Mandrel
From Biocrawler, the free encyclopedia.
Mandrel (pronounced "mandrul", and also transliterated as manderil) is a term that can refer to: an object used to shape machined work; a tool component that grips or clamps items to be machined; or a tool component that can be used to grip other moving tool components.
An example of one type of mandrel is a shaped bar of metal inserted in, or next to, the item to be machined or bent in a certain pattern. Exhaust pipes in automobiles are frequently bent using a mandrel. The mandrel allows the exhaust pipes to be bent into smooth curves without undesirable creasing, kinking, or collapsing.
A mandrel is supplied with a pop rivet for clenching it.
In jewelry manufacturing, ring and bracelet mandrels are used to shape metal into a desired size and shape, using a small hammer to beat the metal against the mandrel.
Another type of mandrel is the clamp that a lathe uses to hold the piece of wood, metal or plastic to be machined as it is turned.
Mandrels are also used to hold circular saw blades, buffing wheels, and sanding discs onto drills, circular saws, and similar power tools.
While most mandrels are driven by direct connection to a motor, other mandrels are driven by attachment to a pulley driven shaft.
Mandrels are not recent inventions. Metal machining utilizing the spinning process has been recorded as far back as Egyptian hieroglyphic times. In metal spinning, a wood or metal spinning mandrel is used, the form of which corresponds with the internal contour of the part to be produced. Also, the traversing mandrel was introduced around the year 1700 CE, and consisted of designing a lathe mandrel that would be able to slide axially in its bearings under the control of the operator so that components having short lengths of thread could be produced.
