Development of a Hydraulically Operated Pipe Bending Machine

A hydraulically operated pipe bending machine which bends pipe of different sizes has been successfully designed, constructed and tested using locally available materials. The main features of the machine are frame, housing, flaps, rollers, pins, ram and hydraulic jack. The lifting capacity of the jack was selected to be 5 tonnes. The maximum efficiency of 97% and a 3% level of ovality were obtained when tested with a pipe of diameter12.5mm. When tested with a pipe of diameter25 mm, 95% efficiency with 5 % level of ovality was obtained. The production cost of the machine was $21, 230.00. The operating time was found to increase with increase in the size of the pipe and decrease in the angle of bent.