As part of the bending process there is a need for a special part to complete the process. Depending on the job required the bending machine has to have a specific bending tool called a mandrel fitted to its mechanism. Once this is in place the required shape can be produced. In the age of modern fittings and components it is essential that the machine can bend to the specifications laid down in the build. This is also why modern machines work on a computer aid design process.
Where to find bending machine equipment
One company that is fully aware of the processes and issues that can arise are Cotswold Machinery Sales. Their Bending Machines are fully operational masterpieces of the bending machine genre and they have something for every imaginable job.
A tool with centuries of history
A mandrel is a versatile tool that has been with us for centuries. Simply put it is used on lathes and bending machines to create the required shape. There are many examples of handheld and powered mandrels through the ages. The mandrel is a cylinder shape that is used as a template to forge items around it. For example the spur from a Blacksmiths anvil could be described as one of the first mandrels as it was used to shape shoes for horses amongst other uses. Modern examples of the mandrel have the benefit of computer aided design so that they can be fitted into a lathe or bending machine with the exact requirements. This is so the part required can be bent to the correct shape that the company ordering it needs it to be.
Summary
This article explains that a mandrel is a specialised tool fitted to a bending machine, used to shape metal parts to precise specifications, often with computer-aided design. It traces the mandrel’s long history, from ancient uses such as shaping horseshoes on a blacksmith’s anvil to modern powered, computer-aided versions used in lathes and bending machines, and mentions Cotswold Machinery Sales as a supplier.
Questions this article raises
- How does a computer-aided mandrel differ practically from an older manual one?
- What materials are mandrels themselves usually made from to withstand repeated bending?
- How does Cotswold Machinery Sales’ bending machine range compare with other UK suppliers?
