Rounded Conduit Ends

[Josh Parry]

Hey all.

I have searched the interwebs and this forum but can't seem to find a source on how to make those beautiful rounded ends in conduit!

I have put up several 9' &16' 2v domes and one 32' 3v dome and am now ready to make my own 16' 2v.

I imagine the answer will be some expensive commercial press that cuts and presses the ends all at once, but just looking for a confirmation!

Thanks so much in advance!

Josh

[norm...@gmail.com]

hi are you talking about rounding the crimp area?

I saw this rather crude method on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5z3SjrhUtn4

a press could have plates made to flatten like the image I grabbed from here.  They show a plate example too: http://www.domerama.com/fabricating/making-the-struts/geodesic-dome-struts-flattening/

You could even incorporate a hole punch into it

good luck

[Josh Parry]

No, I actually have a jig made for just the purpose! (bottom pic) I am talking about the cut ends. I keep seeing these beautiful rounded ends and I can't imagine how to make them with home tech!

[norm...@gmail.com]

you are way ahead of me.  Nice looking jig.  Could you describe its use more please?  Do you 'screw' tighten it down or does it go in press?

Have you consider adding a punch to your jig to make the hole at the same time?

I assumed that people rounded the corners by grinding them down but maybe people use a jig for that too?

I wonder what Blair uses?

[Blair Wolfram]

I use a 75 ton press, overkill for the 1.365" tube but not so much for the 3.5" Hurricane tubes. I have 3 different tools for making the ends; First I flatten the tube in the press, then I trim the corners and punch the hole in one stroke with another tool, then bend the strut angle with another. The smaller tubes can be bent to the proper strut angle in a vice with a stop gauge. My newest tool is a square punch so I can use carriage bolts for a no snag surface under fabric covers, eliminating both the SAE washers and the need to hold the bolt with a wrench during assembly.

Blair

--
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the "Geodesic Help" Google Group
--
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to GeodesicHelp...@googlegroups.com
--
To post to this group, send email to geodes...@googlegroups.com
--
For more options, visit http://groups.google.com/group/geodesichelp?hl=en

---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Geodesic Help Group" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to geodesichelp...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

--

Blair F. Wolfram
Founder, Dome Inc.

thedo...@domeincorporated.com

http://www.hurricanedomes.com

888-DOME-INC or 612-333-3663