Homemade Press Brake

[fabjunkie]

Had some small brackets to make today so I threw this together real quick to make some bends. It fits my 20 ton HF press. I've been wanting to make one for a while just haven't really needed to. I eventually want to get the Swagg Offroad brake kit, but this will work for now.

Just some scrap angle, tube, and channel I had laying around. 10" long because that's what I had. Did 3/16" like butter. I bet 1/4" would be easy too.

 

[rdn2blazer]

Nice job. Thats what we would call a quick & dirty fab job. Works as good as any other I bet too.

 

[fabjunkie]

Thanks. I'm not even going to bother cleaning it up, works great as it is. I may make a bigger, cleaner one eventually. Probably not as long as this one works though.

 

[Avery4jc]

I have one like that at work I use once in a blue moon that goes on our big press and it works great. If we did it more and needed stops and great repeat-ability we'd get the "right" tool for the job but for us it works prefect.
I really need to get something similar setup for here at the house. Sure comes in handy and makes your brackets/tabs look a lot more professional.

 

[ashman]

nice! I like it.

 

[fabjunkie]

Had to make some improvements today. Needed to bend some 3/8" so I did a test bend with a 2" wide piece and it worked ok. Went to bend the 5 1/4" wide pieces that I was making and it didn't quite hold up...

Test piece

I got this far with the 5 1/4" wide pieces...

And this happened....

So I built a new top section with a chunk of 3/8" plate and new tube that I doubled up.

Beveled the plate.

Also added another cross beam to the lower section.

Finished up and in the press.

And the finished product. New spring plates for the 14FF. The 3/8" was still a bitch to bend, but the brake held up.

 

[rdn2blazer]

Very nice. I've found that whatever I'm bending, I like to have the material I'm bending with, be at least twice the thickness of whats being bent. Then there is no issues with things like that. Of course you still need the power, but the bending die(s) will hold up.

 

[Avery4jc]

Nicely done!

 

[TheBeast_88K5]

Awesome!

 

[ktmoutfront]

Used one of these a few times. Worked slick. Even did some 4" wide 3/8 like he clams. I wheeled with his brother who had one.

http://www.swagoffroad.com/12-TON-Press-Brake-DIY-Builder-Kit-_p_72.html

 

[Deuling]

If you have a torch and heat up the bend area, it would bend a lot easier and be leave less stress on the metal.



Looks awesome though! I'm gonna be building one for ours

 

[fabjunkie]

Used one of these a few times. Worked slick. Even did some 4" wide 3/8 like he clams. I wheeled with his brother who had one.

http://www.swagoffroad.com/12-TON-Press-Brake-DIY-Builder-Kit-_p_72.html

Trust me, it's on the list. When I get to the point of needing something wider than 10" and/or repeatability, it will be ordered.

If you have a torch and heat up the bend area, it would bend a lot easier and be leave less stress on the metal.



Looks awesome though! I'm gonna be building one for ours

With as many tools as I have, I don't have an Oxy/Acetylene setup yet.

Can't beat the price! I have a habit of keeping any scrap that's bigger than a couple inches and it comes in handy for stuff like this.

 

[ryoken]

I don't own a torch either... $350 would get me a nice cart set up.. one day...

I'd like to do something like this, but I need to upgrade my press first to 20 ton or better..

 

[Deuling]

Built one today

 

[fabjunkie]

Looks good! I would extend the gussets out to the ends on the top piece if you plan on doing anything heavy, otherwise.....

Looks like you might have some beef in there as it is though. Can't really tell in the pic.

 

[Deuling]

Looks good! I would extend the gussets out to the ends on the top piece if you plan on doing anything heavy, otherwise.....

Looks like you might have some beef in there as it is though. Can't really tell in the pic.

Gonna make another blade like that one you did. We wanted to be able to bend u shapes so that's why I cut the gussets, so you can keep the piece as close as possible to center.