Divine Tubes Pvt. Ltd
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Upholding Quality in Stainless Steel Pipes Manufacturing
The original technology in the construction of steel pipes involved joining of circular tubes to make a complete tube. With the increasing demand and quality, this technology was replaced by seamless pipes and tubes techniques. This manufacturing process now represents a huge percentage of seamless tubes technology in the market.
Stainless Steel Seamless Pipes Application in Industry
The applications of these pipes are many and varying. They range from plumbing, conveyance of water, fluids, powders and even gases over long distances, manufacturing of scaffoldings, making of steel structures, and even as components of systems such as rollers, compacters and bearing housings. They are also very useful in construction of pressurized vessels and manufacturing processes involving high temperatures and pressures.
Manufacturing Techniques for High Quality Steel Pipes
Various processes are used in the manufacture of steel pipes. They include;
The Mandrell Mill Process
This process has got a series of steps whereby a solid round metal rod, also called a billet is heated in a furnace, and drilled or pierced right through to form a hollow tube. This is then taken through a roller or the mandrel mill, which reduces the thickness of the outside material to the required gauge. Further heating and refining produces a seamless solid pipe which is machined to the correct specifications using a stretch reducer machine. The S.S. pipe form is then cooled off and cut to the required sizes, inspected and shipped off to the final user.
The Mannesmann Mill Process
Similar to the mandrell process but more processes have been incorporated in this system. It goes through heating, piercing, elongating, rolling, cooling, sizing, reeling, straightening and crop shearing processes. The aim of this process is to get a perfect product with very precise dimensions. It is important to note the completed pipe also goes through a process of magnetic flux testing, weighing and measuring and even a process of ultrasonic inspection to check the evenness of the interior surfaces before final release to the market.
Stainless Steel Welded Pipes Manufacturing and Welding Techniques
The production of the steel plate is one of the early innovations that led to the development of the welded steel tubes. The forge welding process was among the early systems to be used. A steel plate is forged over a mandrill/folding system to form an open pipe. Heat is then applied to two open edges to the point at which they are mated together. They are then mechanically pressed together using a tool known as a draw bench.
This process has advanced continuously to the point that currently electric welding is done. Open seam pipes are formed in a continuous electric system and joined through an induction welding system. The pipe is then heat treated and cut to the required lengths. This process is then completed by an ultrasonic inspection of quality and released to the market.
Cold Finished Pipes Technology
This process involves drawing a metal hollow tube through a smaller cross section to achieve the final thickness of the pipe. The process uses tensile forces to achieve the final tube. To maintain the quality of the final material, this process is restricted to 20 – 50 % of the material to be removed. This however depends on the ductility of the material used.