looking for sheet metal brake plans

[Chris Sawatsky]

I'm looking to build a 48" sheet metal brake for bending up some 16 gauge steel

Does anyone know of a good page that can outline the process and things to consider?

I've drawn up some plans, the concept seems ridiculously simple, but maybe I'm missing something

Any help is much appreciated!

Thanks

[jniolon]

Chris,

I just ordered a set from here.... nice plans

john

http://www.orilliapronet.com/rsw.engineering/home.html

[Chris Sawatsky]

interesting...

maybe you can answer a few questions I had, based on the plans you've got

Do the plans call for any machining of the folding edge (dye?) or is it just a standard piece of angle iron with a relatively square edge

also, is there anything designed to keep the center of the angle iron from flexing upwards? or is a 48" piece not really long enough to have significant flex when bending relatively thin (16 gauge) steel

Thanks!

the pictures on that site alone are enough to get me started

[Roger]

Press brake or what?

[Chris Sawatsky]

something like this:

http://images.andale.com/f2/115/106/604431/1031437347856_bender18.jpg


only bigger

[Dan]

Chris,

you can take the basic idea and scale it up from a small flat bar bending brake that i built and posted step by step pictures of in this project section. Just do a search for bending brake and you should find the info. This link should give a quick look at the design.

http://hobartwelders.com/mboard/attachment.php?s=&postid=1431

[Chris Sawatsky]

Hey Dan, the picture is good, gives me enough ideas to get going. I'll probably look through the rest of your posts on the subject too

For the edge that the piece gets bent against, did you sharpen it at all so it was more acute than 90º?

The angle iron on top of that strip is a good idea to prevent flexing!

I'll post pics here of course after I'm done, to help out the next guy like me

[Timinmb]

Chris, if you can, take a look at the one's they are selling a Princess Auto. It will give you some idea of the heft necessary to bend a wide piece of sheet metal without deflection. It has a sort of triangular gusseting for stiffness. They have a small model, not sure what gauge it will bend, for around $450.00. Might be worth looking at to get some ideas.

[qualls]

Harbor Freight has a simple brake for $49. You clamp a piece of flat bar (included) with C clamps for holding the metal. Lindsay's technical books has a plan for one with an overcenter locking device for the metal. It's a pretty simple plan but I have had it for 7 years and never built it. I thought the $49 was reasonable.

[Chris Sawatsky]

Originally posted by Timinmb
Chris, if you can, take a look at the one's they are selling a Princess Auto. It will give you some idea of the heft necessary to bend a wide piece of sheet metal without deflection. It has a sort of triangular gusseting for stiffness. They have a small model, not sure what gauge it will bend, for around $450.00. Might be worth looking at to get some ideas.

I had originally bought the $80 model from princess auto, but it was completely useless, nevermind the fact that it was only 30" so I returned it and decided to build my own
I didn't think to look at the big one for ideas, but I may just head back there for a second look. Lord knows I always need something from princess auto anyway, haha

good to see another winnipeger on here

[dseman]

I'm suprised all the hot-rodders haven't discussed the following book. It has been out since 1985 and has the following plans:
engine stand, hydraulic press, engine hoist, chassis rotisserie, sheetmetal brake , and motorized o/a cutter.

Anyone interested?

-dseman

[gde]

dseman,

I know what book your referring to. I built most of the projects in there. Very easy to follow explanations and pictures:p
Yeah, I'm surprised it hasn't been mentioned either.

[Roger]

The folowing book, strange name. Is it any good?:D

[dseman]

Roger,
It's a very good book. Do you want to know the name?
-dseman

[WarrenInDe]

I'm not Roger, but I'd like to know the name.

Thanks,
Warren

[dseman]

"The Racer's Guide To Fabricating Shop Equipment"

[INTP]

The Gingery "Build a Complete Metalworking Shop From Scrap" series has plans for a brake. It's similar to Dan's design, but has a more sophisticated locking mechanism. I have the book but have yet to build the brake. The brake is the only one in the series that can be made with welding only (no casting).

http://lindsaybks.com/dgjp/djgbk/series/index.html