totally cut through. The tube cutter needs to have sufficient reach to cut behind the tube sheet. Proper lubrication and cutting speed will increase cutting blade life. Tube Pullers- Used to break the seal and pull expanded tubes from a tube sheet. A spear or expanding collet is inserted and engaged into the tube inner diameter. A ram or gun applies force to exert an extracting force on the tube. The power to pull the tube is generated manually or through a hydraulic pump. The hydraulic pump can be manually, electrically or pneumatically driven. The pulling force required will vary with the tube size and wall, the depth of the tube sheet and tube material. Pneumatic Hammers-Pneumatic Hammers are an alternative method to remove tube stubs from heat exchangers and boilers. Maintenance technicians use piloted knockout tools to avoid damage to the tube sheet. The knockout tool is inserted into the tube and the impact pneumatic hammer is actuated to punch out the tube stub. Tube Installation (Tube Expanders)- Tube Expanding is the art of reducing a tube wall by compressing the outer diameter of the tube against a fixed container such as rolling tubes into tube sheets, drums, ferrules or flanges. Construction of heat exchangers, boilers, and surface condenser tubes is mainly limited to copper, steel, stainless steel, and cast iron with exceptions such as the use of titanium in ultra high pressure vessel applications. To assure a proper tube joint, the tube wall must be reduced by a predetermined percentage dependent upon the material the tube is constructed of. For example, Tubing Material: Copper & Cupro Nickel 8 - 10% Steel, Carbon Steel & Admiralty Brass 7 - 8% Stainless Steel & Titanium 4 - 5% Pneumatic or hydraulic torque rolling devices with an expander (consisting of a mandrel, cage with rolls, case assembly with a thrust collar) are used to expand the end of the tube so it seals against the tube sheet of the vessel. It is important to note that the type of tool has to be with paired not only with material but also the inner and outer dimensions of the tube as well. Thickness of the tube sheet (what each individual tube is inserted into) has to be taken into consideration during tube removal or installation procedures. References Industrial equipment Tubing (material)