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Thread: Help with sheet metal bending
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15th May 2019, 03:11 PM #16Intermediate Member
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I used the 20 ton HF hydraulic press which also must be assembled. Swag Offroad recommended this press. The quality is pretty good compared to some of the other HF tools. I purchased this HF unit specifically for this project. After a little bit of tweeking, the HF press works fine. I have another more substantial hydraulic press that I use for other applications. Below are some Swag Offroad videos about their press brake kits.
I own 3 other full size bending brakes (48" width) that I use for most of my sheet metal work. Pexto 16 ga. finger brake, Whitney 22 ga. finger brake, and a Baileigh 16 ga. magnetic bending brake. I also have a few of the Grizzly bench mount press brakes. I built the HF press brake mainly to do thicker material, and to do bends that are not possible with the conventional bending brakes.
Yes - welding is required to assemble the Swag kit. If you don't own a welder and have no welding experience, I would probably recommend that you farm out the welding to a local shop. I would imagine that they could weld it up (including alignment) in several hours at most.
I looked at the sheet metal box that you linked to. If you want thicker material, you might consider using aluminum instead of steel. I think that I could probably fabricate and bend up that box in 16 ga. alumimum using the Grizzly T10726 12" brake shown in the photo. Even though this brake is only rated for 20 ga. steel full width, it can probably bend thicker material for narrow widths (maybe 18 ga. steel) and certainly 16 ga. (0.060") soft aluminum. I own 2 of these small brakes and they are very good quality with very nicely machined fingers. So this may be another option for your immediate need to make small boxes. If there was one brake that would do it all, then I would probably own that one and I wouldn't need all the others.
David
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15th May 2019, 03:12 PM #17Intermediate Member
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15th May 2019, 03:14 PM #18Intermediate Member
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Here is the photos of the Grizzly had bending brake. I apparently had to break this up because it was rejecting my previous post that had all the information in one reply.
Grizzly T10726 - 12 inch mini brake.jpg
Desert Hybrids PrecisionLast edited by adbuch; 15th May 2019 at 04:07 PM. Reason: Url not appearing automatically
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16th May 2019, 02:31 PM #19Intermediate Member
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Here are some photos of some sample parts bent with the Grizzly T10726 - 12" Mini Brake. This brake is rated for 20 ga. soft steel, but as you can see - 16 ga. steel is possible for narrower parts. This would be my recommendation for making small boxes and parts on a budget. If you are really on a tight budget and only need to make a few small parts, then another idea would be to use the Grizzly H3243 - 4" Vise Brake. Price is $24.95. I am going to order a set to try them out (you can never have too many tools).
David
www.desert-hybrids.com
20190515_200013.jpg 20190515_200020.jpg 20190515_200026.jpg 20190515_200034.jpg Grizzly H3243 - 4 inch Vise Brake.jpg
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16th May 2019, 08:15 PM #20New Member
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It looks like they make a 6" version of that Grizzly Vise Brake. I'd probably need to upgrade my vise to something with more clearance but that's an interesting option.
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17th May 2019, 01:54 PM #21Intermediate Member
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This is another option for you. I have one of these and it is great for small boxes and brackets. It will also shear sheet metal. I made a bracket so that I can mount it in the vise. Otherwise - you could bolt it to a bench or stand.
David
https://www.micromark.com/Mini-Metal-Shear-Brake
Micro Mark Mini Shear-Brake.jpg 20180707_212803.jpg 20180710_001259.jpg 20180710_001308.jpg 20180710_001317.jpg
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18th May 2019, 11:15 AM #22New Member
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It'd be nice to have the shear capability as well, but seems like the Grizzly vise brake would do better with thicker pieces.
Guess I'll have to decide if I want to try something simple like that vise brake or more involved like the press option.
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18th May 2019, 12:36 PM #23Senior Member
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There are some interesting tools you blokes have but I think a fly press is so much more versatile. With a bit of simple tooling you can punch, bend or crop up to 10g mild steel. I bent some of these 180mm long x 3mm pieces on this one yesterday but 300mm is easy with a wider bottom Vee.DSCN0399.jpg
I have a selection of 75mm & 100mm x 10mm pieces of different lengths that I screw an 1 1/2" spigot to if I'm making boxes or parts where you have size limits.DSCN0400.jpg
This one stuck in the cupboard is 450mm long and will do 2.0mm MS with little effort.DSCN0403.jpg
What size radius do you want? Weld a piece of round to some flat bar.DSCN0401.jpg
For punching holes I've got a base piece that holds 75mm dia dies with holes ranging from 3mm to 50mm. Stops & fences can be screwed to the base. Depending on the job I use either rubber or a fixed stripper and the punches for the larger diameters have some sheer. Pictured is the die for smaller holes.DSCN0404.jpg
Over the years I've accumulated a lot of different bits of tooling that doesn't take up much room including mandrels for bearing removal and assembly. I'd certainly be lost without my fly press.
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19th May 2019, 12:37 AM #24
Heres a link that may help with regards to sheet metal bending.
https://www.machinemfg.com/sheet-met...guide-bending/
Grahame
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