I was curious what best practice would be to put some bends into 1/8" high-tensile or stainless steel.
I was reading the manual for the Baileigh Pan and Box Brake and it is only rated (overrated according to the internet at large) to 0.9 mm stainless sheet for a 46" bend. Granted my bend would be 2.1" not 46" but it would be much thicker at about 3.175 mm.
So I’m guessing I need to use the press brake.
My questions are 1) do I have to use the press break or can I get away with using the box brake since my material is narrow and 2) if I have to use the press brake can I make reasonable accurate bends that aren’t 45 degrees? Looking at the brake we have here at work, the die/insert produces ~45 degree bends (bends the work 135 degrees) when you fully press it. Are there multiple inserts or do you vary the bend by carefully modulating your press?
I’m also considering slotting the plate for weight reduction so that would further reduce the effective width of the bend.