Metal forming a Reducing Elbow

TheMechWarrior

Can anyone shed some light on how the reduced elbow is formed at the top of the swan neck in the below pics?
I've included the templates so you can see where it all started from.

Cheers,

Mech.

Myles

Yes, one way to do it is with a series of graduated cones. However you have to adjust the planes of the top and bottom surfaces of the frustum so they are not at 90 degrees to the long axis of the frustum.

There is a 3d frustum modeling software that will let you do this. Will try to find a link to it.

TheMechWarrior

I've been using this.

I've seen the graduated cones but the above looks sooooo much cooler :)

Harry

@TheMechWarrior said: I've been using this.

I've seen the graduated cones but the above looks sooooo much cooler :)

Cool like this?

It's the ancient art of Coppersmithing. Make patterns, form up, hand work. This book will be useful. Cheers!...

ART OF COPPERSMITHING (PDF)

TheMechWarrior

Thanks @Harry, that looks a little more like the construction I'd like to go for. More authentic.

Myles

@TheMechWarrior what you put up is exactly what I was talking about. That is the program I have used previously. You can create a graduated set of frustums with inclined top and bottom planes and join them together.

I have to admit though that so far I have only done it with paper models, and have not actually built one in copper.

TheMechWarrior

Well, I've enrolled in a 7 week welding course and the instructor knows what I'm hoping to build. So next week I take along some copper :)

CothermanDistilling

check out hydroforming

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_Z3AIFSd60

FloridaCracker

@CothermanDistilling said: check out hydroforming

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_Z3AIFSd60

That is really cool. I wonder how much pressure is needed to do that. Guessing my garden hose isn't up to the task......

CothermanDistilling

I have seen it done with a grease gun and water, but real slow.... check out the video after that one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XicB7I-gDEw

Unsensibel

Loving the gloves laying on the tubular hydro die while opening and closing!!!!

TheMechWarrior

Thanks @CothermanDistilling , I was told it might be hydroforming but from the build log it appeared to my untrained eye that a lot of heat had been applied to the underside of the reducing elbow.

I'll check with the locals to see if there's anyone here capable of hydroforming the elbow.