weldup
Member
Hi all, this was last Sundays project.
I've wanted a small heavy duty metal folder for a while. As you have probably seen I made a 30 ton hydraulic press last year, but it is not great for folding tight angles less than 90 Deg. I have considered buying one but most can only bend around 1mm or less of mild steel.
I have recently been looking at other peoples ideas but I really wanted one you could box tab sides as well. The only problem is money...!
So I went through the scrap bin and made this out of some off cuts and an old over engineered gate latch.
The folding teeth are made from 40x10mm bar and provide endless possibilities. There is an adjustable back stop that has approx 15mm of travel, for bending different thicknesses. The top beam is made from 40x20mm channel + 50x40x5 Angle + 8x50mm bar. Underneath the floor is a further piece of 50x40x5 angle for extra strength.
The sides and folder beam are made from 80x10mm bar.
Also I have some ideas for some different tooling options which can replace the 40x10mm bars. (e.g a chamfered edged bar welded to box section cut into 5 or 6 different lengths for tight folds in thin steel).
Maybe they'll be next weekends project.
There is a you tube video of it bending 3mm Mild steel:
I have included of one test photo or a very badly bent 3 sided box which is 2.5mm thick. it was a very quick practice run.
I've wanted a small heavy duty metal folder for a while. As you have probably seen I made a 30 ton hydraulic press last year, but it is not great for folding tight angles less than 90 Deg. I have considered buying one but most can only bend around 1mm or less of mild steel.
I have recently been looking at other peoples ideas but I really wanted one you could box tab sides as well. The only problem is money...!
So I went through the scrap bin and made this out of some off cuts and an old over engineered gate latch.
The folding teeth are made from 40x10mm bar and provide endless possibilities. There is an adjustable back stop that has approx 15mm of travel, for bending different thicknesses. The top beam is made from 40x20mm channel + 50x40x5 Angle + 8x50mm bar. Underneath the floor is a further piece of 50x40x5 angle for extra strength.
The sides and folder beam are made from 80x10mm bar.
Also I have some ideas for some different tooling options which can replace the 40x10mm bars. (e.g a chamfered edged bar welded to box section cut into 5 or 6 different lengths for tight folds in thin steel).
Maybe they'll be next weekends project.
There is a you tube video of it bending 3mm Mild steel:
I have included of one test photo or a very badly bent 3 sided box which is 2.5mm thick. it was a very quick practice run.
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