Automated tube straightening apparatus and method forstraightening a tube
A shaft straightening or tube straightening apparatus (10) and method performing accurate measurements of the linear profile of a metal tube (16), and then correcting small and large deviations of the tube profile from the ideal centerline along the length of the tube (16). The tube straightening apparatus (10) is operable to accurately measure a linear profile of the tube (16) positioned in the apparatus (10). The tube (16) is rotated in the apparatus (10) to locate a pair of low points in the tube profile and a high point of the tube (16) between the two low points. The tube (16) is supported in the apparatus (10) at the pair of low points and the high point of the tube (16) is then deflected beyond the yield point of the metal of the tube (16) to permanently distort the tube (16) and correct the tube's profile.