The Ultimate Guide for Tapering Machine

Pipe tapering plays an important role in modern industrial society. They can control the fluid velocity and pressure, optimize fluid transfer processes, or as connectors to connect different components with different diameters. How to achieve high-precision tube tapering? Today, we will introduce equipment with a sophisticated design and easy operation to you, that is a tapering machine.

What is a Tapering Machine?

The tapering machine is a specific equipment designed for tapering the end of pipes. These machines are used to create tapered ends on pipes, which are used for fitting pipes together or connecting pipes to other parts in plumbing, construction, and other applications.

The working principle of this swaging machine is to use a conical mold to compress pipes or pipe fittings to gradually reduce the diameter of the pipe end.

Importance of Tapering Machine in Various Industries

Tapering machine are widely used in various industries, let us have a look at how they work on different applications.

Taper Car Exhaust Pipe

• Improve Connection Tightness: Tapered tube can ensure the exhaust pipe joints fit together more closely, and reduce the possibility of gas leaks.
• Reduce Resistance: The tapered tube makes the exhaust pipe diameter gradually increase from the connection point, thereby reducing airflow resistance. This helps exhaust gases flow through the exhaust system more smoothly, reducing system back pressure and improving engine performance and combustion efficiency.
• Improve Exhaust Flow Characteristics: The tapered tube can improve the flow characteristics of the exhaust airflow, reduce the turbulence and vortex of the airflow, and make the exhaust flow out more evenly. This helps reduce vibration and noise in the exhaust system and improves exhaust system stability.
• Reduce Heat Loss: By optimizing the shape and connection of the exhaust pipe, the tapered pipe can reduce the heat loss of the exhaust gas and improve the thermal efficiency of the exhaust system. This helps reduce wasted energy and improves the engine’s fuel economy.

Furniture Legs

• Aesthetics: Tapered tubing allows the ends of furniture legs to be tapered, giving a more elegant and modern look that enhances the overall aesthetic of the furniture.
• Stability: Furniture legs gradually become thicker toward the bottom, and can withstand the weight of objects placed on it without falling.
• Lightweight: Tapered tube reduces the overall weight of the furniture, make it easy to transport, and take up less space when storing.
• Modern Sense: Tapered tube makes the furniture look more modern, and suitable for various home styles, from simple to Nordic style, it can be easily managed.

Sports Equipment

Various types of sports equipment, including trekking poles, ski poles, bicycle seat frames, sports equipment stands, etc. use the tapered tube as part of the product. They got benefits from tapered tube from these points: weight reduction, increase in stability, improved control, vibration reduction, and increased durability.

Types of Tapering Machine

There are several types of tapering machines in the market, some of them are for commercial use, and some of them are for industrial use. Today, we will guide you to see 2 types of industrial tapering machine that works for precise and consistent tube tapering results.

NC Tapering Machine

NC tapering machine is a type of tube forming machine that processes the work by numerical control. This equipment is used to form one end of the metal tube to your desired size and shape.

Pros of NC Tapering Machine

• Low Purchasing Cost: Compared to the CNC tapering machine, the NC tapering machine is more affordable and suitable for a project that has a limited budget.
• Easy to Use: The NC system is relatively simple and easy to use, and does not have high professional and technical requirements for operators.
• Low Maintenance Cost: The construction of the NC type is relatively simple, so the maintenance cost is relatively low.
• Wide Applicability: Although the NC type machining accuracy is not as high as CNC, this machinery can work for a wide range of applications.
• High Reliability: NC tapering machine has high stability and reliability, only proper maintenance and upkeep are required to ensure productivity.
• Suitable for Mass Production: This machine is designed for industrial use, suitable for work in your workshop for mass production.

Cons of NC Tapering Machine

• Limited Flexibility: NC type has limited flexibility in terms of programming and adaptability to changing production requirements.
• Lower Precision: Not suitable for processing requirements with very high precision, you can contact our engineer for details or send your request to us.

CNC Tapering Machine

CNC tapering machine is another type of tube end formers, controlled by CNC. So, the working precision is relatively higher than the NC type.

Pros of CNC Tapering Machine

• High Precision: The CNC tapering machine provides precise control to tapering the tube, resulting in accurate and consistent finished products.
• Versatility: CNC tapering machines are highly versatile and can perform a wide range of tapering requirements. This equipment can process metal pipes of different materials.
• Flexibility: CNC type can be easily reprogrammed to perform different tapering tasks, allowing for quick setup changes.
• Automation: The machine works automatically, reducing manual intervention and human error.
• High Efficiency: CNC tapering machine can optimize production to improve efficiency.

Cons of CNC Tapering Machine

• Higher Purchasing Cost: The cost of CNC tapering machine is relatively higher than the NC type.
• Complexity: The operation and programming of CNC tapering machine is relatively complex, it requires the operator need to know CAD/CAM software, G-code programming, and machine operation.
• Maintenance Requirements: CNC type machine requires regular maintenance to optimize the machine performance and accuracy.

Components of Tapering Machine

The main components of the swaging machine are the oil tank, slider, main cylinder, mold core rod, limit cylinder, compression cylinder, clamping mold, axial positioning cylinder, axial positioning angle iron, and other main parts.

Mold for Tapering Machine

The material of the tapering machine mold is Cr12Mov. This material has excellent hardness and wear resistance and can work in high-temperature environments while remaining stable. The stability of this material is also very high, allowing the swaging machine to continuously and stably produce high-quality pipes, improving production efficiency and product quality.

Materials for Tapering Machine

This tapering machine can proceed on different materials of metal tubes, including carbon steel tubes, alloy steel tubes, stainless steel tubes, aluminum tubes, copper tubes, etc. You can check with our engineer whether your tube can be processed on our machinery.

The Operation of Tapering Machine

No matter the NC or CNC tapering machine, they are different in the early parameter setting part. Normally the NC tapering machine does not have the material feed rack, so it needs manual feeding of the material. The CNC tapering machine is normally equipped with a material feeding rack.

The outer tapering shape and size are determined by the 4 pcs mold (wedge-shaped iron) which needs to be inserted into the machine. After you set the parameter, then you can start the machine, after the motor starts to rotate, it drives the mold to rotate around the pipe, and finally, you can get your tube in the desired shape.

The key to this machine is the 4 molds, from mold design, mold material, and mold processing to mold heat treatment, each step is very important to decide the final mold quality.

How to Determine the Tapering Ratio and Tapering Angle?

You can use our method to calculate the tapering ratio and tapering angle, we will give you an example.

The tapered tube has 2 ends, one with a large diameter and another with a small diameter. If the large tube diameter is 70mm and the small tube diameter is 40mm, if the tapered part length is 20mm, then you can calculate as below:

Taper Ration

(70-40)/20

=30/20

=3/2

This means the taper ratio is 3:2

Taper Angle

tan θ = (70-40) / (2*20)

θ = tan-1 (30/40)

=36.87°

How to Choose the Right Tapering Machine?

TubeBenderN is a professional manufacturer of tapering machines in China. You can consult with us depending on your request. Before purchasing, you should know this information clearly.

Machine Type

You should know whether you need an NC type or CNC type to meet your production needs. You can check the information with your engineer based on your customer and market needs.

Working Capacity

Each size of the machine has a different working capacity, you need to know your tube Max. size, and then talk with the supplier to choose the suitable machine size.

Machine Working Accuracy

Based on your product request, you need to choose the machine that could meet your requirements for accuracy.

Tube Material

You need to know the tube materials that need to be processed on the swaging machine, then check with the supplier if their machine is suitable for your material.

Maintenance and Care of the Tapering Machine

After you get the tapering machine from your supplier and start to use it to taper tubes, you need to maintain the machine regularly.

Cleaning the Tapering Machine Regularly

After you use the machine for a period of time, you need to clean it. Because during the work process, there will inevitably be oil stains, debris, and other things left by workers. You need to keep the machine clean to avoid accidents.

Lubricate the Tapering Machine Regularly

You need to lubricate the machine’s parts regularly to prevent wear and friction.

Check Wearing Parts of Tapering Machine Regularly

The equipment has some wearing parts, especially the mold part, which you need to pay special attention to. Regular inspection and maintenance of molds will help increase the life of the mold. Worn molds cannot continue to be produced, which will affect the quality of your products.

Regular Inspection of Tapered Tube

Regularly checking the tapered tube size can also reflect equipment problems. If you find that the product size is not up to standard, there may be a problem with the machine. At this time, you need to stop your device and check it.

Training the Operator

Regularly train employees to guide them on how to operate machines and maintain equipment, and enhance their awareness of production safety.

Keep Maintenance Records of the Tapering Machine

Keep records of inspection dates, lubrication schedules, parts replacement, and repairs. These records can help you track machine performance and identify potential problems.

Are you looking for a tapering machine for your production? TubeBenderN is your best choice with custom service.

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