Frequently Asked Questions

MATERIALS

Although these three materials are the most commonly requested pipe and tube material from our customers to be bent, the Sharpe Tube Bending Team also has experience in bending brass, bronze, copper, nickel, titanium, and more.

QUANTITIES

Sharpe Products is happy to accommodate any size run. All jobs require set-up labor. It is generally more expensive to run smaller jobs because when you divide the cost of the set-up among small quantities it’s more costly than dividing it among a larger quantity run. Stock and release programs (Inventory Management) can also save on set-up charges and lead times. Contact a Sharpe Representative for more information on these programs.

DRAWINGS

When submitting a drawing of your part, please include:
  • Type of material (steel, stainless steel, aluminum, etc.)
  • Outside diameter (O.D.)
  • Wall thickness
  • Preferred center line radius (C.L.R.)
  • It is also helpful to give the dimensions in XYZ coordinates.
When sending a CAD file of your part, please use one of the following formats:
  • .PDF
  • .STP
  • .IGS
  • .DWG
  • .DFX
If you have any questions or problems sending us your file, please contact us at 800-879-4418 or e-mail Customer Service.

COST

  • Center line radii tighter than 1-1/2 times the tube diameter will increase labor time.
  • With Sharpe’s large inventory of tool bend dies, it’s likely we already have a die to meet your bending needs. In cases where there is flexibility in the center line radius, choosing an existing die will save on tooling costs and lead time.
  • Typical bending processes for parts with more than one bend, require a straight length between the bends. Standard tooling can accommodate parts that allow a distance between bends of at least 3 times the tube diameter. Parts that have a distance less than 3 times the diameter are possible to produce, but may require special tooling.
  • When specifying tolerances, it’s more cost effective to keep them only as tight as necessary. As tolerances tighten, the job becomes more labor intensive.
  • Many customers like to use a thinner wall for their projects to reduce material costs; however, thinner wall tubing may require more labor to bend. Therefore, it may or may not be beneficial to use a thinner wall material. One of our Sharpe representatives can help you determine the most cost-efficient wall thickness for your particular job.