Manual Type or Fully Automatic Type? How to Select the Appropriate Machine Model?

I. Equipment Definition

Q1: What is a standard manual / semi-automatic hydraulic pipe bending machine?
A: It is an economical cold pipe bending equipment. Hydraulic power performs bending, while tube feeding, positioning and rotation are operated manually. Only the bending action is driven by hydraulic system. Positioning of tube length, angle rotation, loading and unloading all rely on manual work. Featuring simple structure and high cost performance, it is mainly used for simple planar pipe bending.

Q2: What is a fully automatic CNC pipe bending machine?
A: It is a full-servo intelligent CNC pipe bender equipped with PLC microcomputer control system. It supports automatic feeding, automatic rotation and continuous multi-angle bending. After parameter programs are input in advance, multiple complex 3D bends on a single tube can be completed in one run. It features full automation, high precision and stable mass production performance.

II. Main Components of Equipment

Q3: What components make up a manual / semi-automatic pipe bending machine?
A: Main components: machine frame, hydraulic power unit, hydraulic cylinder, clamping mechanism, bending die, guiding die, foot switch, electric control panel and hydraulic cooling system.

Q4: What components make up a fully automatic CNC pipe bending machine?
A: It is upgraded with a complete servo system based on the semi-automatic model, including machine frame, servo feeding mechanism, servo rotating mechanism, bending head, multiple sets of clamping & boosting cylinders, precision die set, hydraulic system, independent circulating cooling system, PLC numerical control system, high-definition text display screen and intelligent foot switch.

III. Working Process

Q5: What is the basic working process of the semi-automatic pipe bending machine?
A: Manual loading → Manual measurement and positioning → Clamp the pipe → Start bending via foot switch → Reset after bending completion → Manual repositioning / secondary positioning → Unload finished workpiece. Positioning requires manual intervention throughout the whole process.

Q6: What is the basic working process of the fully automatic pipe bending machine?
A: Pre-set bending parameters (length, angle, spatial rotation angle) on the controller → Automatic pipe clamping → Precise servo feeding → Automatic bending → Automatic angle rotation → Complete multiple bends continuously → Automatic reset and unloading. Repeated manual positioning is not required.

IV. Processing Technology & Common Methods

Q7: What are the common processing methods for pipe bending machines?
A: The mainstream process is cold bending at ambient temperature (no heating required, no damage to tubes, nice forming effect), divided into two types:

1. Mandrel-free pipe bending: Forming relying on dies, suitable for thick-walled tubes and large-radius bending.
2. Mandrel pipe bending: Supported by built-in mandrel, specially used to avoid collapse, wrinkling and deformation during bending of thin-walled tubes.

Q8: What are the advantages of cold bending technology?
A: Processing under normal temperature will not change the material structure of tubes. No burning blackening or oxidation on pipe ends, tight fit of welding seams, smooth appearance of finished products. It is suitable for mass production of hardware, furniture, guardrails and auto parts.

V. Processable Material Types

Q9: What kinds of tubes can be processed by pipe bending machines?
A: Processable materials: carbon steel round tubes, seamless steel tubes, galvanized tubes, stainless steel tubes, aluminum tubes, copper tubes and light profiles.

Q10: What should be noted when processing different tubes?
A:

• Steel tubes & galvanized tubes: Can be processed with standard dies;
• Stainless steel & thin-walled tubes: Mandrel and anti-wrinkle dies are mandatory to prevent deformation;
• Aluminum tubes & copper tubes: Soft material. Lower pressure and slower bending speed are required to avoid collapse.

VI. Industry Application & Selection

Q11: When should we choose a manual / semi-automatic pipe bending machine?
A: Semi-automatic machine is preferred if any condition below applies:

1. Simple tube parts with only 1~2 bends on a single tube, planar bending without 3D angles;
2. Small-batch orders, on-site processing, sample production and sporadic orders;
3. Products: handrails, iron tables & chairs, wheelbarrow frames and simple supports;
4. Limited budget, ultra-high precision is not required.

Q12: When should we choose a fully automatic CNC pipe bending machine?
A: Fully automatic machine is required if any condition below applies:

1. More than 3 bends on one tube with 3D multi-angle bending;
2. Stable mass production, export orders, precision requirement of ±0.1°;
3. Products: automotive seat frames, electric bicycle frames, fitness equipment and precision tubular parts;
4. Reduce labor cost, achieve consistent dimension and high uniformity for bulk products.

Q13: Can semi-automatic machines process complex multi-angle tubular parts?
A: Technically feasible. However, positioning fully depends on manual measurement, resulting in low efficiency, large tolerance and high reject rate. It is not suitable for mass production and only for small-batch sampling.

VII. General Technical Selection

Q14: How to choose the proper machine model size?
A: Select based on the maximum processable tube outer diameter and maximum wall thickness, not regular small tube sizes. A larger machine can bend small tubes, while a small machine cannot handle large or thick-walled tubes.

Available Models

DW SERIES NC SINGLE HYDRAULIC PIPE/TUBE /WIRE BENDING MACHINE /BENDER

Model	DW38	DW50	DW60	DW75	DW90	DW114	DW130	DW168	DW219
Max bending capacity(mm)	Φ38*2	Φ50*2	Φ60*2	Φ75*2	Φ90*4	Φ114*6	Φ130*8	Φ168*14	Φ168*14
Bending radius(mm)	30-170	35-250	35-250	50-300	50-300	70-450	70-500	150-800	200-1000
Bending degree	190︒	190︒	190︒	190︒	190︒	190︒	190︒	190︒	190︒
Max length of bending(mm)	1650	2500	2600	2800	3000	5200	5200	5500	6000
Maximum system pressure（MPA）	12	12	12	14	14	14	14	14	14
Motor power(kw)	4	5.5	5.5	7.5	7.5	11	15	22	30
Machine weight (kg)	800	1200	1500	2500	3200	7500	8500	15000	28000
Machine size (mm)	2400*700*920	3000*700*1000	3200*800*1200	3600*950*1400	4000*1400*1100	6000*1600*1500	7000*2000*1500	8000*2200*1700	9800*2500*2000

CNC SINGLE HYDRAULIC PIPE/TUBE /WIRE BENDING MACHINE /BENDER

Specification/Model	DW38CNC	DW50CNC	DW60CNC	DW75CNC	DW90CNC	DW114CNC
Max bending diameter of tube	38.1mm	50.8mm	60mm	73mm	85mm	110mm
Max bending wall thickness of tube	2.2mm	2.0mm	2mm	2mm	4mm	6mm
Max bending radius	175mm	250mm	250mm	300mm	300mm	450mm
Min bending radius	38.1mm	35mm	50mm	50mm	50mm	70mm
Max bending angle	190°	190°	190°	190°	190°	190°
Max feeding length	2100mm	2400mm	2800mm	2800mm	3000mm	3000mm
feeding method	direct feeding / clamping feeding	direct feeding / clamping feeding	direct feeding / clamping feeding	direct feeding / clamping feeding	direct feeding / clamping feeding	direct feeding / clamping feeding
Bending speed	Max 74°/s	Max 40°/s	Max 36°/s	Max 30°/s	Max28°/s	Max12°/s
Rotary speed	Max 300°/s	Max 300°/s	Max 300°/s	Max 180°/s	Max 120°/s	Max 120°/s
Feeding speed	Max 1000mm/s	Max 1000mm/s	Max 1000mm/s	Max 1000mm/s	Max 120°/s	Max 120°/s
Bending accuracy	±0.1°	±0.1°	±0.1°	±0.1°	±0.1°	±0.1°
Rotary accuracy	±0.1°	±0.1°	±0.1°	±0.1°	±0.1°	±0.1°
Feeding accuracy	±0.1mm	±0.1mm	±0.1mm	±0.1mm	±0.1mm	±0.1mm
Machine size	2400*700*920mm	3000*700*1050mm	3200*800*1200mm	3600*950*1400mm	4000*1100*1400mm	6000*1600*1500mm

Q15: What to do if tubes tend to collapse or wrinkle during bending?
A: Equip thin-walled tubes with a mandrel device together with special anti-wrinkle dies, and adopt mandrel bending technology to thoroughly solve deformation problems.

Q16: Can the machine process tubes of various diameters by changing dies?
A: Yes. Replace matching dies on the same machine to process tubes with different diameters and bending radii, offering great production flexibility.

Q17: What is the standard minimum bending radius for pipe bending?
A: General rule: The bending radius ≥ 1.5 times the tube outer diameter. Too small a radius may cause tube wall cracking and severe deformation.

Q18: Summary of core differences between the two types of machines?
A:

• Semi-automatic: Low cost, flexible for sampling, suitable for simple tubular parts, high reliance on labor;
• Fully automatic: High precision & high efficiency, labor-saving, designed for complex tubular parts and mass production.

You can send us your drawings if necessary, we can provide professional suggestions and customized solutions.