Tips for buying a pipe bevelling machine

Pipe Bevelling is primarily a process used to prepare metal pipe or tube for welding by cutting a slope on the edge of the pipe. It is used in a variety of industries, from petrochemical processing plants, to food processing and general construction.

Shops who use bevelling machines regard them as an indispensable tool in their “competitive advantage” arsenal. If you are not bevelling, it could be costing you more in terms of quality and time than you expect.

Characteristics of a good Pipe Bevelling Machine

There are many ways to bevel, including hand grinding, flame cutting and machining, and there are many machines available to choose from. When choosing your machine, remember that an excellent bevelling machine: 

• Is lightweight

• Is efficient
• Is easy to handle
• Requires little set-up
• Operates at a fast speed
• Is easy to adjust
• Presents no health hazards to the operator
• Has the ability to produce oxide-free cutting edges

You also need to consider what kind of bevel is best suited for your application and whether the machine in mind is best suited to this application.

We recommend the DynaPrep Split Frame, a clamshell style machine designed for cutting bevelling, facing, counter boring and flange facing on heavy wall pipe including high alloy material. This can be mounted on the OD or ID of the pipe.

Factors that affect the quality of your bevel

When deciding what bevelling method to use, you need to consider the factors below that may be specified in the manufacturer’s drawings or blueprint:

1. DEGREE OF THE ANGLE
   Different angles apply to different applications. The standard bevel for most cases of bevelling pipe is 37.5° angle, but this is not the same for other metal applications. The critical key to a good bevel is being able to keep that angle within the tolerance level, whatever the degree.

2. LENGTH OF THE BEVEL
   The length of the bevel (sometimes referred to as the land), refers to the length of material removed to allow the weld bead to be laid into the material. Regardless of how it is measured, accuracy is important. Having a consistent length of bevel ensures easier operation when the welding is done. It reinforces the weld and makes it stronger simply because the integrity remains the same throughout the material being weld together.

3. SPEED
   Everyone knows time is money. The less time it takes to bevel, the more money you are making or saving, so it is important you choose a technique that can be done in the fastest cycle time possible.

3. HEAT AFFECTED ZONE (HAZ)
   If the term “heat-affected zone” (HAZ) is mentioned in the weld specifications, you must avoid heating the material that is being welded together. This is because metal is produced by combining varying levels of different alloys such as chromium, magnesium and iron to comprise the required structural characteristics of the metal for a specific purpose. When heat is later applied to this metal, the micro-structural characteristics of that alloy composition can change the material you originally purchased into a different metal. This means that heating the metal by working on it can ultimately change and/or affect many other components of your operation.

5. SAFE BEVELING
   When certain metals are heated they release fumes that can be toxic. If your workers are not using proper ventilation or masks they are potentially exposed to a serious health risk.  Make sure you know what specific metals are being used when working with a heat source and monitor the fumes that are produced. This critical factor should never be overlooked nor minimized.

Recommended Pipe Bevelling Machines:

Although bevelling is an afterthought in many shops we recommend spending some time before investing in a pipe bevelling machine to assess your needs in this area. This proves to have huge benefits in terms of saving time (hence money), preserving quality – and gaining competitive advantage. We recommend these models:

 More questions? Call us on 1800 734 000