We are moving from sheet panels to tubes in this post. Some familiar ideas remain—material, tools and stages—but the starting geometry now needs a bending curve and tube section.
The 2022 guide describes creating a Tube context with AUTOSTAMP for the incremental route. The 2025 TUBEMAKER help provides the curve and tool controls used below.
Define the bending curve
Create or import the curve, then open Bending Curve to inspect it. The parametric representation uses straight portions and curved portions with tangential connections.
Automatic mode can search for similar radii and minimum straight lengths. Manual mode lets you edit the control points and radii. Compare the result with the intended part rather than assuming the automatic fit is the final manufacturing plan.
Show the bending curve and end markers
Open Select Bending Method and choose the curve. Define the diameter or custom profile and the wall thickness.
For a conical tube, the left and right end values may differ. Use Show marker so “left” and “right” refer to the curve ends you actually intend.
Also choose which side is used when generating the tube and tools. A correct-looking section on the wrong end can still lead to a confusing setup.
Choose the analysis route
The dialog can suggest a method from the curve, diameter and thickness. The documented choices include no bending, simplified bending, OneStep and AutoStamp.
Read that as a starting recommendation. A simplified estimate and an incremental tool-based calculation do not contain the same process detail.
Generate and inspect the tools
Create Bending Tools provides pressure and wiper dies, mandrel definitions, and bend/clamp tools. Enter the dimensions and positions from the exercise.
After changing mandrel parameters, use the creation control to update the geometry. Inspect the balls, gaps and tool positions in the view.
Transfer the intended setup, apply a suitable supplied process macro and examine the generated motion before calculating. Keep the material and actual bend sequence with the result.
If hydroforming follows bending, the tube’s incoming state becomes another choice. The hydroforming post explains why a bent shape and a bent tube carrying forming history are not equivalent inputs.
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