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Mandrel bender shouldn't break bending stainless, unless....
The pipe slips during the bending process, then wrinkles, then the mandrel starts to withdraw, and it can't because the pipe is wrinkled, so the mandrel balls snap and you are left hating life. Get serrated grip dies (not carbide), watch the pipe for slippage, and save yourself a $3000 die fix (unless its 3", then it'll be $6000).
Are you sure its a mandrel bender at school?? I'm just saying for the grant money you guys received you couldn't really buy tools, a mandrel bender and dies (just the mandrel dies range from $1500 to $6000 and UP PER SET, a good machine is about $40000-$75000). You need a special die for every OD tube, as well as the ID since the mandrel rides inside the tube. You more than likely have a hydraulic bender (which is a crush bender). But, if you do have a mandrel bender and its broken let me know (snapped mandrel, wiper die, etc), I may have the parts you need to fix it.
Or, I'd be more than happy to sell the school my DB2060K with 2.5" and 3" dies for the bargain basement price of $32000:-)
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