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Tube drawing
Tube drawing is a process to size a tube by shrinking a large diameter tube into a smaller one, by drawing the
tube through a die. This process produces highquality tubing with precise dimensions, good surface finish, and
the added strength of cold working. [1] For this reason this process is established for many materials, namely
metalworking but also glass. Because it is so versatile, tube drawing is suitable for both large and smallscale
production. [2] The largescale production of glass typically uses a one step process where glass is directly drawn
into a tube from a melting tank.
There are five types of tube drawing: tube sinking, mandrel drawing, stationary mandrel, moving mandrel, and
floating mandrel. A mandrel is used in many of the types to prevent buckling or wrinkling in the workpiece.
Contents
Processes
Tube sinking
Rod drawing
Fixed plug drawing
Floating plug drawing
Tethered plug drawing
See also
References
Notes
Bibliography
Processes
Tube sinking
Tube sinking, also known as free tube drawing, reduces the diameter of the tube without a mandrel inside the
tube. The inner diameter (ID) is determined by the inner and outer diameter of the stock tube, the outer diameter
of the final product, the length of the die landing, the amount of back tension, and the friction between the tube
and the die. [3] This type of drawing operation is the most economical, especially on thickwalled tubes and tubes
smaller than 12 mm (0.47 in) in diameter, [1] but does not give the best surface finish. As the tube thickness
increases the surface finish quality decreases. This process is often used for the tubing on lowcost lawn
furniture. [4]
Rod drawing
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Rod drawing is the process that draws the tube with a mandrel inside the tube; the mandrel is drawn with the
tube. The advantage to this process is that the mandrel defines the ID and the surface finish and has a quick setup
time for short runs. The disadvantages are that lengths are limited by the length of the mandrel, usually no more
than 100 feet (30 m), and that a second operation is required to remove the mandrel, called reeling. This type of
process is usually used on heavy walled or small ID tubes. Common applications include superhigh pressure
tubing and hydraulic tubing (with the addition of a finishing tube sinking operation). [4] This process is also use for
precision manufacturing of trombone handslides (see, for example, video (http://www.getzen.com/inside/video
s/slide_stretch.shtml) of the process of making Getzen trombones).
Fixed plug drawing
Fixed plug drawing, also known as stationary mandrel drawing, [3] uses a mandrel at the end of the die to shape
the ID of the tube. This process is slow and the area reductions are limited, but it gives the best inner surface finish
of any of the processes. This is the oldest tube drawing method. [4]
Floating plug drawing
Floating plug drawing, also known as floating mandrel drawing, [3] uses a mandrel that is not anchored
whatsoever to shape the ID of the tube. The mandrel is held in by the friction forces between the mandrel and the
tube. This axial force is given by friction and pressure. The greatest advantage of this is that it can be used on
extremely long lengths, sometimes up to 1,000 feet (300 m). The disadvantage is it requires a precise design
otherwise it will give inadequate results. This process is often used for oilwell tubing. [4] –
Tethered plug drawing
Tethered plug drawing, also known as semifloating mandrel drawing, is a mix between floating plug drawing and
fixed plug drawing. The mandrel is allowed to float, but it still anchored via a tether. This process gives similar
results to the floating plug process, except that it is designed for straight tubes. It gives a better inner surface
finish than rod drawing. [4]
See also
Pipe and tube bender
Wire drawing
References
Notes
1. Degarmo, p. 433.
2. Todd, Robert H.; Allen, Dell K.; Alting, Leo (1994), Manufacturing Processes Reference Guide (1st ed.),
Industrial Press Inc., ISBN 0831130490.
3. Tube Making (http://www.metalforminginc.com/Consulting/Tube_Making/tube_making.shtml), retrieved
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20081028.
4. Shaheen, Laurence (March 13, 2007), Tube drawing principles: Understanding processes, parameters key to
quality (http://www.thefabricator.com/TubePipeProduction/TubePipeProduction_Article.cfm?ID=1583), retrieved
20081028.
Bibliography
Degarmo, E. Paul; Black, J T.; Kohser, Ronald A. (2003), Materials and Processes in Manufacturing (9th ed.),
Wiley, ISBN 0471656534.
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