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Design, Fabrication and Performance Evaluation of a Mechanised Pipe Bending Machine
Subject area: Science,Engineering and Technology · Area of research: Mechanised Pipe Bending Machine
Abstract
Pipe bending is a fundamental manufacturing process used in industries such as construction, automobile production, petroleum, aerospace, furniture manufacturing, and agricultural engineering. Conventional pipe bending methods are often labour-intensive, time-consuming, and prone to defects such as wrinkling, flattening, excessive spring-back, and material cracking, particularly when performed manually (Onuche et al.,2026). This study presents the design, fabrication, and performance evaluation of a mechanised pipe bending machine. Powered by a 2 hp electric motor and a worm reduction gearbox, the machine incorporates interchangeable bending rollers and a reversible motor control system. It was developed as an infrastructure project for the Mechanical Workshop unit within the Centre for Space Innovation and Development (CSID) at the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA). Performance tests demonstrate that the machine produces accurate bends and reduces physical effort while maintaining the structural integrity of the bend pipe. It was designed using standard mechanical engineering design principles involving bending force analysis, shaft design, roller design, bearing selection, power transmission, and structural frame analysis. Mild steel was selected as the primary construction material due to its availability, good weldability, adequate strength, and relatively low cost. Standard machine components including bearings, gears, electric motor, and drive shaft were selected based on calculated design requirements. After fabrication, the machine was subjected to performance evaluation using different pipe sizes (1x1x1mm, 1x1x1.5mm, 2x2x1.5mm, 2x2x2mm) and bending angles. The results demonstrated stable operation, improved dimensional accuracy, reduced production time, and satisfactory bending performance without significant deformation of the workpiece. The developed machine provides an affordable and efficient alternative to imported pipe bending equipment and has considerable potential for application in fabrication workshops, educational institutions, and small- and medium-scale manufacturing industries.
Keywords
Pipe bending, Mechanised pipe bender, Machine design, Fabrication, Shaft design.
How to cite this paper
@article{1722727,
author = {Silas Gabriel Onuche, Elizabeth Adeyeye, Friday Ocholi Onuche, Sani Iliya Usara; Silas Samuel, Akalonu Ugochukwu; Ejiofor Oseloka Arinze},
title = {Design, Fabrication and Performance Evaluation of a Mechanised Pipe Bending Machine},
journal = {Iconic Research And Engineering Journals},
year = {2026},
volume = {10},
number = {2},
pages = {3539-3547},
issn = {2456-8880},
url = {https://www.irejournals.com/formatedpaper/1722727.pdf},
abstract = {Pipe bending is a fundamental manufacturing process used in industries such as construction, automobile production, petroleum, aerospace, furniture manufacturing, and agricultural engineering. Conventional pipe bending methods are often labour-intensive, time-consuming, and prone to defects such as wrinkling, flattening, excessive spring-back, and material cracking, particularly when performed manually (Onuche et al.,2026). This study presents the design, fabrication, and performance evaluation of a mechanised pipe bending machine. Powered by a 2 hp electric motor and a worm reduction gearbox, the machine incorporates interchangeable bending rollers and a reversible motor control system. It was developed as an infrastructure project for the Mechanical Workshop unit within the Centre for Space Innovation and Development (CSID) at the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA). Performance tests demonstrate that the machine produces accurate bends and reduces physical effort while maintaining the structural integrity of the bend pipe. It was designed using standard mechanical engineering design principles involving bending force analysis, shaft design, roller design, bearing selection, power transmission, and structural frame analysis. Mild steel was selected as the primary construction material due to its availability, good weldability, adequate strength, and relatively low cost. Standard machine components including bearings, gears, electric motor, and drive shaft were selected based on calculated design requirements. After fabrication, the machine was subjected to performance evaluation using different pipe sizes (1x1x1mm, 1x1x1.5mm, 2x2x1.5mm, 2x2x2mm) and bending angles. The results demonstrated stable operation, improved dimensional accuracy, reduced production time, and satisfactory bending performance without significant deformation of the workpiece. The developed machine provides an affordable and efficient alternative to imported pipe bending equipment and has considerable potential for application in fabrication workshops, educational institutions, and small- and medium-scale manufacturing industries.},
keywords = {Pipe bending, Mechanised pipe bender, Machine design, Fabrication, Shaft design.},
month = {August},
}