Lower Anvil Idea

[goleafsgo_12]

"One of the biggest misconceptions in sheet metal shaping is the idea that it is the radius of the lower wheel that makes the compound curve. It is not the radius, it is the flat contact area that makes the compound curve. "

Wray wrote that in a post about lower anvils. I got thinking, if the curved part of the anvil doesnt make the curve of the metal at all, I may be off on this one totally but, why do you really need it? I mean, ive heard its there for support, but if your panel isnt resting on it anyways, why cant you just use the flat spot without the radius on either side of it. Machine yourself a whole bunch of basically hockey pucks of different widths, and forget about the radius. Chamfer the edges so it doesn't leave track marks and it should work, no?

Opinions?


Ryan

[Wray Schelin]

Hi Ryan,

The edges of the narrow lower wheels even if they are radiused on the edges will mark the panel unless you are working on small panels.

Another idea is to make the upper or lower wheels out of three pieces, a hardened center section with pressed on or screwed on plastic sides. Problem is you can make a solid wheel faster than you can make a three piece wheel and the solid wheel will be better in the long run.

[kustomizingkid]

It seems to me that you would have enough problwms not marking up your panel but with no radius to help you iut it would be hard to get the curve in the panel right. It might be fun to try just to see what would hapean. You can speculate all day but until you try it you never know.

Brandon M.

[CCWKen]

The radius is simply there to allow clearance for the piece your working. If you're rolling a bicycle fender, a flat die ain't going to cut it.