Not another Metal brake :D

[KimB]

So, for those that have followed my Landy rebuild, you'd have seen the metal brake I was using to Fix the bulkhead.
I decided to finish said brake after work today
I had a look at some ideas today. I was basically making the clamp and adjuter today.

This pic was to show the Femi saw I reviewed, it cut these off so neat then I literally did one swirl with a flap disk and they err perfect!

Springs are just for effect right now, I need to order some springs that'll fit over the bolts. Also The mole grips were before I found some steel for handles.

I'm quite pleased the bends are quite tight which is good. Not bad for a load of scrap! I did incur more injuries though haha. Grabbing a fresh weld after doing it wasn't he wisest, also don't try to fold a peice of welding wire in your hand, I learnt the hard way, went all the way through the skin in my palm haha.
Kim

 

[gaz1]

I'm quite pleased the bends are quite tight which is good. Not bad for a load of scrap! I did incur more injuries though haha. Grabbing a fresh weld after doing it wasn't he wisest, also don't try to fold a peice of welding wire in your hand, I learnt the hard way, went all the way through the skin in my palm haha.
Kim

looks nice there kim i have already bought the materials for doing the same project but that got put on back burner while i did something else instead

as goes for burns theres more yet to come plumber by trade should know better but still keep doing it myself

oh and that wire one not done that yet even though i do the same

 

[Richard.]

Hey that's a cracking job Kim.
Nice clean folds
Looks quite thick gage too which shows you've made a ridged strong job of it. Flimsy examples flex too much under fold pressure and don't fold much in the way of thickness. Nice job.

 

[KimB]

Hey that's a cracking job Kim.
Nice clean folds
Looks quite thick gage too which shows you've made a ridged strong job of it. Flimsy examples flex too much under fold pressure and don't fold much in the way of thickness. Nice job.

Yeah it's not light Haha. I want to make a big one next for bigger sheets. Maybe 1m. But that'll take some planning to get a tight bend, hmm.

 

[Richard.]

The bend sharpness is down to two key things.
The sharpness of your clamp where the crease occurs.
flex in the top clamp and bottom pivotal plate when put under load.
Get these sorted and you can make it as long as you like.
It would also be a good thing if you make the top clamp bolting points slightly slotted so the clamp can move forward and back for tighter bends on thicker and thinner material.

 

[KimB]

The bend sharpness is down to two key things.
The sharpness of your clamp where the crease occurs.
flex in the top clamp and bottom pivotal plate when put under load.
Get these sorted and you can make it as long as you like.
It would also be a good thing if you make the top clamp bolting points slightly slotted so the clamp can move forward and back for tighter bends on thicker and thinner material.

Other than reinforcing the clamp, I've done both the other things. Hence the wing bolts on the back of the clamp.

 

[Richard.]

Other than reinforcing the clamp, I've done both the other things. Hence the wing bolts on the back of the clamp.

Ah yes I see. Nicely done. Well making one to take 1000mm sheets will be a simple job of just scaling things up and adding more reinforcement to take the extra stresses. You'll find at a mtr the material gage goes down but by how much depends on how strong you make it.

 

[KimB]

Ah yes I see. Nicely done. Well making one to take 1000mm sheets will be a simple job of just scaling things up and adding more reinforcement to take the extra stresses. You'll find at a mtr the material gage goes down but by how much depends on how strong you make it.

Andnhow strong I am to bend it haha. I struggled to do the bit of Ali but that didn't help that I forgot about offsetting the clamp

 

[Richard.]

Andnhow strong I am to bend it haha. I struggled to do the bit of Ali but that didn't help that I forgot about offsetting the clamp

You'll need a fraction more leverage than a pair of vice grips that's for sure.

 

[KimB]

You'll need a fraction more leverage than a pair of vice grips that's for sure.

I had a 500mm bars after. I think roughly!

 

[Richard.]

I had a 500mm bars after. I think roughly!

Weetabix Kim
That will soon see them bent

 

[Robotstar5]

I had a 500mm bars after. I think roughly!

You could add mechanical advantage by extending the bars the other way and adding weights, we had an ancient folder at work with what looked like flypress ball weights on as a counterbalance.

 

[KimB]

You could add mechanical advantage by extending the bars the other way and adding weights, we had an ancient folder at work with what looked like flypress ball weights on as a counterbalance.

Yeah I was thinking about putting a weight on that'll probably be more so for the next project. When I make a big one!

 

[octo0072000]

work could make you drive an old acki 6x4 with no power steering
that will get you some strong arm muscles

 

[Carl Wilson]

Can I ask if this is a published design or is it your design? If it is your design, could you publish it please?

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Can I ask if this is a published design or is it your design? If it is your design, could you publish it please?

Spoiled for choice https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=sheet+metal+bender

 

[gaz1]

also paul on here built one as well 6mm angle iron

 

[Screwdriver]

Could something like this be converted to produce a relatively crude curve bending mechanism to make cylinders? I appreciate a triple roller is preferred to form a continuous curve but that is an order of magnitude more difficult to build.

 

[gaz1]

in theory yes as long as you bend it a little move it bend it a little and carry on

only works with thin up too 1.5mm or 2mm depending on your build

 

[Screwdriver]

in theory yes as long as you bend it a little move it bend it a little and carry on

only works with thin up too 1.5mm or 2mm depending on your build

Has anyone made one do you know? It would be for 1.5mm sheet, max 600mm wide so I can make cylinders and pipe, maybe even the odd flue.