home made box and pan brake

[Tisdelski]

hi guys,
i know this has been discussed before , but i`m still not sold on ordering a brake. i have a homemade brake that isn`t set up properly (pivot point in the wrong place) but anders drawings have showed where i went wrong and how easy it is to fix.
since i`m going to fix what i`ve started , i`m going to change the upper blade to make it a box and pan style. so far the best homemade box and pan i`ve seen is rick tucks (photos below) .
so my question is, is there any other brakes out there i have not seen yet? and if i was to copy ricks are there any changes that should be made? i should also say, the goal is a crisp 4ft bend on 18ga.

thanks, gary

[Mike Rouse]

Gary,
The pictures of the one I built are on my website.
rousecustomfabrication.com

Mike...

[Avalonjr]

Nice shop Mike.

Was the slip roll machine difficult to make? I always wonder why these roll machines are so expensive when they look so simple.

[Tisdelski]

hi guys,
heres mikes link; www.rousecustomfabrication.com looks like a lot of nice tools mike.
i think i`ve been convinced that a press brake is what i`m after. i believe this is what i`ll be copying . (another winner from ben (pedalcar) ) http://www.metalmeet.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=687&cat=3660&page=1

[Mike Rouse]

John,
The slip roller was pretty complicated. I guess the main problem is to install the shafts into the ends of the 1 1/2" schedule 80 pipe without a lathe. But it can be done. With a little lathe work it would be fine. The other thing is the end frames. They are made of 1" plate and 3/8" flat bar. The flat bar is used to make the slots. I used stick electrodes to weld this thing up.
A full size drawing of the end plates is a big help. I made them together and then cut them appart so that they would be the same.
I have rolled 16 ga for a transmission cover on it and made a hood for a 31 ford too.

Gary,
I had a project to build out of aluminum a while ago and needed to form a large radius bend (1" radius). I made a press brake using 2 x 10 wood and threaded rods. Worked real well. I made the dies from pipe and wood.
I finished a small 10" wide press brake made of 1/2" x 6" flat bar for use in my hydro press. Works fine. If you build a press brake, the included angle of the bottom die is to be less than 90 Degrees. I cut one leg of the angle shorter than the other and tack welded this in place.

Mike....over

[Avalonjr]

Thanks Mike,

I appreciate your description. It sounds do-able. I have a lathe, but the pass through isn't big enough to handle 1 1/2" pipe. I guess I'd have to farm that part out.

[Mike Rouse]

John,
The lathe does not have to pass the pipe. I made stub shafts that insert into the pipe ends. I used 7/8" cold rolled shaft and ring welded up. Place shaft in lathe, turn large end to id of pipe, insert into pipe and weld
That would be the general idea.
Mike...

[Avalonjr]

I thought you were saying that you machined the outside of the entire pipe and then machined a few inches of the inside for a press fit of the stub shafts.... I misunderstood.

How did you finish the OD of the pipe?

[Mike Rouse]

John,
I used seamless pipe, so it was pretty concentric, but not perfect. I used a disk sander and took down the highs. I polished the pipe using a well worn disk and some time.
I think once you insert the stub shafts you can place the whole roller in a fixture and test for concentricity, clamp and weld. Slow work but it can be done.
Mike

[Mike Rouse]

Oh the machine does not have any bearings. I drilled out nuts to form the holes then welded the holes in place with the shafts attached. I think the nuts are soft enough, may have some lead in the alloy, a little grease and off you go.

[kal751]

mike,

can you show some additional photos of the ring roller sitting next to your planishing hammer?.. what are the rollers made of?

thanks,

kevin

[Mike Rouse]

Kevin,
The ring roller uses 4" sched 40 pipe with 3/4" shaft bolts running through a piece of pipe (can't remember what size but I drilled it to 3/4" ) and welded disks to the inner pipe and welded to outter pipe. I will make some pictures tomorrow when I am in the shop. Will post some later.
I built this thing about 4 years ago.
Mike...

[Mike Rouse]

Kevin,
More pictures of ring roller are on my site.
Mike....

[kal751]

mike....

that's pretty slick , it's simple and sturdy looking

how tight a radius can you roll with it?

thanks

kevin