Bend Tooling Inc
Tube machinery
Company Overview
Bend Tooling, Inc., established in 1986, is a specialized manufacturer exclusively focused on rotary-draw tube bend tooling. Located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the company's mission is to engineer innovative custom tooling solutions that enable manufacturers to achieve precise, aesthetically pleasing bends with minimal defects for critical applications. Bend Tooling emphasizes innovative design, pioneering technology, and state-of-the-art manufacturing, serving end-users, machine builders, and distributors globally without competing in tube bending operations.
Core Product Offerings
The company offers a comprehensive range of precision-crafted tools, including mandrels, wiper dies, and advanced die sets. Their mandrel assemblies come in flex-link and cable designs for round, square, and rectangular tubing, with diameters ranging from 1.000″ to 6.000″. Options include inserted and solid-body configurations, featuring durable poppet links and nickel-aluminum-bronze nose inserts for bending tough materials like stainless steel and titanium. Wiper dies, available as inserted or solid-body types, cover tube diameters from 0.875″ to 5″, distinguished by their fully machined feathered edges for optimal performance. The flagship Shockmate™ die sets represent a new generation of bend, clamp, and pressure dies, engineered with proprietary metallurgy and case-hardening for unmatched precision and durability across various tube and pipe bending machines.
Advanced Features and Advantages
Bend Tooling leverages advanced manufacturing techniques, including State-of-the-Art CNC Machining and Datafacturing®, ensuring exceptional precision, perfect fit, and fast delivery. A key advantage is their inserted tooling, which facilitates faster replacement, reduces shipping costs, and enhances production rates by allowing frequent, cost-effective insert changes. The company's proprietary metallurgy and robust designs, such as the single-piece poppet links, contribute to extended tool life and shock resistance. Customization options are extensive, allowing tools to be tailored to specific machine models and application requirements.
Industry Expertise and Resources
Beyond tooling, Bend Tooling provides substantial value through its industry expertise. They offer valuable resources such as a comprehensive tube bending guide, tool set-up parameters, troubleshooting advice, and technical articles. The 'Bend Tooling Encyclopedia™' serves as a definitive guide for rotary-draw tube bending terminology, recognized by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers. These resources, coupled with tools like the Mandrel Nose Placement Calculator, empower customers to optimize their bending processes and achieve superior results.
