Thread: DIY Sheet Bender ?

Instead of "bender", the word you're after is "brake".

I've looked into make one before so these two links should give you a pretty good idea on how to make a simple one.

EAA - EAA Experimenter - Dave's Sheet Metal Bending Brake
How to make a DIY 30" Metal Brake

I'm not sure about the width or thickness of material they'd be good for, but I imagine it would only be a matter of the "jaws" being rigid enough over their entire width to make an even bend.

Hope that helps a bit

Reading through the EAA link bender, he is talking about bending .8mm Ali, a far cry from 2mm steel.
If you want to go to long bends in steel, you would probably find it easier to find a friendly shop with a 3m or larger brake press and tooling. Lots of issues involved once you get into thick material or long bends. A 20 ton shop press can be tricked up to bend maybe 300mm long bends, after that it becomes a major hassle to support tooling, plattens etc to get a straight even bend, and keep the deflection constant along the bend length. If you want to get to folding a trailer base/side unit, your probably looking to 60-80t press for reasonably tight corners.

We used to do 100mm x 12mm stainless furniture legs bent on the flat with a 40mm radius. These typically used around 60 tons of the available 90 ton force on the press. The 300mm long upper and lower tooling alone was around $2K around year 2000.

Thanks RedShirtGuy, some good ideas in those links. Correct, "Brake" was the word I was after, the space between the ears just couldn't find it at the time!

Thanks malb, that was what I had also considered, cut to size, take to a fabrication shop and have them bend for me. Cheers, Pete

https://www.woodworkforums.com/f65/ma...rs-home-45792/

Originally Posted by beer4all

Hello to all, just wondering if anyone has any info, pics, etc. on making a bender for 1.6 - 2.0 mm sheet. Toying with the idea of making one for various shed projects ie: trailer sides, guards, toolboxes etc. New to the forum world so have not yet scrolled through previous threads and posts. Any info, help, direction greatly appreciated. Cheers, Pete.

Having worked with a manual pan brake, to make one to handle a 2400 X 1.6mm, you will need access to some 25mm plate approx 2500X600 & 100x100x12 for the bottom section plus some pipe for the handle, approx 40kg block for counter balance.
For the top section 16mm plate approx 1.5m wideX2500 long cut into 2 pieces 300 for the bottom and 500 for the top piece these will be welded into a V, with the remainder cut into gussets and for the fingers.
You will also need access to a lathe to machine a couple of off centre cams to lock the top down, also pivot pins etc. as well as a milling machine/large surface grinder to dress the fingers and for adjustment slides etc. You will also require a heavy duty welder.
Depending on finances look at second hand machinery dealers, I picked up one 15 years ago for $1500 H&F have them for about $4500 and up. By the time you bought materials it would be cheaper to buy one ready made. My thoughts anyway, unless you have access to second hand steel plate etc and want to spend 2-3 months (weekends only) making it.
Have a look at a couple, to see if you REALLY want to do it.
Kryn

Thanks Kryn, very sound and seemingly very educated advice. Initial thought was "Only 1.6mm, wouldn't take much to fold that, surely." Yet the majority of my background is repairing motor vehicles, not metal fab. Ready made sounds like the sensible option. I do have access to all materials and equipment, though this one probably requires a bit more than I'm willing to commit to at this stage. Once again, Thanks and Cheers. Pete

Originally Posted by Master Splinter

https://www.woodworkforums.com/f65/ma...rs-home-45792/

Cheers mate, much appreciated. Not yet had time to go through this yet. Couple of slabs of frothies, a weekend, and will take in as much as possible! (Info AND Frothies!) Pete.

Hi Pete, I didn't want to put you off making one but I thought to be armed with more info was beneficial. Whenever you are down Wingfield way check out Machinery Warehouse on the corner of Cormack and Wingfield Rds.
That is where I bought my folder from, you could also give them a call to see what they've got.
Regards
Kryn

I'm happily bending up to 300 mm in 5 mm plate with a manual 30 ton press, but chuck in a piece of 6 mm and forget it.

Its surprising the forces required and how rigid the bender needs to be to neatly fold a long piece of 1.6 mm mild.

The folder I described was for folding 2400X1.6mm sheet, I forget what the force required is, but I think was somewhere around 90 tonne on a break press.
Regards
Kryn