I'm making a homemade press brake to use in a hydraulic press. I want to be able to do some box and pan stuff so I cut them into small sections incase I need to move them around.

I have a couple questions:
1. What clearance should I use between the bronze bushings and shafts? I don't want it too tight that it could bind up with minor deflection.

2. Does anyone see a problem using setscrews to hold the upper dies in place?

One of my pics shows another option to hold the dies but will take me much longer to do. Clamps the die instead of using setscrews.

 

1. +/-0.010" should be sufficient.
2. Just use setscrews, the giant pressbreak where I used to work was held in with 1/2" setscrews. Thing could bend 2" steel like I eat reeses for breakfast.

Looking back again... If you're just going to drill/tap holes to hold the plates in, aren't you going to be limited in where you can place the smaller plates? Might be a bit better idea in the long run to use the clamp design as shown in the last picture. It would mean a bit more work but you would be able place the dies freely.

Also, whats the thickest you think you would be bending with this rig?

 

Interesting project, keep us updated on this.

 

yeah i like this. Where did you get the dies from ?

 

Bantams use set screws to hold the upper and lower dies about every 2 inches 5/16 dia

 

vary interesting project did you make the dies?

 

No the dies are accurpress dies. Easy to cut and machine surprisingly. I should have some more pics up by the end of the week.

 

Who makes the press in your small picture?

 

I have no idea, it was just a sample picture that I saved.

I milled the slot and bored the top die holder for the bronze bushings. All I need now is a press and to make the bottom die holder and guide pins.

 

Northerntool sells them

 

10 thou might be a bit loose.

if it were me i would run the shaft a couple thou under, and put in a ball oiler or something.

 

I'd run about .001-.002" clearance and fit it with a grease nipple.

 

so what would you pay for say a foot of the top and bottom dye stock?i have been wanting/needing a press brake for my press for some time.im always needing to bend 1/4 inch brackets and things.i have been using my vise.heat it up and tap it over with a hammer.every time i do this i say damn i need one of those press brakes.

 

If you are on a budget you can just make your own dies from angle iron. They work pretty decent for the price. You could also mill your own dies if you had material and lots of time. I got the two 24" dies for $200. I plan to mount a digital caliper so I can get some form of repeatability for the bends.

 

yea i have seen some crude ones made from angle too.i had thought about milling some.i have a bridgeport mill.for 200 bucks i dont think i could buy the tool steel for that.care to share where you got them?