A DIY Press Brake for a hydraulic Shop Press.

I use 3" and 4" channel for heavy material. 3" works great for me for 1/4" material. I made a bottom die with a 1" slot for 12ga. material and less. You can add some round stock inside the channel too. I also have a pointer next to my jack and a scale held on the side of the jack with magnets to use as a depth gauge for repeatable bends. I shot you some pics but I don't want to hijack this thread, just give you guys some other options when building.

Very nice. Thanks for the pics and added info. Looks great! I appreciate it.
schemer

pm sent
 
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Very nice. Thanks for the pics and added info. Looks great! I appreciate it.
schemer

pm sent
schemer , here's a pic of some of my bending stuff just to give you some ideas I've got more, I was getting tired dragging it out :lmao:

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schemer , here's a pic of some of my bending stuff just to give you some ideas I've got more, I was getting tired dragging it out :lmao:

Looking good. Thanks for the pics. I am sure my first one will not be my only one. :whistle:
schemer
 
I got a start on a 10" brake, thanks to your thread. After what you said about many slow passes with an end mill, I decided to take the vertical head off my Victoria. I'd only done horizontal milling once before - a few T-nuts for the 'new' mill.

I have to admit, I like being able to take the whole bevel in one pass. Turn the work around to make both sides match. I set up the arbor for three operations, just by moving the work for each one. The second operation was to round the crown slightly with the right-hand cutter.
PA011009a.jpg

The final operation added another 15[SUP]o[/SUP] to the bevel on each side to make it a bit closer to round. I might blend the three operations with some emery strip.
PA021013a.jpg

PA011009a.jpg PA021013a.jpg
 
I use 3" and 4" channel for heavy material. 3" works great for me for 1/4" material. I made a bottom die with a 1" slot for 12ga. material and less. You can add some round stock inside the channel too. I also have a pointer next to my jack and a scale held on the side of the jack with magnets to use as a depth gauge for repeatable bends. I shot you some pics but I don't want to hijack this thread, just give you guys some other options when building.
attachment.php?attachmentid=61567&stc=1&thumb=1&d=1380647865.jpg

I've been looking for an example on how to finish my press that I started about 4 years ago!

The rollers running on the verticals is a good answer. What size of steel are you using for the horizontal jack support?

attachment.php?attachmentid=61567&stc=1&thumb=1&d=1380647865.jpg
 
I've been looking for an example on how to finish my press that I started about 4 years ago!

The rollers running on the verticals is a good answer. What size of steel are you using for the horizontal jack support?

DAN, The top and bottom channel are 8". The plate above the jack is 1". The whole thing bolts together (with grade 8 bolts )so parts can be replaced if something gets bent.
 
Does anybody know the specs on the springs and where to get some? I have decided to use 3/4" posts so I need springs to fit over them but am unsure on the length and load specs. I will be using a 1" x 4" x 20" piece of steel for the top die.
Thanks,
schemer
 
I got my springs from old motorcycle shocks, I think an 80 or 100cc something small. If you have to, cut them so you don't compress them to far. You can also search for die springs on ebay.
 
I got my springs from old motorcycle shocks, I think an 80 or 100cc something small. If you have to, cut them so you don't compress them to far. You can also search for die springs on ebay.

I was looking at die springs and motorcycle fork springs today. Then I realized I have an old set that may work.
Thanks,
schemer
 
Hey Piney,
On the slot for the 3/8" key in the base, did you mill the whole .375 depth? Just curious now that I have milled .1875 in the base thinking of the old regular key slot thinking, but soon realizing the channel isn't thick enough to mill .01875 for the other half as it is only .1875 thick. :lmao: Probably easiest to mill the .375 instead of messing with the key stock later on the attachments but I thought I would ask just in case. My base is 1.00 thick by 4.00 wide.
Thanks,
schemer
 
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