stretch the pipe to the desired diameter.
• When installing a pipe into the die of a rolling machine, you should select the hole that exactly matches the diameter of the pipe.
• Before flaring, the outer surface of the tube is treated with an abrasive sponge to remove dust and debris and ensure reliable fixation in the holder. If this is not done, the tube will slip in the die, interfering with the flaring process.

Source: https://InfoTruby.ru/svoimi-rukami/razvaltsovka-mednyh-trub

Flaring copper tubes: how to do it correctly, a set of tools and accessories for do-it-yourself work

When installing copper piping systems, it is often necessary to expand the cut end of the pipe - for installing climate control systems or soldering heating and water supply pipelines.

I greet our dear reader and offer an article about what flaring of copper tubes is, in what situations it is used and how to do it yourself.

What is it and why is flaring necessary?

Flaring is a radial uniform expansion of the walls of a copper pipe. When flaring, a conical expansion of only the end of the pipe or expansion of a sufficiently long section can be carried out, in which a sleeve is formed - a section of larger diameter.

The need for such deformation at home arises:

• When installing air conditioning systems.
• When repairing refrigerators, heat exchangers, cars, household appliances, heat pumps.
• When installing heating and water supply systems.

When installing using welding (soldering), the ends of copper pipes are flared in the form of a coupling, inserted into a pipe of the original diameter and welded. Flaring is used less frequently than soldering with fittings, as this method is slightly less reliable, but sometimes fittings may be in short supply or not available for repair work.

The need for flaring arises if the necessary fittings are not at hand, it is not possible to purchase a copper tube of the required diameter, or a very precise adjustment of the size of the tube along the internal section is required. In practice, flaring is used when installing climate control equipment, in cars, and during urgent repair work, when copper tubes available on the farm are used.

Ways to increase pipe diameter

Copper is very malleable, and if you only need to flare a few pieces, you can try stretching the ends using a suitable cone, pulling the copper blank over it by hand. This method requires force and does not guarantee a good quality socket.

The best results are obtained by mechanical devices for flaring - expanders and mechanical flaring machines. If you are installing copper pipe systems or climate control equipment, you can purchase an electric flaring machine.

Flaring stages

To obtain a high-quality cone or expansion coupling at the end of a pipe, it is necessary to follow the correct work procedure.

Flaring as a process of deformation of the ends of copper pipes includes the following steps:

• Cut off the pipe blank. Copper is a very soft material, so it is necessary to use a quality pipe cutter designed for soft pipes made of non-ferrous metals.
• After cutting even with a high-quality pipe cutter, the copper pipe becomes jammed and its internal diameter decreases. Therefore, with the help of a special device - a rimmer - a chamfer is removed from the inside of the workpiece, and the shape is restored.

• Clean the end of the tube from burrs, remove copper shavings, dust, dirt, and grease.
• The workpiece is inserted into the flaring machine and rotated until a small socket is obtained with a wall angle of 45° to the pipe axis.
• Take out the product, try it on to see if it is the right size for further installation with a union nut. If the diameter of the socket is insufficient, then the flaring operation is repeated. An insufficient socket during installation creates an unreliable connection: water leakage is unpleasant, refrigerant leakage is dangerous, since it consists of toxic fluorocarbons.
• Then the pipe is used for its intended purpose.

All the details of flaring a copper tube can be seen in the video.

Tools and accessories for rolling

For high-quality expansion of pipe ends, a special tool is used - mechanical or electrically driven. The use of cones or templates and manual expansion are used only for manual rolling of single pipes. If you have to install a heating system or plumbing, it makes sense to purchase a mechanical flaring machine.

Tips for choosing a tool

Before purchasing devices, it is worth assessing the need for such a step. Branded professional tools are very expensive and only pay off if you are professionally involved in the installation of climate control or refrigeration equipment or copper heating systems.

To install heating and water supply systems in the house, it is worth purchasing a budget mechanical model. It is worth considering the option of renting or from friends. Mechanical models provide good quality processing of workpieces - the thickness of the walls of the socket is the same, without cracks or tears, with a smooth surface.

In any case, you should buy the tool in specialized stores or construction supermarkets, with a receipt and an issued passport, with a guarantee and a performance check by the seller.

Recommendations for performing flaring at home

With any processing method, it is necessary to strive to obtain a smooth mirror surface of the bell without grooves, dents, tears and distortions, and different wall thicknesses. The tightness of the connections subsequently depends on the quality of flaring.

It is advisable to carry out flaring using a special tool - this ensures at least acceptable quality of the products. Uneven stretching of the wall and cracks may in the future provoke the occurrence of ruptures, and, as a result, a violation of the tightness of copper pipelines. A leak of water or freon from the air conditioning system can cause a lot of trouble.

How to make a tool

If you need to flare just one copper tube, you can clamp it in a vice and carefully screw in a cone of the appropriate diameter. The cone mandrel will have to be turned or ordered from a turner. Sometimes a bearing ball welded to a rod is used.

If you need several tubes, and buying a tool is not part of your plans, you can make a simple device with your own hands. You will need two pieces of corner 32x32 or 49x40 mm. You can use sections of profile pipe. The corners are fastened together with bolts (M8) and nuts.

Several holes are drilled in the center of the structure for different diameters of the processed tubes. The holes are chamfered. Mandrels (cones, dies) are turned on a lathe (ordered from a turner) in accordance with the dimensions shown in the figure.

It is better to use structural carbon or alloy steel; regular St.3 is too soft.

How to flare a copper tube

The workpiece is clamped in the manufactured fixture. The end of the workpiece should protrude 5-6 mm above the level of the holder. Then a conical mandrel stamp is carefully and slowly screwed into the tube, the edge of the tube expands and forms a socket.

Then the punch is pulled out, the shape and dimensions of the socket are checked, and, if necessary, the expansion parameters are corrected using a cone.

Conclusion

I wish good luck to the dear reader in his endless work of arranging his own home. Let this article add another grain of useful knowledge and skills to the reader on the issue of installing copper engineering systems. Subscribe to the newsletter of articles on the site, share useful information with friends on social networks.

(2 5,00 out of 5)

Source: https://vseotrube.ru/montazh-i-remont/razvaltsovka-mednyh-trubok

Tools and devices for flaring copper tubes at home - Machine

When installing copper piping systems, it is often necessary to expand the cut end of the pipe - for installing climate control systems or soldering heating and water supply pipelines.

I greet our dear reader and offer an article about what flaring of copper tubes is, in what situations it is used and how to do it yourself.

How to flare a copper tube, how to flare a copper tube with your own hands

Pipes connected to different parts or to each other should not leak. For this purpose, the contacting edges are deformed. The technology is called rolling - increasing the edge of the pipe at an angle. This is the deformation of a section of a part. We'll tell you how to flare a copper tube yourself.

Tubes with socket

Features of rolling depending on the technological processes of pipe fastening

Which flaring option to choose depends on the method of fastening copper tubes to each other or to structural parts:

1. If welding is planned, the hole is enlarged to the required size. The internal diameter of the pipe must exceed the external diameter of the element being connected by 0.1 - 0.2 mm. The gap between them is filled with tin or other solder. This will ensure reliable insulation.
2. If the elements are connected by a coupling, the hole is not only enlarged, but also a bell is made at an angle of 45º. The increased contact area will increase the reliability of the connection.

The rolling stages are the same, regardless of the technology for fastening the elements.

Algorithm of actions

How to make rolling of copper tubes with your own hands? Actions must be taken in the following sequence:

Tube cutting device

The pipe must be cut perpendicularly, the edge must be smooth.

1. It is important to thoroughly clean the outer cut area and its edges. If deformation occurs during cutting, it is necessary to restore the shape of the pipe.
2. The next step is to fasten the element in the matrix of a special tool for increasing the diameter or in a vice. 5 mm of the end of the part must be left free. If a fitting fastening is intended, a crimp nut is installed on the element before fixing it.
3. It is necessary to place an expansion cone of a suitable size in the hole and screw it in. After this action, the copper material will stretch, and the end of the part will gradually take the shape of a cone.
4. The next step is to remove the expander and remove the element to be processed from the holder.

Next, you should inspect the resulting socket. If there are any unevenness, scratches, or microchips left, they must be cleaned. After flaring the tube, you need to wait until it cools down to room temperature and only then begin bonding.

Important! Sometimes, after flaring, cracks appear in the treated area of ​​the tube, and the edges are beveled relative to the axis. Then the processed edge will have to be cut off and start all over again.

Devices and instruments

To do flaring at home, you need to prepare tools. It is possible for a person without experience to increase the edge of a copper tube manually by pulling it onto a conical blank. The disadvantage of this processing method: it will be difficult to obtain a socket with the given dimensions, because the master applies uneven force. This flaring distorts the part. The flaw can be avoided by using special tools.

The construction market offers devices for expanding the diameter of copper products with manual or electric drive. Power tools are used for flaring pipelines and for other purposes. For example, bending at the desired angle. All devices operate on the principle of plastic deformation, which ensures that the internal surfaces of the pipe remain smooth during the process of expanding the diameter of the product.

Flaring tool kit

Sample

This is the simplest device - a cone-shaped blank. Made from any metal alloy that is harder than copper. The main advantage of the template is its low price. Moreover, it is easy to use. But this method of increasing the diameter of the product is often accompanied by ruptures in the walls.

Expander

This is a manual device in which an increase in the diameter of copper pipes occurs as a result of the use of force. The device consists of 2 levers and a sliding cone onto which the element being processed is mounted.

When you press on the handles of the expander, the expander elements diverge in different directions, and the copper product stretches. This inexpensive device does not guarantee high-quality results.

When using it, it is impossible to control the thickness of the pipe; ruptures may occur in thinner areas.

It is advisable to perform flaring of the product with an expander in two steps. First, slightly widen the edge, then rotate the tool and stretch the pipe to the required diameter.

Expander

Mechanical and electrical tools

The mechanical device is similar to a cone one, only its working element is a set of rollers. They do not act by stretching, but by evenly rolling out the walls of the pipes. This technology ensures the same material thickness throughout the entire treated area. Thanks to this, the internal surfaces of the pipe remain smooth during the rolling process, and the socket is neat and symmetrical.

An electric device differs from a mechanical one in the presence of an electric drive. It significantly reduces the process time and does not require any effort.

Flaring machine powered by electricity

Important! A craftsman faced with choosing a tool for rolling must determine its necessity. For repairs, a simple device with a simple set of attachments is sufficient. It would be advisable for a specialist who lays and repairs pipelines to buy a professional set.

Helpful tips for completing the process

The tightness and reliability of the fastening depends on how well the work is done. To do flaring yourself and get a good result, you need experience. If you lack the skills, before installing a copper pipeline, it is advisable to first practice on pipes of different diameters.

In order for flaring to be of high quality, it should be performed in accordance with the recommendations:

• Before starting the technological process, it is necessary to visually identify the presence of burrs and irregularities on the product. Dirt should be removed from the inner and outer surfaces of the tube. Flaring is done only on products with a round cross-section.
• Before starting the technological process, the outer surface of the copper part should be thoroughly brushed to remove dust and debris.

Cleaning with an abrasive sponge

• It is important to firmly secure the product in the holder. If this is done carelessly, the tube will slide in the matrix, which will not allow for high-quality processing.
• If the edges of the copper element are expanded manually, the cone must not be pressed in. The blank should be carefully screwed into the hole. Then the force will be evenly distributed and it will be possible to avoid ruptures of the product wall.
• During operation, it is important to ensure that the bell does not skew relative to the axial one. If this happens, the connection will not provide complete insulation and high wear resistance.
• When installing an element into the die of a rolling device, it is important to select the hole size that matches the diameter of the copper tube.

With proper flaring, you will get a high-quality socket for a strong, tight connection.

Source: https://ZnatokTepla.ru/truby/razvaltsovyvaem-svoimi-rukami.html

How to flare a copper tube: methods, tools, tips

Flaring of copper tubes, also called rolling, is a technological operation, the essence of which is to deform their walls in the desired direction. The need to carry out such an operation arises in cases where it is necessary to make a hermetically sealed and reliable connection of copper tubes with various devices and instruments or to dock them together.

Rolling a copper tube with a hand tool

Tubes made of copper are quite common today, and in cases where their connection must be detachable, flaring is indispensable. For flaring tubes made of copper, both special equipment, mass-produced, and a set of simple tools can be used, which, if all technological recommendations are followed, also allows this process to be carried out efficiently.

Execution Features

Flaring of copper tubes may be necessary if:

• the cut end of the tube must be given the required configuration;
• the end of the product must be prepared for its connection using a coupling (in this case, using flaring, the geometric parameters of the tube are adjusted, such as the internal diameter, bending angle, etc.);
• it is necessary to prepare the ends of the copper tubes for their connection by soldering.

Pipes are cut to length using a special tool - a pipe cutter for copper or aluminum pipes

To qualitatively flare a copper tube using special tools and devices, you must perform the following steps.

• The end of the tube whose connection needs to be made is carefully cleaned.
• A special coupling is put on the stripped end.
• Using a special tool or device, the end of the tube is flared until its expansion angle is 45°.
• After the procedure is completed, the end of the product is removed from the device. You can then immediately begin making the connection.

If you have never performed such a technological operation before and are going to carry out flaring with your own hands for the first time, then you should cut off the tube with some extra length (2–2.5 cm), which will allow you, in case of failure, to flare it again, cutting off the defective section.

Reamer - devices for stripping the ends of copper tubes

If it is necessary to flare a copper tube in order to connect it by soldering, then the sequence of actions for carrying out such a procedure will look as follows.

• The surface of the end of the tube that needs to be flared is carefully cleaned (for this it is best to use a special brush).
• Using a special device, the end of the copper tube is expanded to such an extent that the end of another tube can be inserted into it and at the same time maintaining a gap of 0.124 mm between the connected elements. Naturally, for this you need to use a measuring tool.
• The flux necessary to ensure the formation of a reliable and tight connection is applied in an even layer to the inner surface of the pipe section that has already been flared.
• The end of the second connection element is inserted into the flared part to a depth equal to the diameter of the pipe.
• Using a gas torch, electric soldering iron or blowtorch, the future joint is heated until the solder begins to melt.
• Melted solder fills all the gaps between the edges of the copper pipes being connected, resulting in a reliable and tight connection.

After the connection of the two copper tubes is formed, they must be placed on a horizontal surface and allowed to cool completely. Only after the joint has completely cooled can the resulting structure be used.

Tools and accessories

In order to flare tubes made of copper with your own hands, use special devices. Such devices can be either manual or electric driven. They are used for installation of air conditioning, water supply and heating systems. Tools equipped with an electric drive often combine several functions: with their help, you can not only flare a copper tube, but also bend it at the required angle.

Any device used to flare tubes made of copper operates on the principle of plastic deformation, so it is very important that it handles this process as carefully as possible, without disturbing the homogeneity of the structure of the material, maintaining the uniform thickness of the walls of the products, as well as the smoothness of their internal surfaces.

Scheme of correct flaring and examples of an incorrectly performed operation

To perform high-quality flaring of copper tubes (even if you are doing it yourself for the first time), you can use one of the following devices. Sample

This is a cone-shaped blank made of a harder metal alloy than copper. The advantages of such a device are low price and ease of use. Meanwhile, its use may be accompanied by ruptures in the walls of the copper product, which results in low quality flaring.

With this simple device you can flare one tube, but you can’t talk about any quality of work

Mechanical flaring machine

The main working element of this device is a hard alloy roller, which, rolling along the edge of the copper tube, gives the latter the required configuration. The use of a mechanical flaring machine makes it possible to uniformly deform the treated section of the tube and form walls of the same thickness at its end with a high quality of their inner surface.

Hand tools are capable of providing high quality flaring and good work speed

Electric flaring machine

Such a device with a whole set of replaceable attachments, having all the advantages of a mechanical tool, allows you to flare copper tubes with higher productivity and less labor costs. Perhaps the only drawback of an electric flaring machine is its fairly high price.

The battery of this flaring machine lasts for approximately 100 operations.

Expander

This manual device, operating on the principle of a lever mechanism, allows you to flare the end of the tube in one movement. Despite its simplicity of design, such a device also has a number of significant disadvantages, the most significant of which is the inability to control the wall thickness of the workpiece. Thus, the use of an expander, which is most often chosen by those who do flaring with their own hands, does not guarantee a high-quality result.

Flaring copper tubes at home

Adjusting the diameters of pipes when connecting them is not an easy task. Either there is no workpiece of the required size, or the wall thickness in different parts of the part differs. But the need to work with product diameters arises not only in industry; expansion of structures for hermetically sealed fastening of household communications is also often required. Let's find out what do-it-yourself flaring of copper tubes is, why it is carried out and how to proceed to get a good result.

Stages of pipe flaring

Manipulations are carried out in three stages:

1. The required gap between the part and the tube sheet is selected.
2. Both elements are deformed.
3. The pressure (load) is removed from the outer surface of the deformed workpiece.

During the process of flaring copper tubes, the metal softens, stretches (goes into a state of plastic deformation), and the tube sheet material goes into a state of elastic deformation. For the manipulation to be successful, the grating material must be harder than copper.

At the end of the flaring process, the grid “encircles” the pipe section. We obtain a press connection, the strength of which is ensured by the contact pressure of the surface of the part and the grid hole.

Proper stretching will allow you to achieve maximum tightness of the connection.

Sometimes welding is used to connect these elements - this type of fastening is called combined. When installing a copper water supply, one of the parts is expanded, then a second pipe is inserted into it, after which the gap between them is filled with solder.

For combined connections, welding is used

It may be necessary to change the diameter of parts in the following cases:

1. If a stamped (cast) product of the required shape cannot be purchased ready-made (it is not produced or is out of stock).
2. A delicate adjustment of the bending angle, the size of the tube or its internal diameter is required.

How to flare a tube without a special tool

Flaring of copper tubes, also called rolling, is a technological operation, the essence of which is to deform their walls in the desired direction. The need to carry out such an operation arises in cases where it is necessary to make a hermetically sealed and reliable connection of copper tubes with various devices and instruments or to dock them together.

Rolling a copper tube with a hand tool

Tubes made of copper are quite common today, and in cases where their connection must be detachable, flaring is indispensable. For flaring tubes made of copper, both special equipment, mass-produced, and a set of simple tools can be used, which, if all technological recommendations are followed, also allows this process to be carried out efficiently.

Flaring of copper tubes

Pipes can have a wide variety of diameters. That is why it is quite difficult to adjust them to each other during the joining process. Work with diametrical dimensions is carried out in industry and private workshops. Pipe flaring is considered a complex process, which is characterized by a large number of features.

Flaring of copper tubes

When might flaring be necessary?

Today, rolling of copper tubes is carried out extremely often. This technology is used in the following cases:

1. The shape of the pipe needs to be changed. An example is obtaining an oval cross-sectional shape.
2. Most often, flaring is carried out to change the outer and inner diameters. When connecting copper pipes, it is necessary to ensure perfect tightness, which is achieved by adjusting the surfaces to each other.
3. Copper tubes of the required shape are not available on sale.
4. It is necessary to change the size and shape of the tubes to suit specific conditions.

Flaring tool

Flaring is also performed in the manufacture of jewelry and various mechanisms. Various special tools can be used for work, for example, a cone flaring machine.

How to choose a flaring tool?

In order to achieve high quality when flaring, you should correctly select the most suitable tool. When using the simplest devices, negative consequences can occur:

1. Serious ruptures occur in the walls of copper tubes, which significantly reduce the strength and service life.
2. Small cracks can cause the walls to wrinkle.
3. It is difficult to achieve uniform thickness. Even a slight deviation leads to a decrease in the strength of the formed joint.

Eccentric flaring machine VALUE

You can select a tool for flaring copper tubes by considering the following information:

1. Flaring depth.
2. Internal diameter of the product.
3. Certain characteristics of the material: hardness and degree of ductility.
4. Outside diameter.
5. Wall thickness. This parameter determines how difficult it is to process the workpiece.
6. The distance by which the product can protrude beyond the boundaries of the locking mechanism.
7. Distance between centers of internal holes.
8. Presence and characteristics of connecting seams. Some blanks are obtained by welding the ends. The resulting weld may react differently to plastic deformation.
9. The need to form grooves on the surface. Flaring can also create the required grooves in the copper tubing.

Most of the devices used are characterized by versatility. All mechanisms may also differ from each other.

Tools designed to carry out the work in question allow:

1. Eliminate the possibility of severe cuts. This is achieved by gradually applying pressure, which is distributed evenly.
2. Achieve uniform wall thickness. Moreover, a similar result can be achieved even if the workpiece initially had uneven walls.
3. The hole inside the product becomes smooth and even.

Electrically driven devices are characterized by greater productivity. They are widely used today and are indispensable when it is necessary to deform a product with large wall thickness.

How to make a tool?

A homemade tool can be made for long-term use. The design is quite simple; it is represented by a frame made of two corners of similar geometry. When assembling the mechanism the following is used:

1. 1. Bulgarian.
   2. Grinding and drilling machine.
   3. Two bolts with a thread of at least 8M.
   4. A corner 100 mm long can be used as the main material. It is best to choose a stainless steel version.
   5. Mandrels.

   The corners are fastened together with bolts. To do this, appropriate holes are made using a drilling machine. Holes are drilled at the base of the chamfer.

   Homemade flaring machine

   You should work with such a mechanism in the same way as with many others that can be purchased in specialized stores.

   How to flare a copper tube?

   Due to the high ductility of copper, processing copper tubes made from this alloy is quite simple. Do-it-yourself flaring of copper tubes is carried out as follows:

   1. The workpiece is clamped in the holder so that it extends beyond the edges by 5-6 mm.
   2. Instead of a cone, a special nozzle is installed that fits the diameter of the workpiece.
   3. The fitting is put on, attention is paid to the direction of the thread.
   4. The die must be made of a material whose hardness is much greater than the hardness of the workpiece. It is pressed in, causing the edge of the end to deform.
   5. Instead of a stamp, a cone is installed. It is pressed in gradually. Only with uniform exposure can the required quality of the resulting product be ensured.
   6. After processing, the workpiece is inspected. If minor defects appear, they can be cleaned out.

   Some workpieces are less susceptible to processing using the method in question. An example is brittle alloys, in the structure of which cracks and other defects may appear during deformation.

Source: https://stankiexpert.ru/tehnologii/razvalcovka-mednykh-trubok.html