Modest 25x35 Fabrication Shop Build
- Thread starter Trm303
- Start date
Ok so the press brake search didn’t last long! I found a really nice lightly used Promecam 75 ton hydraulic 8’ brake with a Hurco 7 3 axis CNC back gauge pretty far out of my budget for not coming with tooling.
I contacted the guy for S&Gs with an offer and to my surprise, he accepted my offer. So I spent an 18 hour round trip driving up to Rochester NY to pick this up. It came from a machine shop that makes fighter jet parts and it was bought new by the shop back in 75’. According to the supervisor, only one guy knew how to use it and he’s long since retired. The shop had replaced it with Amada’s some time ago and it doesn’t get used. The Hurco 7 was installed in the 90’s and works and they had all documentation for the machine since new.
Luckily I was able to get my hands on a big enough forklift to lift it off my trailer and put it in the carport. I have the back wall up and I am starting the block work for the side wall to get this thing enclosed as soon as possible. The temp swings have been pretty significant so I’m worried about the machine sweating. I coated the thing in oil before anything else but I think I’m gonna wrap it in some moving blankets to give it atleast a little insulation.
I contacted the guy for S&Gs with an offer and to my surprise, he accepted my offer. So I spent an 18 hour round trip driving up to Rochester NY to pick this up. It came from a machine shop that makes fighter jet parts and it was bought new by the shop back in 75’. According to the supervisor, only one guy knew how to use it and he’s long since retired. The shop had replaced it with Amada’s some time ago and it doesn’t get used. The Hurco 7 was installed in the 90’s and works and they had all documentation for the machine since new.
Luckily I was able to get my hands on a big enough forklift to lift it off my trailer and put it in the carport. I have the back wall up and I am starting the block work for the side wall to get this thing enclosed as soon as possible. The temp swings have been pretty significant so I’m worried about the machine sweating. I coated the thing in oil before anything else but I think I’m gonna wrap it in some moving blankets to give it atleast a little insulation.
captain14
Well-known member
Trm303,
Did you happen to look around the shop for the missing tooling?
If no one knew what it was, could it have been piled someplace?
Did you happen to look around the shop for the missing tooling?
If no one knew what it was, could it have been piled someplace?
Unfortunately PROMECAM and Amada share the same European tooling and they wanted to keep all the tooling they had for use with their other machines. Would have loved to get atleast a standard 90* set but at this point I’m just being greedy.
I’ve been looking at some Chinese machined punches and dies that seem pretty decent quality and a lot cheaper then the used stuff on eBay. The company Hurstle offers a lot of variety tooling that can be had for under $1k for a 6’ set.
We are officially in the Christmas Tree season so my progress ends here until after Christmas. I am currently already backlogged atleast through January of work which is good because I’ve spent way too much money on holiday deals! The day before thanksgiving we had 600 trees show up at my girls farm stand and we will be picking more up as the season rolls through.
Before we got the trees, I was able to throw up all the walls to keep the press brake a little more protected from the elements. I also have a 8x9 door on order which was the biggest I could fit for my intended layout with the roof pitched the way it is.
I have sent out for numerous tooling quotes for the press brake. I have yet to find anyone using Chinese dies and instead of risk it, I decided for a domestic alternative. Power Brake Dies seems to be the most affordable and are very quick to get back to me so I should be placing an order with them and should be expecting delivery sometime in the next 8 weeks hopefully. I’m hoping once my Christmas season ends, I can hit the ground running by getting the addition put together and the brake operational. Until then hope you all enjoy the holidays.
Before we got the trees, I was able to throw up all the walls to keep the press brake a little more protected from the elements. I also have a 8x9 door on order which was the biggest I could fit for my intended layout with the roof pitched the way it is.
I have sent out for numerous tooling quotes for the press brake. I have yet to find anyone using Chinese dies and instead of risk it, I decided for a domestic alternative. Power Brake Dies seems to be the most affordable and are very quick to get back to me so I should be placing an order with them and should be expecting delivery sometime in the next 8 weeks hopefully. I’m hoping once my Christmas season ends, I can hit the ground running by getting the addition put together and the brake operational. Until then hope you all enjoy the holidays.
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captain14
Well-known member
Until you install the garage door, hang the mandatory blue tarp in the doorway. It’s an accepted GJ custom until the door is hung.
I was unaware of the tradition! I will keep that in mind for future additions! Lol
Now that Christmas season is over for me, I have been busy playing catch up with side work on top of making some progress on the addition. Before Christmas I was able to put up the overhead door in hopes of limiting the temp swings for the press brake. It seemed to help somewhat but I unfortunately will still be cleaning up some rust in the near future.
I have already ran the electric, cut the entrance into the shop side, insulated, and put up the drywall. I am keeping the sheathing on the shop side for cost savings and ease since it’s already there. To save some time and energy I sprang for a metal ceiling. Glad I bought the shorter 10’ers as these things are a PITA to put up by yourself! Not too happy with the fit but holding them up and trying to screw them leaves little room to eyeball the seams and I’m too excited (impatient) to wait for help.
I ended up going with Power Brake Dies and have been very satisfied with their service and would highly recommend them. I bought two lengths of 4 way and two lengths of punch which should satisfy my needs for the time being. As I finish the addition and I get the money flowing back in, I may add a length or two to expand my capabilities as bending 8’ will definitely come in handy.
My girl has decided the outside three walls will be the same lime green. Jury is still out on the shop wall. I’m just glad I don’t have to pick a color.
Should be posting updates more frequently now. Once the paint and the lights go up, I will start shifting some machines around. The jib crane is getting up there on my list to be able to move sheet metal around for the plasma table. Manhandling full 1/8” sheets on to the table got old after the first one.
The addition is just about done aside from one ceiling panel. The main bay has been cluttered so I’ve been doing some work in the addition which has already started paying for itself.
I had some wetness on the corner of the addition so I’m waiting for a warm day to caulk the flashing and confirm it’s no longer an issue before I put it up. Aside from that, everything is painted and almost all trimmed out. I went with poor man’s trim for the windows which is painted furring strips. Looks good for a shop and at a fraction of the cost of actual trim.
I brought the air in and have it plumbed for the CNC plasma which is going to go In the back corner. The samurai is in for wheel bearings, as soon as it leaves I will try to get the press brake rolled forward of the opening and roll the plasma into place. The press brake is going to end up where the plasma currently is.
Also built a big shelf over the opening to throw up all my big bulky stuff that’s been laying around. It’s definitely helped clean up some clutter but I’m going to explore more storage options for the things I don’t commonly use.
We’ve been running behind on the airstream project but are slowly making some progress. We got the frame decked and shell placed back on the frame. Hoping once we get the shell weather proof, we can start working some nights on it
I had some wetness on the corner of the addition so I’m waiting for a warm day to caulk the flashing and confirm it’s no longer an issue before I put it up. Aside from that, everything is painted and almost all trimmed out. I went with poor man’s trim for the windows which is painted furring strips. Looks good for a shop and at a fraction of the cost of actual trim.
I brought the air in and have it plumbed for the CNC plasma which is going to go In the back corner. The samurai is in for wheel bearings, as soon as it leaves I will try to get the press brake rolled forward of the opening and roll the plasma into place. The press brake is going to end up where the plasma currently is.
Also built a big shelf over the opening to throw up all my big bulky stuff that’s been laying around. It’s definitely helped clean up some clutter but I’m going to explore more storage options for the things I don’t commonly use.
We’ve been running behind on the airstream project but are slowly making some progress. We got the frame decked and shell placed back on the frame. Hoping once we get the shell weather proof, we can start working some nights on it
jollygreengiant
Well-known member
Painting the entire wall in lime green certainly is different, I like it! It really brightens it up.
What's the backstory on the airstream?
What's the backstory on the airstream?
jason_etc
Well-known member
This is a really cool build. Thanks for sharing the progress.
rmack898
Well-known member
Go back to post #66 for the airstream's entrance to the story.
I managed to get some things moved into their final resting spots. The Plasma table is now moved into the addition in the back corner so it will be in reach of the jib crane for loading sheets. I have all the steel for it and the bearings are on order. Just waiting for some free time to jump in on the build. Also planning on some negative ventilation to keep some of the smoke down when I’m cutting, I hope to incorporate a welding fume extractor into the same system.
The press brake is also moved into its spot. I had to rewire everything back down from 480, change the oil, and wire it all up, but I am happy to say I have officially graduated from my Swag press brake and I am now bending parts on it!
I currently have a very loose understanding on all the functions of the brake and the Autobend unit but I did manage to program in some of the tooling and it is making my parts a MUCH quicker process. It’s an amazing feeling coming from hand pumping up a jack and continually resetting a back gauge to simply stomping on a lever! Im hoping to turn a large part order from a half day affair into a hour or two job.
The press brake is also moved into its spot. I had to rewire everything back down from 480, change the oil, and wire it all up, but I am happy to say I have officially graduated from my Swag press brake and I am now bending parts on it!
I currently have a very loose understanding on all the functions of the brake and the Autobend unit but I did manage to program in some of the tooling and it is making my parts a MUCH quicker process. It’s an amazing feeling coming from hand pumping up a jack and continually resetting a back gauge to simply stomping on a lever! Im hoping to turn a large part order from a half day affair into a hour or two job.
slodat
ALLIANCE MEMBER
What did you end up going with for press brake tooling? What are you using for CAD? If you are using Fusion, I am happy to share how I'm using it with my press brake. The press brake is a complete level up in every way! Congrats. Shop is looking great!
Thanks! Sorry I’ve been meaning to PM you back but it keeps slipping my mind.
I went with Power Brake Dies. Great experience with them, prices seemed very reasonable and it seems like they keep a lot of the tooling in stock. Unfortunately I am using FreeCad. It’s similar to fusion but open source which I like better.
Here I was thinking I was gonna have more time to work on the shop and post but somehow I ended up with less! Ended up having an airstream one year newer than mine come in for a concession stand door. Took about a months worth of free time away but filled the shop bank for whatever my next purchase will be.
I have also been fairly busy filling CNC cut and bent parts. I have not done the math but I am already close if not passed the point of breaking even on the press brake. It is surprisingly handy and I have been finding so many uses for it that I can’t imagine not having one now.
This is my first summer in the addition and I started running into condensation issues on the metal ceiling. Turns out deadheading batts without some sort of ventilation for the hot air to escape will do that. Ended up having to drop the ceiling down about 16” to afford enough space for the hot air to reach the gable vents I also installed. Took this time to put two power vents in, one on the main shop and one on the addition and there is already a very noticeable difference. No more condensation and the shop is staying cooler through even the hottest days.
Took some time to build the jib crane I have been planning for since I poured concrete. I have been running through some sheets on the CNC and trying to load 1/8” sheets by hand is a huge PITA. I built this mainly to some specs I found online with my own twist using what I had laying around. It spins very smoothly using a 14bolt wheel bearing up top and two rollers on bearings on the bottom. I bought two trolleys and ordered a 1.5k lb hoist. This will be primarily used to load the CNC but I wanted the ability to pull a motor and trans. Putting the crane on the base was one of the sketchier things I’ve done lately.
I also purchased a Skatblast cabinet. It needs to be gone through and painted but it was cheap and local. I’ve been looking for one for a while now, specifically for the highly anticipated El Camino build. That will be one of my next 1-2 day projects when I get some more time.
I have also been fairly busy filling CNC cut and bent parts. I have not done the math but I am already close if not passed the point of breaking even on the press brake. It is surprisingly handy and I have been finding so many uses for it that I can’t imagine not having one now.
This is my first summer in the addition and I started running into condensation issues on the metal ceiling. Turns out deadheading batts without some sort of ventilation for the hot air to escape will do that. Ended up having to drop the ceiling down about 16” to afford enough space for the hot air to reach the gable vents I also installed. Took this time to put two power vents in, one on the main shop and one on the addition and there is already a very noticeable difference. No more condensation and the shop is staying cooler through even the hottest days.
Took some time to build the jib crane I have been planning for since I poured concrete. I have been running through some sheets on the CNC and trying to load 1/8” sheets by hand is a huge PITA. I built this mainly to some specs I found online with my own twist using what I had laying around. It spins very smoothly using a 14bolt wheel bearing up top and two rollers on bearings on the bottom. I bought two trolleys and ordered a 1.5k lb hoist. This will be primarily used to load the CNC but I wanted the ability to pull a motor and trans. Putting the crane on the base was one of the sketchier things I’ve done lately.
I also purchased a Skatblast cabinet. It needs to be gone through and painted but it was cheap and local. I’ve been looking for one for a while now, specifically for the highly anticipated El Camino build. That will be one of my next 1-2 day projects when I get some more time.
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jollygreengiant
Well-known member
That jib crane is stout! I'm betting your 1.5k winch won't come anywhere close to overloading it.