Shop / Tools Today I want this...tool edition

[Ashcat]

Was browsing some homemade tools and saw a clever quick and dirty press brake utilizing a 20T bottle jack. That jump started my brain and immediately I thought of how I could replicate their tool with what I have laying around (luckily I haven’t hauled off my scrap yet. Procrastination pays)

Having a small parts press brake would open many gateways of fabrication techniques in the new build however I need capacity >48” for sheet metal work. Searched for inspiration and found a bunch of stolen photos linked on Pinterest with no original credit. Again with (some) material and parts laying around and the rest easily and economically sourced I want to build my own version of something like these



Linkages, motion ratio, leverage, hydraulics and no safety equipment what’s not to love?

 

[Hickey]

The welded in image of Bender seals the deal for me.

 

[frieed]

Looks like about 4:1 mechanical advantage, so about 80T. Not a lot of travel distance though.

 

[I Lean]

I like that style brake because it automatically keeps the dies parallel as well.

 

[Ashcat]

Looks like about 4:1 mechanical advantage, so about 80T. Not a lot of travel distance though.

I don’t think travel distance is a concern, care to elaborate?

The welded in image of Bender seals the deal for me.

Ummm, mandatory!

 

[Ashcat]

I like that style brake because it automatically keeps the dies parallel as well.

That’s what sold me. I was thinking of how to mitigate/maintain equal pressure across a long span in a home brew machine. This design is the answer and otherwise doesn’t need to be overkill/heavy for light sheet work. Could even be hand/lever operated.

Bonus points for using hardened fingers found on eBay or machine shop leftovers.

You could build these as stout or light as you needed. A fair amount of work involved but it would be possible in my eyes to build something similar for less than the cost of a used commercial machine

 

[4x4_Welder]

And onto the list it goes.

I've been toying with building a manual style brake but with hydraulics, but this looks way more straightforward.

 

[frieed]

I don’t think travel distance is a concern, care to elaborate?

4x the force but 1/4x the travel distance on the upper die.. that said, that ram probably has 4x the travel of a typical bottle jack so travel is probably about the same.

 

[Ashcat]

4x the force but 1/4x the travel distance on the upper die.. that said, that ram probably has 4x the travel of a typical bottle jack so travel is probably about the same.

Right, I understand the motion ratio and yes I’d use a left over long travel ram for a setup as pictured above. Forming dies don’t need to move much more than an inch or two. If only for light gauge sheeting, it could be operated by hand all slot machine or beer tap style especially if you cranked up the motion ratio in design

The mention of the bottle jack is for a small frame, small work piece bench top or vise unit that I didn’t include a picture of.

@frieed just think of the finger lose-ability

 

[frieed]

... The mention of the bottle jack is for a small frame, small work piece bench top or vise unit that I didn’t include a picture of.

I was thinking of my 19" HF one ..

 

[Ashcat]

Stolen from ibb random stuff you’ve made thread. Credit to @twankie


Didn’t want to post without digging up the credits where I found it

 

[glockman]

That is great. I'd bet you could build the frame with 1x square tube and it would be great for bending 1" strap for brackets and hangers.

 

[Hickey]

Stolen from ibb random stuff you’ve made thread. Credit to @twankie
View attachment 131539

Didn’t want to post without digging up the credits where I found it

That one is nice and simple. Years ago I built one similar to that, but about twice the size. It's served me very well for a long time.

 

[YROC FAB.]

View attachment 131533

Linkages, motion ratio, leverage, hydraulics and no safety equipment what’s not to love?

This is the guy that built This press brake^ Sadly his original thread is gone. heres a post about it however. > https://www.pirate4x4.com/threads/40-shop-press-ideas.1110935/post-15147914

 

[Ashcat]

Ok that was the name on some Jeep forum or something that was given credit without a link on some diy website I found it on. Thought the handle was familiar. Not sure if I can trust the old pbb. Might catch something I can’t get rid of......

 

[YROC FAB.]

Ok that was the name on some Jeep forum or something that was given credit without a link on some diy website I found it on. Thought the handle was familiar. Not sure if I can trust the old pbb. Might catch something I can’t get rid of......

I think he made the tread in the Torchmate forum which disappeared once Lincoln bought them out.

 

[Ashcat]

Ahhh, makes sense. The whole m&a liability cleansing......

Was listening to someone’s interview and they went into some detail about how the cool stuff vanished. Maybe it was JT Taylor

 

[Shawn]

 

[Ashcat]

That would be handy like the sawzalls that allow the second 90* blade position

 

[4x4_Welder]

What's the amp rating on that? I need a new gun for my Beta Mig 250, no matter what I get I'll have to make an adapter so at that price it's pretty tempting.