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Steel pipes have a variety of use by customers and industries. Therefore, a manufacturing factory produces these pipes in different lengths and diameters. Furthermore, they use either the welded method or seamless pipe manufacturing procedure. Seamless pipes are useful where they do not experience high stress. The manufacturing process allows for controlling the diameter and length. When compared with cold-formed pipes, the steel pipes that use the hot finished procedure show consistent strength, increased life, and reliable mechanical properties.

Manufacturing process

The manufacturing process of a steel pipe begins with the use of the raw material. The factory converts it into a workable layout, which it then uses for continuous or semi-continuous production output.

1. The furnace melts the coke and iron ore to get the molten steel. By using the blast of the oxygen, removing the high content of carbon is possible. The molten steel then flows into the molds, where it cools and turns into ingots.
2. The ingots pass through large rollers under extreme pressure. It helps in achieving the desired output, such as bars, rods, sheets, or plates.
3. The next procedure consists of producing slabs or blooms. Manufacturing a bloom is possible by passing an ingot through grooved rollers. These rollers also go by the name “two-high mills,” and sometimes, a factory chooses three rollers. The mounting of the rollers is such that they move in the opposite direction, and the grooves coincide. The rolling action causes the squeezing of the steel and stretches to longer pieces. Reversing the rolling motion causes the bar to become thin and long. The process continues until it achieves the needed shape. A manipulator machine helps in flipping the steel to process it evenly. Benders are the most important machines for use in bending pipe. You can check various metal fabrication and shaping tools at https://speedwerx.com.au
4. The blooms pass through further rollers, which increases the length and reduces thickness. Flying shears help in cutting the billets to desired lengths.
5. After the stretching process is complete, it proceeds through a series of tanks that contain sulfuric acid. The acid removes the unwanted deposits on the steel pipes – both externally and internally.
6. After passing through the acid, the pipe heads to the cold and hot water tank. The process helps in rinsing, which removes the acid particles.
7. The next step involves drying the pipe before passing on giant spools.
8. Both billets and skelp help make pipes. A skelp first sits on an unwinding machine. As the steel spool begins unwinding, heating takes place. The steel then passes through grooved rollers. When it passes through the grooves, the pressure of the rollers causes the skelp to curl together. It forms an unwelded pipe.
9. The unwelded pipe passes through welding electrodes. They seal the two ends of the tube together. The welded seam passes through a roller to create a tight weld.
10. Square billets are useful for seamless steel pipe production. The billets pass through furnace and acquire a round shape. The rollers roll the heated round under high pressure. It causes the billet to form a hole at the center and stretch long. The thickness and shape are irregular. The factory uses a bullet-shaped piercer to correct during roller. After the piercing phase, the round passes through a series of rolling mills to alter the thickness and shape.
11. The straightening machine achieves straightness. Oil coating or zinc coating helps in the prevention of rust formation.

So this was the step by step guide to manufacturing steel pipes in the factory. There is a different process to make plastic and poly drainage pipe which are mostly used for home and commercial water supply and drainage purpose. Share your views if you are familiar with this industry.