Replacement Fingers for Box and Pan Brake

[jacobm99]

Hi all,

I've got a Roper Whitney box and pan brake (U-416) that is missing about half the fingers. I called Roper Whitney and its cheaper to buy an entirely new brake than it is to purchase replacement fingers. Does anyone know where I can get a replacement set of fingers for a reasonable price or maybe even have them made?

 

[cvairwerks]

Mittler Brothers. Pick the radius and the width and how many of each.

 

[2oolhound]

As long as you have a few small ones in various sizes all you should need is one long one.

 

[cvairwerks]

Here's the link:
https://www.mittlerbros.com/mittler-bros/sheet-metal-brakes/ultimate-box-pan-brake-fingers.html

 

[BarryWells]

Mittler will do you nice

 

[lilredex]

Looks like a pretty easy DIY project, from scrapyard steel...if this is what they are like...

https://www.mittlerbros.com/bed-fingers-4119.html

 

[matt_i]

Looks like a pretty easy DIY project, from scrapyard steel...if this is what they are like...

https://www.mittlerbros.com/bed-fingers-4119.html

I don't think its trivial to machine the radius and angle so its square to the sides and parallel to the top and then hold the length dimension to match the other fingers.

I also don't think its appropriate for 1018 or A36 HR, as they'll get dented and beaten up by low carbon steels.

I think these are either carburized, flame-hardened on the bottom and nose, or 4140-ish steel.

The clamp part is the easy part if you ask me.

 

[lilredex]

Think that would depend upon how much work you expect out of them. If it was in my home shop...I'd already be making some before unloading a bunch of money on a purchase.

 

[jacobm99]

Think that would depend upon how much work you expect out of them. If it was in my home shop...I'd already be making some before unloading a bunch of money on a purchase.

How would you go about making them?

 

[cvairwerks]

Think that would depend upon how much work you expect out of them. If it was in my home shop...I'd already be making some before unloading a bunch of money on a purchase.

Homebrewing them also needs to factor in whether you have the needed tools and materials already, as well as the time to do the work.

In my case, I know what my billable shop rate is, and with that, I can figure out when to buy vs. build on lots of stuff in the way of tooling and jigs.

Also need to consider the final bend quality and accuracy. I work with aluminum from O to T6 heat treat and a poor grind and finish on a finger can adversely impact the part I’m building.

As a data point, I just looked up cold rolled strip stock to make some fingers... 6” width, 5/16” thick stock runs me about 33$ a foot, without buying a full stick. Factor in my time to stop and get it (steel yard is on my way home from work), trim it up, grind and finish the edge and drill and tap for the mount, I’ve spent within a buck or two of what it would cost me to simply order the same finger from Mittler and have it shipped to me.

 

[lilredex]

Homebrewing them also needs to factor in whether you have the needed tools and materials already, as well as the time to do the work.

In my case, I know what my billable shop rate is, and with that, I can figure out when to buy vs. build on lots of stuff in the way of tooling and jigs.


As a data point, I just looked up cold rolled strip stock to make some fingers... 6” width, 5/16” thick stock runs me about 33$ a foot, without buying a full stick. Factor in my time to stop and get it (steel yard is on my way home from work), trim it up, grind and finish the edge and drill and tap for the mount, I’ve spent within a buck or two of what it would cost me to simply order the same finger from Mittler and have it shipped to me.

Clearly, not on the horizon for you at $33 per foot.....buy'em.

 

[lilredex]

How would you go about making them?

Assuming,they look similar to my posted link, the simplified version would as follows:

Slice off the fingers at the proper angle, true up if needed on a sander, bore hole and fab up that clamp from a heavy duty piece of angle, done.

Sounds simple enough, as I have some 1/2 X 3 1/2" hot rolled bar, and some 3/8 X 2" angle pieces in my junk box. An old power hacksaw would do most of the cutting, a disc or vertical belt sander would do the true ups, like you would reface your hand plane blade that had struck some nails. If you need to thin down some of the fingers, you could make something like this...and be patient.

Many moons ago, I made a version of the "Gingery Brake" (pictured) and often thought of making a finger clamping leaf for it, much like the one also pictured. Still waiting to get around to that though.

https://www.google.com/search?q=gin...UMcq0KHRkHBDYQ_AUICygA&biw=1280&bih=657&dpr=1