Yo makerspace buddies,
Wondering if the brake we have is capable of bending 1/4 inch steel bar. No manual is posted on the wiki, so wondering if anybody has tried, or if someone has alternative recommendations for easily making right angles with steel bar.
Hope all are well and thanks for the input.
Best,
JJ
We do. We have a brake for the press in automotive. We’ve pressed up to 5/8" in it pretty easily.
Thanks for the info and good news @malcolmputer.
Can I ask if there is any training needed? Have a good bit of experience with sheers and welding, but never utilized a brake. Looks simple enough, but just covering bases to avoid a lifetime ban for destroying equipment.
That would be a question for @hon1nbo or @TBJK
One thing I would say is be very careful with the press as there is no gauge to find the red-line.
How wide do you need to take it?
Putting 90* bends in 2" width bar. If length is an issue, like the machine is up against the wall or something, I’ll be bending at around 3 feet.
That will work. I dont remember how wide it can do 1/4, I think 12” wide.
Yeah I think that’s right.
For reference it’s the Swag Off Road press brake kit. You can find information on their website.
It’s pretty simple to use; the only breakage we’ve had is people chip the teeth trying to put something too hard in it.
A36 bends like coat hanger wire the entire length for 3/16"
For 1/4" I think Tim’s on the money with 12" being the limit.
It can do up to 1/2" over 2". I personally make a ton of 3/8" flanges for my truck with it.
The lack of a pressure gauge on the press is pretty annoying, so keep an eye on things. For 2" wide 1/4" thick you shouldn’t come even close to the pressure limits though as long as you stop when you hit the bend limit.
Oh, and if you’re going to try for 1018 or anything cold/hardened, check the malleability and bend radius requirements because you may just end up cracking your material and chipping a die.