It Came From the Fab Shop: Tools Even Better Than Hammers

[cjforumadmin]

http://www.bangshift.com/blog/It-Came-From-the-Fab-Shop-Tools-Even-Better-Than-Hammers.html

[squirrel]

Re: It Came From the Fab Shop: Tools Even Better Than Hammers

that's a neat machine! I've faked it a few times with my hydraulic press and some clever "tooling"...but the real thing is the way to go.

[Loren]

Re: It Came From the Fab Shop: Tools Even Better Than Hammers

I know a guy who built one like that, it works super-good. Just not fast! :D

[Weldangrind]

Re: It Came From the Fab Shop: Tools Even Better Than Hammers

I wonder if the term blacksmith came from a black art perception.

Lacking the funds and space for a press brake, I'd like to be able to replicate it on a minimal scale using my 12 ton hydraulic press. I have a pair of small brake jaws that are intended for a vise that work resonably well, but I'd pay for a selection of jaws and adapters that are designed for a small press. Has anybody seen such things?

[squirrel]

Re: It Came From the Fab Shop: Tools Even Better Than Hammers

Blacksmiths were probably covered in black soot from working at a forge all day....hence the name...

[realsteelfreak]

Re: It Came From the Fab Shop: Tools Even Better Than Hammers

Nice article Brian, My next tool to be purchased will be a decent quailty 48'' hand brake . I like that press brake though!

[SuperBuickGuy]

Re: It Came From the Fab Shop: Tools Even Better Than Hammers

ah the good old days... My dad has a 12' press brake, 10' shear, and a pullmax.... someday, I suppose, those will be mine and my wife will wonder (like my mom) at why I have it. I'll be sure to show her this article

[Ron Ward]

Re: It Came From the Fab Shop: Tools Even Better Than Hammers

Press brakes rule! I operate one from time to time at work (Old, old OLD Amada) and I gotta tell you, they are quite handy to have around. We bend everything from 18 ga. cold rolled A36 sheet to 1/2" plate. I agree, you absolutely, positively need to have your wits about you when you operate one of these machines. Not only can you lose a finger, but if you do not set up the tooling correctly, you can break a punch or die and send pieces of jagged, hardened steel whizzing across the room. Ask me how I know... :


Ron

[TheSilverBuick]

Re: It Came From the Fab Shop: Tools Even Better Than Hammers

Nice article Brian, My next tool to be purchased will be a decent quailty 48'' hand brake . I like that press brake though!

Nice write up Loren ;) Those things are awesome machines, especially with that heavy gauge steel. I just got a hammer, a concrete floor, a concrete step and a few pieces of wood to work with :P I've never made any thing successfully with them :P

[realsteelfreak]

Re: It Came From the Fab Shop: Tools Even Better Than Hammers

My bad, do I have to go to timeout now?

[Brian Lohnes]

Re: It Came From the Fab Shop: Tools Even Better Than Hammers

Hell no, I LOVE getting credit for good stories!

Brian

[realsteelfreak]

Re: It Came From the Fab Shop: Tools Even Better Than Hammers

Well good I like the BS site,and its nice being on here with good people. I must have had one to many to drink while looking over stuff and somehow thought Loren said Brian, well you know what I mean, just one to many.
So nice job Loren!!!

[BBR]

Re: It Came From the Fab Shop: Tools Even Better Than Hammers

but I'd pay for a selection of jaws and adapters that are designed for a small press. Has anybody seen such things?

x2

[Loren]

Re: It Came From the Fab Shop: Tools Even Better Than Hammers

I can post some pics of homemade ones in the next few days...

[Ron Ward]

Re: It Came From the Fab Shop: Tools Even Better Than Hammers

If you go to Wilson Tool's website, you can get the dimensions of the tooling (punches and dies) for American and European style press brakes. This stuff is pretty standard and can be found on evilBay and Craigslist on a regular basis as many fab shops and sheetmetal companies will discard old tooling as it becomes too worn to hold tight production tolerances. This tooling is still great for backyard use and can be bought for a mere fraction of the original price.

After reviewing the size and shape of the tooling Wilson offers, you can construct a tool holder for the punch and attach it to the ram end of your press. You will probably need a torch or plasma cutter to cut out the pieces for this tool holder and a welder to put them together, but it will pay off in the long run. You will then need to make a pedestal to mount the dies on. This will be a plate about 1/2" thick. Float the die on this mount and slowly bring the punch down into it to where it zeros out on the die. Scribe a line around the base of the die to mark its location on the pedestal. and raise the punch. You can then either drill and tap the pedestal to secure the die or form some type of holder bracket, like angle iron, to locate the die on the pedestal.

When using this type of tooling, remember the die opening must be at least 5 times the material thickness you wish to bend. Example: if you are bending 1/8" thick material, you will need a die with a V-opening of at least 5/8". This will keep the tooling from breaking due to too much pressure.


Here are some pics of typical pressbrake tooling.







Ron