Bellows are thin, convoluted sections of metal that provide a solid yet flexible section of piping that adjusts as internal temperature and pressure conditions change. They hold up for thousands of cycles despite their slight appearance because of sound construction. Read on to learn about the various manufacturing methods of metal bellows that companies employ
Understanding Bellows Rubber Products Applications, Design, and Benefits
4 Manufacturing Methods of Metal Bellows
- 1)Axial Bellows
- 2) Universal Bellows
- 3)Hinged Bellows
These bellows extend and compress along their length, making them suitable for applications where linear movement is required, such as telescoping mechanisms or vibrating machinery.
2) Universal Bellows: Designed to accommodate lateral movements in multiple directions, universal bellows are used in applications where flexibility in various planes is essential, such as exhaust systems and expansion joints.
3) Hinged Bellows: These bellows incorporate hinges that allow them to flex along specific axes, providing a controlled range of movement, often found in robotic arms and precision machinery.
Metal Bellows Design & Manufacturing
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Bellows & Expansion Joint
1. Metal bellows manufacturing starts with the customer’s selection of ASTM or ASME material based on system design. Bellows ply thickness, number of convolutions, and convolution height and pitch are determined by Badger. Typical ply thickness for metal bellows ranges from .010” to .078”. Minimum thickness is .005” and maximum thickness is .125”, depending on the forming method used.
2. The bellows material is sheared to close tolerance dimensions depending on diameter and final convoluted length.
3. The material is then rolled into a tube, welded, and planished (shown on the left in the above image).
Bellows & Expansion Joint
1. Metal bellows manufacturing starts with the customer’s selection of ASTM or ASME material based on system design. Bellows ply thickness, number of convolutions, and convolution height and pitch are determined by Badger. Typical ply thickness for metal bellows ranges from .010” to .078”. Minimum thickness is .005” and maximum thickness is .125”, depending on the forming method used. 2. The bellows material is sheared to close tolerance dimensions depending on diameter and final convoluted length. 3. The material is then rolled into a tube, welded, and planished (shown on the left in the above image).