I'm getting a used one from where i work for our team. They bought a new one
and we got the old one. I worked as a blacksmith for a few years (and did sheet
metal work for 2 1/2 years before that) and one thing
i learned when working with aluminum to keep in mind is that while thin
aluminum sheet metal is easy to bend...the thicker stuff is a bit tricky to
work with. If you work with anything over 1/8 inch you might need to heat
right at the area your bending or else the aluminum can crack when bent.
We've bent aluminum up to 1/4 inch after heating with little problem.
Its a bit hard to heat it and not melt it. One of the old blacksmiths showed
me how you keep heating it and checking it with a piece of wood. you keep
rubbing the wood on it (with the heat source removed) and when you see
a brown streak or smear its getting close to its melting point. Also remember
to wear gloves when heating. And to keep your fingers clear of pince points
in the brake.
If you have the money to buy a new one...thats great, but if you can't
keep your eye on auction sales or sheet metal shops that are either
going out of business or upgrading equipment. Heating and air conditioning
companies often also do their own sheet metal work. You don't need a
8' or 6' brake press...something 3' to 4' will do for robotics. Also if you can
get one that has ajustable fingers instead on one solid top brake so its
easier to make smaller parts. Here are the two basic types...
http://metal.baileighindustrial.com/...and-pan-brakes
The first one has adjustable fingers. The fourth one down has one solid
brake.