Garage Shop: Tools

I think a big barrier is the weird lack of inexpensive finger brakes... So useful compared to a box/pan brake. Why aren't there more? I keep hoping the advent of far more affordable cnc plasma tables will mean someone starts making them. So far the only thing remotely close is the swag off-road kits.

 

Can make your own dies



Then again, you guys into milling have the upper hand as far as precision goes

 

I'd love to own a lathe and cnc milling setup, but I don't have the space, funds, or smarts to do any of all that

I just glue stuff together

 

I wish I could “glue” as well as you! Hah! And if you can weld and run some cad, machining is pretty formulaic. Not saying it doesn’t take skill and knowledge, I’m just saying that if you have a fabricator’s mind, you’re more than half way there. And… No crazy hand eye coordination required! And if you really do want a setup keep your eyes in forums/craigslist as often fine manual tools can be had for the cost/effort of moving them.

 

Sitting on a plane thinking about an diy finger/press brake… Anybody here know anything about hydraulic motors/pumps? I see some dual pump things for tractors and am wondering if one could make two pistons move the same amount with something similar.

 

What's wrong with air over hydraulic bottle jacks? Super popular.

Tons of DIY DRO's using Arduino if you wanna go that route too.

 

N

Nothing! Tell me more. I have some experience with the arduinos. Fun. I was imagining a foot pedal up/down control with a limit switch. Big steel weldment frame… making a doodle.

 

Well I was running a step up from a Neanderthal setup where I didn't hand crank it but used a foot pedal instead -







I just got rid of the press itself but have the brake in the shed now.

I plan to make a larger press for bending as wide as 24 or 28". The 19" width wasn't cutting it for me.

I'm sure you can easily incorporate that, set limits as described and more.

 

You want to collaborate on that press? I sketched something while on this damn plane:


drew it 16” wide but I like wider! I like the idea of open sides so you can slide a part out the side… and twin pistons so you can press on the edge and not rack. Not sure if any of thi would work. I get “ creative” on planes. Must be the low oxygen.

 

To be fair, much of it would be square tube.

But if you need side plates and/or gussets, I can easily cut those out.

 

I modeled a rough pass of my sketch in Fusion and tried messing around with Fusion's analysis module. Here's a 30 ton load between the punch/die. (basically, bending 1/4" steel) Pretty fun! I remember working as an engineer and awe of the FEA system you needed a PhD to run, and that cost >$100k...


Needs a little work, probably!

I found a couple hydraulic cylinders and if I can figure out how to control them in tandem I think this might work. Anyone here have any experience with hydraulic systems? I have zero...

 

Once the air purged/bled they act as one. Fluid doesn't compress. Basically acts as a solid linkage once air is out.

 

Think of your master cylinder on your truck. All brakes are a different distance from MC, yet they evenly stop your truck.

 

You need a log splitter spool valve to control your set up.

Handle is in neutral, oil is just circulating thru the valve back to the reservoir. Handle forward or reversed, pump is moving oil to the cylinder, direction is determined which way the handle is moved.

The controlling valve is called a spool valve.

Look up log splitter hydraulics and I think you will find your answers pretty quick.

 

This is awesome. Thank you! I have a log splitter… I will investigate. I really think the world needs a small inexpensive press brake that uses standard tooling! (And that doesn’t cost $20k! (Or more)

 

Hmm thinking about this more, I am hoping to allow for uneven force on each piston, so I need to be able to pump the same amount of fluid in each piston. Not the same pressure…. Hm. I wonder how the big presses do it.

 

As mentioned, it's not difficult to make at home.

The large ones just happen to incorporate a few things mentioned like DRO, a lot of tonnage, and most importantly the dies themselves.

Got quoted $1400 or 1800 for a top die to certain specs at 36".

 

Who did you contact about the die? I’m starting a list.

 

Shiiit durostamp and trick tools I think

 

I’m going to make some calls next week and will share what I find out. I think the cost of a real die might be worth it…