Pressing louvers

[Hawk136439]

I have a project I would like to make and I'm trying to figure out the right way to make small louvers similar to the picture below:

These are window vents for a land rover that prevent rain and bugs from getting in and I'd like to recreate them for my Xterra. My problem is that I don't know a good way to form those vents/louvers. I have a 20 ton hydraulic press and assume that would be able to form these louvers but I dont know where to find a set of dies for this shape. Any help would be great and I'm also trying not to break the bank obviously but would be interested to see what you guys can suggest.

I have a cheap HF welder so I was thinking about trying to make a die for this shape if all else fails but am open to suggestions.

 

[texasranger]

Not quite louvers but this may give you some ideas:

I'd recommend watching the rest of the project too, tons of time into that little car with extreme attention to detail.

 

[4 FN 27]

We either do them in a Turret Press or a Press Brake. Male and Female shapes that go together. I attached a few pic below (Turret Tool).

Google "Sheet Metal Louver Tool". There are some pretty good cheap and dirty Louver Tools shown.

The longer the Louver the more tonnage it will require.

Put pics up of the finished tool and parts.

 

[K13]

You can buy Louver Dies from places like Baileigh Industrial and Mittler Bros. but they are not cheap. Depending on how many you need punched and how much time you want to spend working on dies and learning how to do them so they look decent it may be more economical to find a local hot rod shop who can punch louvers and have them do it for you.

 

[2011cummins]

I would try to find a panel that already has the louvers in it. Something like used school lockers off of Craigslist and then cut to fit.

That said I'd like to know what you end up doing, especially if you find a low cost solution.

 

[Whiskeymike]

I saw a youtube video where a guy did it by hand with a die he made from 1/2 plate and then hammered them in. But I think he was a good body man to begin with.

You could also look at some of these...

http://www.jegs.com/i/Mittler-Broth...QE3vVkaR2PHutG7l9kF5Mg7Wtaot2BM8aAr2lEALw_wcB Maybe you could do it yourself with this and rig it on a hydraulic press.

Or these..

http://www.rccrawler.com/forum/tools-procedures/410323-punching-louvers.html

https://www.killbillet.com/showthread.php?35451-Home-made-tools&p=292703#post292703

The faster approach if you don't have to do a lot of them is as mentioned. Get your piece done and take it to a sheet metal shop and have them press it in. Many will be reasonable.

 

[nickleone]

Try:

Nick

 

[gte718p]

If the metal is thin enough and you are not wanting a done of them, it is not hard to make the die out of hardwood. Pre slit the base of the louver.

Oak is not going to make 1000's of identical vents, but you can easily get 100's if you are careful before destroying.

I've done this several times. I'll look for some of my old picture.

 

[PCustoms]

Subscribed

You on thenewx.org?

 

[speed bump]

Take your dimensions and have a good sheet metal shop punch them. It will take them less than an hour cost less than a Louver die. Alternatively scroll through a sheet metal vent catalog and find one you can modify for your application.