Conduit Bending, Cutting, Reaming, and Threading Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering conduit layout, bending calculations, cutting techniques, reaming procedures, and threading specifications.

NEC® Bending Limit

The standard permitting a total of no more than 360^\round of total bends in a single run of conduit between pull points.

Four-Bend Saddle

A conduit configuration consisting of two offset bends formed back-to-back where all four bends must be aligned on the exact same plane.

Bending Practice Wire

A piece of No. 10 or No. 12 solid wire bent to resemble desired conduit bends to help anticipate bending problems.

Distance to First Bend Formula

The calculation for a four-bend saddle defined as $\text{Distance to obstruction} - (\text{offset} \times \text{constant for angle}) + \text{shrinkage}$.

Offset Bender

A specialty tool used for wall-mounted boxes with exposed conduit that automatically matches the offset to the box knockout position.

Stub

Another term commonly used to describe a $90^\circ$ bend in conduit.

First Hickey Bend Angle

The recommended angle of approximately $10^\circ$ for the initial bend made when using a hickey.

Standard Conduit Length

The standard manufactured length for RMC, IMC, and EMT, which is $10'$ ($3\,\text{m}$).

Hacksaw Blade Tooth Count

The recommended specification of $18$, $24$, or $32$ cutting teeth per inch used when cutting conduit.

Pipe Cutter Feed Rate

The operational procedure of tightening the pipe cutter screw handle $\frac{1}{4}$ turn for each full turn completed around the conduit.

Snapping Conduit Technique

The practice of stopping the pipe cutter when a cut is almost complete and snapping the conduit to minimize internal ridge formation.

Conduit Reamer

A tool rotated using a downward motion inside a newly cut pipe to smooth sharp inner edges and remove burrs that could damage wire insulation.

Alternative Deburring Tools

Substitute tools such as a half-round file with a handle on the tang, diagonal cutter nose, or small hand reamers used when a standard conduit reamer is unavailable.

Threadable Conduit Types

Rigid Metal Conduit (RMC) and Intermediate Metal Conduit (IMC), which are the only conduit types with wall thickness sufficient for threading.

Conduit Die

A tool used to cut a tapered thread onto the ends of RMC and IMC conduit.