Circuit for conduit bender

A circuit for controlling the bending operation performed by a bender on a conduit, the circuit comprising:

• a microprocessor in operative communication with a motor configured to rotate a shoe about which the conduit is to be bent, the microprocessor providing a motor control signal to the motor to control rotation of the shoe during bending of the conduit;
• a feedback circuit operatively coupled to the microprocessor, the feedback circuit permitting the microprocessor to determine a stop position for rotation of the shoe to achieve a desired bend of the conduit;
• and
• wherein the motor control signal provided to the motor to drive the motor ramps down prior to the shoe reaching the stop position to stop rotation of the shoe at the stop position without the use of a mechanical brake.

A circuit for controlling the bending operation performed by a bender on a conduit, the circuit comprising:

• a microprocessor in communication with a motor used to rotate a shoe about which the conduit is to be bent, wherein the microprocessor provides a motor control signal to the motor to control the bending operation;
• wherein the microprocessor is configured to determine a stop position for rotation of the shoe to achieve a desired bend to the conduit;
• wherein the motor control signal is configured to be ramped down prior to the shoe reaching the stop position to stop rotation of the shoe at the stop position without the use of a mechanical brake;
• an auto-sensing portion operatively coupled to the microprocessor and configured to provide information to the microprocessor about predetermined characteristics of the conduit to be bent by the shoe;
• and
• wherein the auto-sensing portion includes an absolute encoder fixedly mounted to a portion of the shoe and in electrical communication with the microprocessor, the absolute encoder positioned proximal to a magnet such that the auto-sensing portion or the microprocessor receives signals from the absolute encoder sufficient to determine an amount by which the shoe rotates.

A circuit for controlling the bending operation performed by a bender on a conduit, the circuit comprising:

• a microprocessor in operative communication with a motor configured to rotate a shoe about which the conduit is to be bent, the microprocessor providing a motor control signal to the motor to control rotation of the shoe during bending of the conduit;
• a feedback circuit operatively coupled to the microprocessor, the feedback circuit permitting the microprocessor to determine a stop position for rotation of the shoe to achieve a desired bend of the conduit;
• wherein the motor control signal ramps down prior to the shoe reaching the stop position to stop rotation of the shoe at the stop position without the use of a mechanical brake;
• an auto-sensing portion operatively coupled to the microprocessor and configured to provide information to the microprocessor about predetermined characteristics of the conduit to be bent by the shoe;
• and
• wherein the auto-sensing portion includes an absolute encoder fixedly mounted to a portion of the shoe and in electrical communication with the microprocessor, the absolute encoder positioned proximal to a magnet such that the auto-sensing portion or the microprocessor receives signals from the absolute encoder sufficient to determine an amount by which the shoe rotates.