Re: Steel Tube bender

On 2/24/2026 8:36 AM, Jim Wilkins wrote:

"Jim Wilkins"  wrote in message news:10njca3$3jr03$2@dont-email.me...
 I made custom (steel) bender dies, I think by rotating the blank against a
fly cutter set to the tube diameter.
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No, that die was cut with an end mill to fit 1/2" OD tubing. An endmill cuts faster, a fly cutter or boring head could make the light finish cut. I mill with the end instead of the side flutes so I can regrind it without changing the diameter.
 

A lot of things will work.  Shell mill, end mill, annular cutter, CNC mill.  LOL.
I figured to dial it in pretty close I'd make the core of the die as two pieces that key together.  Since I only need to make a 90+ degree die I might be able to program to make them side by side at the same time on the Tormach. Key pin holes, bolt holes, everything.  I'd use the Hurco, but I still haven't put it back together again.
Oak isn't a bad idea, but I'd have to go get some.  I have lots of aluminum.  As an alternative I do have some Mesquite logs I've been saving, but currently no way to mill it into boards.  Maybe on the 7x12 horizontal with a different blade.  I don't use it much since getting the Fein Slugger for lopping blanks off of aluminum bar stock.
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Bob La Londe
CNC Molds N Stuff