Bending small stock?

Metal Shop
1

What would be the best machine to use to bend something thin?

I want to bend some 0.020" thick aluminum, about 10" long. When it’s finished, it should have a 90o bend and be about 1/4" long on each leg. I think I can put it into the JSM guillotine cutter after bending and get the legs to the proper dimension, so that’s not much of an issue. I just want a good, straight bend parallel to at least one edge. :grin:

I have about a half-dozen to do.

I cosidered just screwing two pieces of board together as a clamping fixture (with the alum between them) and bending over that. I’m concerned that the “fold” will be wobbly if I do that.

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2

Set up a jig & use the magnetic brake.

3 Likes
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So…you know we need to know what sorcery you’re working this time. What’s it gonna grow up to be?

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Corner trim on an elaborate metal dye sub “skin” for a vintage kitchen room box.

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Thanks! The user manual is online (linked from the wiki) so I’ll see if I can figure this out.

6

I think there is a small bender somewhere in the machine shop. @Photomancer showed it to me a while ago.

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I saw an interesting method where someone 3D printed the shape to bend then used a simple bench vise to do the bending.

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