Go to Post however, if i tried it i would probably end up setting my hair on fire - Henry_Mareck [more]
Home
Go Back   Chief Delphi > Technical > Technical Discussion
CD-Media   CD-Spy  
portal register members calendar search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read FAQ rules

 
Closed Thread
Thread Tools Rating: Thread Rating: 3 votes, 5.00 average. Display Modes
  #1   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 22-05-2014, 11:22
FrankJ's Avatar
FrankJ FrankJ is online now
Robot Mentor
FRC #2974 (WALT)
Team Role: Mentor
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Rookie Year: 2009
Location: Marietta GA
Posts: 1,945
FrankJ has a reputation beyond reputeFrankJ has a reputation beyond reputeFrankJ has a reputation beyond reputeFrankJ has a reputation beyond reputeFrankJ has a reputation beyond reputeFrankJ has a reputation beyond reputeFrankJ has a reputation beyond reputeFrankJ has a reputation beyond reputeFrankJ has a reputation beyond reputeFrankJ has a reputation beyond reputeFrankJ has a reputation beyond repute
Sheet metal brake

Anybody have recommendations for a good sheet metal brake for FRC? I would like something that could bend up to 1/8 aluminum. It seems most the hobbyist or light industrial brakes cannot.
  #2   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 22-05-2014, 11:53
AllenGregoryIV's Avatar
AllenGregoryIV AllenGregoryIV is online now
Engineering Coach
AKA: Allen "JAG" Gregory
FRC #3847 (Spectrum)
Team Role: Coach
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Rookie Year: 2003
Location: Texas
Posts: 2,563
AllenGregoryIV has a reputation beyond reputeAllenGregoryIV has a reputation beyond reputeAllenGregoryIV has a reputation beyond reputeAllenGregoryIV has a reputation beyond reputeAllenGregoryIV has a reputation beyond reputeAllenGregoryIV has a reputation beyond reputeAllenGregoryIV has a reputation beyond reputeAllenGregoryIV has a reputation beyond reputeAllenGregoryIV has a reputation beyond reputeAllenGregoryIV has a reputation beyond reputeAllenGregoryIV has a reputation beyond repute
Send a message via AIM to AllenGregoryIV
Re: Sheet metal brake

I've looked around for the same thing. There are some guides on how to weld up some supports for the small Harbor Freight brake that will let it bend some lengths of 1/8" aluminum.

We are looking at getting this in our new shop next year. The spec sheet says it can bend 8 gauge aluminum which is just over 1/8". I highly doubt it can do that at full width but it can probably do some length of it and bend 090 pretty easily. Haven't used it yet though, so it could be terrible. It's also huge.
__________________

Team 647 | Cyber Wolf Corps | Alumni | 2003-2006 | Shoemaker HS
Team 2587 | DiscoBots | Mentor | 2008-2011 | Rice University / Houston Food Bank
Team 3847 | Spectrum | Coach | 2012-20... | St Agnes Academy
LRI | Alamo Regional | 2014-20...
"Competition has been shown to be useful up to a certain point and no further, but cooperation, which is the thing we must strive for today, begins where competition leaves off." - Franklin D. Roosevelt
  #3   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 22-05-2014, 12:03
mrmummert's Avatar
mrmummert mrmummert is offline
Registered User
AKA: hank
FRC #1610 (bot)
Team Role: Mentor
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Rookie Year: 2005
Location: franklin
Posts: 353
mrmummert is a splendid one to beholdmrmummert is a splendid one to beholdmrmummert is a splendid one to beholdmrmummert is a splendid one to beholdmrmummert is a splendid one to beholdmrmummert is a splendid one to beholdmrmummert is a splendid one to behold
Send a message via Yahoo to mrmummert
Re: Sheet metal brake

Check with sheetmetal shops or heating and air conditioning places and see
if they have an old one they might part with...Also check Craigs list.
The Chicago brake company (which is still in business) makes very good
ones. You can get either a full brake or a finger brake. (has adjustable
brake fingers) i'd suggest the later if you can find one.

I have one for our team (its a old 1940's Chicago full brake thats 6 feet long)
if i can ever get it out of the shipyard i work for. The sheetmetal shop here
decided to replace it with a newer one. It can probably bend 3/8 aluminum
with no problem. Its heavy as heck though.
__________________
winner vcu 2006,winner vcu 2013,2014,2015
  #4   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 22-05-2014, 12:14
BBray_T1296's Avatar
BBray_T1296 BBray_T1296 is offline
I am Dave! Yognaut
AKA: Brian Bray
FRC #1296 (Full Metal Jackets)
Team Role: Mentor
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Rookie Year: 2010
Location: Rockwall, TX
Posts: 947
BBray_T1296 has a reputation beyond reputeBBray_T1296 has a reputation beyond reputeBBray_T1296 has a reputation beyond reputeBBray_T1296 has a reputation beyond reputeBBray_T1296 has a reputation beyond reputeBBray_T1296 has a reputation beyond reputeBBray_T1296 has a reputation beyond reputeBBray_T1296 has a reputation beyond reputeBBray_T1296 has a reputation beyond reputeBBray_T1296 has a reputation beyond reputeBBray_T1296 has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Sheet metal brake

Through the generosity of our school district, we received this 3 in 1 brake/shear/roller so we can finally process sheet easily in-house.

It does 1/8" aluminum and up to 20 gauge steel on all functions, and works quite well. May not be the best for the price but sure does what we needed and well. Seems to be pretty robust as well. Also bends up to 3/8" steel rod. The brake blades and reliefs are standard sizes, what our sheet metal sponsor uses on some machines.
Beware, this thing weighs 1200lbs and is not easy to move from the school loading dock halfway across the school to your lab without a pallet jack. Learned this the hard way.
__________________
If molecular reactions are deterministic, are all universes identical?

RIP David Shafer: you will be missed


  #5   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 22-05-2014, 12:16
hrench's Avatar
hrench hrench is offline
Mechanical build mentor
AKA: Bob Hrenchir
FRC #1108 (Panther Robotics)
Team Role: Mentor
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Rookie Year: 2010
Location: Paola, KS
Posts: 220
hrench is a name known to allhrench is a name known to allhrench is a name known to allhrench is a name known to allhrench is a name known to allhrench is a name known to all
Re: Sheet metal brake

we need one too, but rather than a pan-brake, I'm considering a brake-roll-shear. Because they're a press-brake, they will offer more flexibility in bends.

We'll probably buy used, but here is a new one we'll also consider:

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...ct_21800_21800
  #6   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 22-05-2014, 12:16
mman1506's Avatar
mman1506 mman1506 is offline
Hater of Tiny Molex Connectors
AKA: Marcus Quintilian
no team (WARP7)
Team Role: Alumni
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Rookie Year: 2012
Location: Toronto
Posts: 806
mman1506 has a reputation beyond reputemman1506 has a reputation beyond reputemman1506 has a reputation beyond reputemman1506 has a reputation beyond reputemman1506 has a reputation beyond reputemman1506 has a reputation beyond reputemman1506 has a reputation beyond reputemman1506 has a reputation beyond reputemman1506 has a reputation beyond reputemman1506 has a reputation beyond reputemman1506 has a reputation beyond repute
Sheet metal brake

Quote:
Originally Posted by AllenGregoryIV View Post
I've looked around for the same thing. There are some guides on how to weld up some supports for the small Harbor Freight brake that will let it bend some lengths of 1/8" aluminum.

We are looking at getting this in our new shop next year. The spec sheet says it can bend 8 gauge aluminum which is just over 1/8". I highly doubt it can do that at full width but it can probably do some length of it and bend 090 pretty easily. Haven't used it yet though, so it could be terrible. It's also huge.
We have a few similar brakes in our shop. They are useful but not as accurate as a press brake. 610 has some tips for using them in their design manuals.
__________________
2014-2015: FRC 865 Warp7 Team Captain
2016: FRC 865 Mentor

2017: Free Agent Mentor, Inspector

Last edited by mman1506 : 22-05-2014 at 13:55.
  #7   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 22-05-2014, 12:41
Jon Stratis's Avatar
Jon Stratis Jon Stratis is offline
Mentor, LRI, MN RPC
FRC #2177 (The Robettes)
Team Role: Mentor
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Rookie Year: 2006
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 3,827
Jon Stratis has a reputation beyond reputeJon Stratis has a reputation beyond reputeJon Stratis has a reputation beyond reputeJon Stratis has a reputation beyond reputeJon Stratis has a reputation beyond reputeJon Stratis has a reputation beyond reputeJon Stratis has a reputation beyond reputeJon Stratis has a reputation beyond reputeJon Stratis has a reputation beyond reputeJon Stratis has a reputation beyond reputeJon Stratis has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Sheet metal brake

I would definitely check with local area shops. We got our brake third-hand for free... it's large, heavy duty, and could probably bend just about anything we would imagine throwing at it. I think it was originally built in the 50's and could probably survive a nuclear holocaust and still be in working order. They just don't build them like they used to!
__________________
2007 - Present: Mentor, 2177 The Robettes
LRI: North Star 2012-2016; Lake Superior 2013-2014; MN State Tournament 2013-2014, 2016; Galileo 2016; Iowa 2017
2015: North Star Regional Volunteer of the Year
2016: Lake Superior WFFA
  #8   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 22-05-2014, 13:04
RobbyD's Avatar
RobbyD RobbyD is offline
Registered User
AKA: Durfee
FRC #2415 (Wiredcats)
Team Role: Leadership
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Rookie Year: 2012
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 5
RobbyD is an unknown quantity at this point
Re: Sheet metal brake

We have a brake and use it frequently for sheet metal parts, but I would be cautious as to what parts are being bent and how crucial the dimensions are to function. We have had solid experience with doing structural flanges on gussets for support, but when you start adding crucial holes on both sides of the bend, you start relying not just on how well those holes were cut while the piece was flat, but also how well the bends were done by hand and to a somewhat arbitrary angle. just a thought. I kinda wish we had one of those fancy sheet metal presses with the precise angle dies...

Last edited by RobbyD : 22-05-2014 at 23:29.
  #9   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 22-05-2014, 18:51
Chief Hedgehog's Avatar
Chief Hedgehog Chief Hedgehog is offline
Mentor
FRC #4607 (C.I.S.)
Team Role: Coach
 
Join Date: May 2013
Rookie Year: 2012
Location: Becker, Minnesota
Posts: 555
Chief Hedgehog has a reputation beyond reputeChief Hedgehog has a reputation beyond reputeChief Hedgehog has a reputation beyond reputeChief Hedgehog has a reputation beyond reputeChief Hedgehog has a reputation beyond reputeChief Hedgehog has a reputation beyond reputeChief Hedgehog has a reputation beyond reputeChief Hedgehog has a reputation beyond reputeChief Hedgehog has a reputation beyond reputeChief Hedgehog has a reputation beyond reputeChief Hedgehog has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Sheet metal brake

Becker High SChool (FRC 4607) just purchased one of these and I will be honest, we are not happy with it. It is not a machine that was built well. It is very inaccurate and many of the fittings are either to sloppy, or to tight.

Save your $500 and find a second hand one.

Just my 2cents.

Quote:
Originally Posted by hrench View Post
we need one too, but rather than a pan-brake, I'm considering a brake-roll-shear. Because they're a press-brake, they will offer more flexibility in bends.

We'll probably buy used, but here is a new one we'll also consider:

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...ct_21800_21800
__________________

"An error does not become a mistake until you refuse to correct it" ~JFK
  #10   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 22-05-2014, 22:08
sanddrag sanddrag is offline
On to my 16th year in FRC
FRC #0696 (Circuit Breakers)
Team Role: Teacher
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Rookie Year: 2002
Location: Glendale, CA
Posts: 8,519
sanddrag has a reputation beyond reputesanddrag has a reputation beyond reputesanddrag has a reputation beyond reputesanddrag has a reputation beyond reputesanddrag has a reputation beyond reputesanddrag has a reputation beyond reputesanddrag has a reputation beyond reputesanddrag has a reputation beyond reputesanddrag has a reputation beyond reputesanddrag has a reputation beyond reputesanddrag has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Sheet metal brake

Hard to go wrong with any old Pexto stuff. That's what we have. That would have to be a craigslist find though.
__________________
Teacher/Engineer/Machinist - Team 696 Circuit Breakers, 2011 - Present
Mentor/Engineer/Machinist, Team 968 RAWC, 2007-2010
Technical Mentor, Team 696 Circuit Breakers, 2005-2007
Student Mechanical Leader and Driver, Team 696 Circuit Breakers, 2002-2004
  #11   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 23-05-2014, 07:54
hrench's Avatar
hrench hrench is offline
Mechanical build mentor
AKA: Bob Hrenchir
FRC #1108 (Panther Robotics)
Team Role: Mentor
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Rookie Year: 2010
Location: Paola, KS
Posts: 220
hrench is a name known to allhrench is a name known to allhrench is a name known to allhrench is a name known to allhrench is a name known to allhrench is a name known to all
Re: Sheet metal brake

Quote:
Originally Posted by Chief Hedgehog View Post
Becker High SChool (FRC 4607) just purchased one of these and I will be honest, we are not happy with it. It is not a machine that was built well. It is very inaccurate and many of the fittings are either to sloppy, or to tight.

Save your $500 and find a second hand one.

Just my 2cents.
thanks for the advice. Sorry you had to find out the 'hard-way'.

Watching craigslist until then.
  #12   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 23-05-2014, 09:30
colin340 colin340 is offline
human
AKA: Colin Nobles
FRC #0148
Team Role: Teacher
 
Join Date: May 2005
Rookie Year: 2005
Location: rochester
Posts: 432
colin340 has a reputation beyond reputecolin340 has a reputation beyond reputecolin340 has a reputation beyond reputecolin340 has a reputation beyond reputecolin340 has a reputation beyond reputecolin340 has a reputation beyond reputecolin340 has a reputation beyond reputecolin340 has a reputation beyond reputecolin340 has a reputation beyond reputecolin340 has a reputation beyond reputecolin340 has a reputation beyond repute
Send a message via AIM to colin340
Re: Sheet metal brake

Quote:
Originally Posted by BBray_T1296 View Post
Through the generosity of our school district, we received this ta
Beware, this thing weighs 1200lbs and is not easy to move from the school loading dock halfway across the school to your lab without a pallet jack. Learned this the hard way.
just use some steel rollers made of 1/4 mild steel a digging bar to lift it on some 2"x 4"
__________________
61 77 77 20 77 69 74 74 6c 65 20 62 61 62 79 20 63 6f 6e 64 6f 72 20 69 73 20 72 65 61 64 69 6e 67 20 43 44
Closed Thread


Thread Tools
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 18:54.

The Chief Delphi Forums are sponsored by Innovation First International, Inc.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2017, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright © Chief Delphi