To bead a piece of pipe 3 inches from the end, you would need what type of rotary machine?

• A. Deep throated rotary machine
• B. Lathe
• C. Belt grinder
• D. Drill press

Answer: (A)

Beading a pipe a specified distance from the end requires a rotary machine that can reach and support long cylindrical work without the tool colliding with the bed. A deep-throated rotary machine has a long throat opening, giving the clearance and reach needed to form a bead 3 inches from the end while the pipe is held and rotated smoothly. This setup allows the beading roller to engage the curved surface consistently around the circumference. A lathe isn’t ideal here because beading around a pipe end on a rotating length isn’t its typical, efficient use, and it wouldn’t provide the same access and support for forming a continuous bead at that distance. A belt grinder or drill press can’t perform the required rolling bead operation on a curved length of pipe.