30 Ton Bottle Jack Bender / Punch / Press

[weldup]

Hi I am a newbie...
This is a homemade 30 ton metal bender, press, punch I built recently.
The main uprights are 4" x 1/8" box. The bottom and middle cross sections are 6x4" RSJ's and the top is an old railway rail.
I am still playing & improving it, but it can tight fold 1/8" sheet 12" long with the a removable 'V' block and easily bends 1/2 flat bar when removed. I have successfully punched 1/8 sheet at 1" diameter using some scrap metal and a washer.
The bottle jack has a quick release handle to save constantly using the jack bar.
The main bender is mounted to 8x17" M/S which is 1" thick, the weight of this alone brings the bottle jack down so no need for springs.
This plate can be removed and replaced with a new piece for pressing.
I have two you tube video's, not great quality, but they show it working:

 

[Panz]

Cool, good work. Any project plans for the press, or just a project in itself?

 

[kazlx]

Nice....I like it.

 

[Sureshot]

Nice job. I have been thinking of building one myself and like your setup.

 

[fomocoforrester]

Wow - great first post. I like the idea of putting the jack below the work instead of above it.

I've been looking for a way to make my 20T jack into a press without needing retractor springs - I guess your design solves that problem ....

 

[weldup]

Hi all,
Thank you all for you comments.
Unfortunately there were no plans for the press, it developed as I was building it.
It took me about 3 days to build and I to, wanted a machine that would self return and had the ability to do varying jobs. It works brilliantly and I am constantly thinking of new tooling options. I am now working on a 4' version with pneumatic jacks at either 40 or 60 ton capacity.