Press brake for modified HF shop press

[Scooter]

I found lots pictures on line of different style press brakes so I thought I would make one too. The dies are 15" wide, the bottom is made from 1/2" plate with three pieces of 2x2x1/4" angle for the bottom die, the top plate is 3/4" X 4" flat bar that I ground a 60 degree angle on. I also added support under the base plate.
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[Scooter]

Here are some pictures of the brake sitting on the press

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[Scooter]

The first time I used the brake I decided it needed a small outlet table with a movable guide to keep the bends square, so this is what I came up with.
Scooter

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[Scooter]

Thanks Ken, I have only bent one piece so far and then I added the outlet table and have not used it since? I have been building stuff for the last couple of weeks that I sketched up over the winter. Most of it has just been upgrading my tools. The next project is a set of equipment style ramps for the trailer.

[geezer]

Very nice work Scooter, I like your use of plug welds, that's something I use quite a bit myself. question,,,where did you get those nice springs. I haven't done much on my own build, been too busy on other things, I stole /borrowed some idea's from Ram48 and I can see some idea's on your build that I would like to use.
Like the guide to keep the bend square, that's a smart feature.

[Scooter]

Thanks Geezer, I got the springs at Tractor Supply they have all different sizes and they are normally on the end of an isle back by the chain and cable area.

[DavidShearer]

Very creative idea for the bottom die. I'm impressed! What has been the maximum tonnage it's been put under, and how is it holding up? I guess my concern is what happens if the welds fail at high pressure and the work piece or pieces of the die escapes at high velocity. Just wondering.

FYI: Two more sources for all things "springy" McMaster Carr at http://www.mcmaster.com/, and Reid Supply at http://www.reidsupply.com/

[geezer]

Thanks David for the info, as far as a velocity concern on failure, I don't see that as much of an issue, failure would most likely involve some creaking, bending and a possible bang, but no serious movement, similar to concrete cylinder breaking or elongation testing for bolts or wire, a bang and some movement but no flying debris.

[Scooter]

David, like Geezer said I don't think there is much of a chance of the brake coming apart, I would never try to bend any type of hardened steel so the work piece won't be a problem either. With only a 20 ton jack the worst thing that will happen is the jack will run out of force and stop.

[geezer]

Scooter, I have been thinking of that guide strip to keep it at 90 degrees, make a mark on it and then you could use it to reference your bend point, say the bend is like at 3 inches on the metal and the mark is 2 more inches, so all 3 inch bends get marked at 5 inches, you wouldn't need a back stop that way. An idea anyhow.

[everlastsupport]

Scooter.

Did you plasma cut then grind, or all grinding on the 3/4" top plate ? What made you go with 60 degrees? Read somewhere 80 is the magic number for 90 bend. Where you going for more than 90? HF has a 20 ton on sale for $169 again and it keeps getting my eye. Though I have some "I" beams I can cut up and the jack is like $50..

[Scooter]

Mike, I did not have the plasma cutter when I did this, I put a new disc on the 9" Milwaukee grinder, laid it flat at the angle I needed and just kept going back and forth, then finished it off with a big file. I used 60 degrees because thats what most people were using when I read about press breaks. I bent some 1/4" and it will bend a little more than 90 degrees, I was not sure how much the work piece would spring back if any? I plan on getting a 20 ton air over hyd jack for it someday. I probably should have just built the press after everything I did to it?

[Scooter]

Scooter, I have been thinking of that guide strip to keep it at 90 degrees, make a mark on it and then you could use it to reference your bend point, say the bend is like at 3 inches on the metal and the mark is 2 more inches, so all 3 inch bends get marked at 5 inches, you wouldn't need a back stop that way. An idea anyhow.

Geezer, good idea, mind if I borrow it?

[everlastsupport]

Mike, I did not have the plasma cutter when I did this, I put a new disc on the 9" Milwaukee grinder, laid it flat at the angle I needed and just kept going back and forth, then finished it off with a big file. I used 60 degrees because thats what most people were using when I read about press breaks. I bent some 1/4" and it will bend a little more than 90 degrees, I was not sure how much the work piece would spring back if any? I plan on getting a 20 ton air over hyd jack for it someday. I probably should have just built the press after everything I did to it?

Hey Scooter,

Yea, I am still tossing around between, buy the air over build up the frame or $169 and done (after assembly). But the $169 unit will require some welding/beefing-up, I've looked at it in the store.

Seems like 60 degrees might be a better idea, and just eyeball it and you can still go over 90 if you want.

I guess I need to get over to the ironwork shop and get some 20"x6"x3/4 and get busy. Might wack it down with the plasma first then grind, see if that saves any time.

No word on the constant flow yet. But I opened mine and all is connected right, so waiting on engineering.

[Scooter]

Mike, I had to leave room for the cables on the bed lift. So my press base 1/2" plate is 8 X 18.5" and the bottom bending dies are 3, 15" wide pieces of 2"X2"X1/4" angle and the top die is 4"X 3/4"X 15" flat bar. I used the plasma to bevel some plates for the pivots on my next project (trailer ramps) and it worked great, the slag just knocked right off a quick grind and they were clean and ready to weld.

[everlastsupport]

Scooter,

On the plasma, move fast with plenty of amps and make sure you have a good dryer and you should have no slag at all. Those inline silica bead types work really well, harbor freight has them for $8. Use the chipping hammer and it does come off easy if I do have some to knock off, avoid doing it on concrete . Plasma cutters sure make life a lot easier.

I'll get over and get some 1/2 and 3/4 plate (drops) soon and get started on the brake, that way if I do buy the press it will fit and 18+ inches, that's pretty wide. I think the HF press is like 22 wide inside to inside. Too many project and never enough time.

[jtybt]

Sheeeit, I need one of them. Kinda tuff trying to bend everything with a hammer on the side of the bench. Got a 12 ton HF which is good enuff for doing stuck bearings. Should be good enuff for 1/8"...maybe 3/16"?

I remember some decades ago on my first try pressing out something on a big shop press. I figured it wrong and was pressing the wrong way. A piece broke and went flying and hit a wall 20 yds away. I'm much more respectful of presses now.

[Jason]

I too have planned to build one for my 12 ton press but have not got around to it yet with everything else. If you use a little heat, I bet you could bend thicker material.

[yotarover]

it's idea's like this that help ppl with a budget. complete projects and save money; yeah there's a whole lotta threads out there that show the same thing but when somebody else makes or does something new and shows what they did. it helps keep the diy trend alive along with showing that human skills besides being a desk corp monkey still exist.