Tube & Pipe Fabrication
Tube and pipe fabrication cuts, bends, notches and welds tube and pipe into frames, handrails, manifolds and pipework assemblies. It covers round, square and rectangular sections in steel, stainless steel and aluminium.
What it is
Tubes are cut and coped (often by tube laser), bent on mandrel or rotary-draw benders to set radii, then fitted and welded in fixtures. Pipe spools for process lines include flanges, fittings and pressure-appropriate welds.
Bending tubes instead of welding corners reduces joints, improves appearance and strength, and speeds assembly.
Typical applications
- Furniture and display frames
- Handrails and guards
- Roll cages and chassis
- Process pipe spools and manifolds
- Exhaust and fluid lines
Suitable materials
- Mild steel ERW tube and hollow sections
- Stainless steel tube and pipe
- Aluminium tube
- Seamless and ERW pipe
Points to consider
- Use standard centre-line radii (CLR) matching available bending tools.
- Tight radii on thin walls cause wrinkling or ovality; mandrel bending helps.
- Allow straight length between bends for clamping.
- Pressure piping needs qualified welding procedures and testing.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum bend radius for tube?
It depends on diameter, wall thickness and tooling; around 1.5–3 times the tube OD is typical.
Can stainless pipe spools be fabricated?
Yes, with TIG welding, back purging and pickling as needed for process pipework.
Is bending better than welding corners?
Often yes. Bends are stronger, neater and quicker to assemble than cut-and-welded corners.