Re: [rp-ml] Bending Steel Studs

From: Bo Atkinson <bo_at_midcoast.com>
Date: Mon Apr 26 2004 - 12:21:17 EEST

>List,
>
>Anybody know where I could go to get some information on bending 2x6
>steel studs?

--A very unusual material for bending.

>Anybody know anyone that has done it. Anybody know someone that has
>set up a jig to do it?

--Closest is tube bending like exhaust shops. Where there is a will,
one could find a way to customize rectilinear formers , to some
reasonable extent.

>
>Can you tack weld steel studs to steel studs? Do you need to heat
>them prior to bending? Are they still considered structurally sound?

--With care, very thin metal welds nicely using MIG welders. Heating
would be an expensive last resort, probably not reasonable since
solid, uncrimped channel stock might be cheaper than heating, (but
high in cost regardless). However all steel pricing is way up in
costs today. Solid square tubing bends fairly well, but where typical
studs are inherently punched with holes, folded and crimped, then
these present fatigue points , messy distortions and bending
challenges. How much fatigue and how much structure, one should test
first hand. I'm using bent EMT conduit for light structural purposes
because it sculpts very easily and with low cost tooling. It readily
accepts self threading screws for later attaching of sheathing.
Complex curves can be projected graphically (from NURBS CAD), to
bypass more costly digitizing schemes. I'll be posting my latest work
on link below, within a couple weeks.

-- 
Bo Atkinson
http://www.midcoast.com/~bo
Received on Mon Apr 26 12:54:32 2004

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