Method for splicing lengths of hose or tubing, comprising:
- providing a tube splicing machine having a frame, a die holder located on the frame, with a swaging die removably mounted in the die holder, the die holder including a main plate and a top plate removably connected to the main plate, with a die holding opening defined through a portion of the main plate and the top plate, the swaging die including two die parts that together define a die opening and are separable along a mid-line of the die opening, a splice fitting engagement plate with a splice fitting engagement portion that is located on the frame, the splice fitting engagement plate having an open or openable top to allow removable connection to a splice fitting, and an actuator connected between the splice fitting engagement plate and the frame for moving the splice fitting engagement plate relative to the die holder in an axial direction of the splice fitting from an initial position to a swaging position in order to swage a splice fitting onto a length of hose or tubing;
- providing first and second lengths of hose or tubing to be spliced and a splice fitting having first and second insertion portions facing in opposite directions and first and second swaging collars;
- locating an end of the first length of hose or tubing in the swaging die;
- positioning the first swaging collar on the end of first length of hose or tubing and inserting the first insertion portion through the first swaging collar and into the first hose or tubing end;
- engaging the splice fitting with the splice fitting engagement portion on the splice fitting engagement plate;
- actuating the actuator so that the splice fitting engagement plate moves relative to the die holder in an axial direction of the splice fitting to push the splice fitting and the first swaging collar into swaging die, compressing the swaging collar against the first length of hose or tubing and the hose or tubing against the first insertion portion to form a permanent connection;
- opening the die holder and the swaging die and removing first length of hose or tubing with the attached splice fitting;
- locating an end of the second length of hose or tubing in the swaging die;
- positioning the second swaging collar on the end of the second length of hose or tubing and inserting the second insertion portion through the second swaging collar and into the end of the second length of hose or tubing to be spliced;
- engaging the splice fitting with the splice fitting engagement portion on the splice fitting engagement plate;
- actuating the actuator so that the splice fitting engagement plate moves relative to the die holder in an axial direction of the splice fitting to push the splice fitting and the second swaging collar into the swaging die, compressing the second swaging collar against the end of the second length of hose or tubing and the second length of hose or tubing against the second insertion portion to form a permanent connection;
- and
- opening the die holder and the swaging die and removing the second length of hose or tubing with the attached splice fitting so that a permanent connection is made between the first and second lengths of hose or tubing.