Rectangular ducts made from sheet metal nearly always need stiffening and, if you are not careful, this important refinement can badly upset the desired goal of “continuous flow” on the HVAC shop floor.
Generating higher production volumes can quickly be blunted by standard metal benders that are already working overtime on applications like box forming, channel forming, and hemming. Slowing down the production line is the last thing you want to do when business is thriving.
But don’t let stiffening get in the way. There’s an answer.
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Continuous flow not only calls for thinking ahead about how and where to place brakes, tubing, ductwork, cutters and bends, not to mention the locations of shop floor staff, but you also need to make sure you have the right machine for the right job. The stiffening tool – a vital cog in meeting compliance standards, too – is a necessary part of this process.
Roto-Die SMACNA Beader
Roto-Die’s SMACNA beader stiffens and strengthens duct in by leaving an impression in the sheet. Instead of requiring two intersecting impressions, like what’s done with cross-braking, the single smooth impression is enough to stiffen the duct. As a result, the SMACNA beader machine not only frees up the shop’s bender for other uses, it is a good deal faster.
It also has a very simple design, making it easy for even amateur operators and new hires to use. Flat sheet metal is fed easily into the SMACNA beader, which has a capacity for 16-30 gauge mild steel up to 5’ wide, with 5 beads of adjustable depth. After feeding, you will have accomplished your stiffening purpose – produced a duct that not only doesn’t warp and rattle and lead to problems, but allows your shop floor to operate smoothly in “continuous flow” mode.