How do you roll over a tube edge?

[KrazyKid]

@Boxersix

Die forming titanium tube requires close tolerance dies and forms and some serious tonnage. While being somewhat elastic for lack of a better work, it’s a very difficult metal to die forge in thin cross section material. It CAN and HAS been done, but requires thousands of dollars in special dies. Titanium like to gall itself easily and "weld’ to steel.

You can anneal titanium but that’s a whole other bag of tricks as it easily forms a surface oxide when unshielded.

You need to spin it. It is the only way to achieve a proper, consistent, and good looking finish in the end. All are important because nobody is going to spend any money on a tip that looks like shit, especially one that costs as much as a titanium one will be. Titanium is not cheap, not even your basic 6al4v let alone some pure grade T2 or similar.

Look up videos on metal spinning. I have the ability to spin some stuff on my larger lathe but my dies are specific to certain parts. You’d still need a proper set of machined dies and tooling to do this right, otherwise you’ll be wasting a huge amount of money.

Figured as much really. Lots of go information. Thanks! I am going to look up some videos and check it out. I came up with an idea yesterday to make a simple geared turn table to chuck up a pipe and sping it around on my shop press. then make a simple die that would set screw onto the press shaft, then you can slowly apply pressure with the press while the piece spins and roll the lip inwards.

Titanium is shooting for the moon, but I bet that stainless would be softenough to roll with my homemade lathe idea.

who knows, its all just a search for ideas and knowledge really. Keeps my mind rolling you know.