Tool Question

[Tribalvision]

I mentor a local Robotics team and they regularly run the robot into various things during our matches. I'm looking for a better way to straighten aluminum between matches. We make extra pieces, but there sometimes isnt time between matches to change them. So I have to do what I can temporarily.
Currently I am using hammer/dolly to fix it if it's in an accessible area. Sometimes it's in a tight area and I need to use 2 pliers or similar. The problem is, the Channel lock pliers we have arent flush along the jaws and it doesnt support the metal well during the bending. I tried some adjustable wrenches and they worked a little better. I figured I'd come here and ask the pros how they would straighten something like this in the pits.
I thought maybe a mini vise or maybe some woodworking clamps since it's thin metal...

 

[larry_g]

You could use a customized C clamp with larger flat jaws to flatten the metal back into place. Consider jaws that slip over the screw and platen so you could have some variations in place for size and shape. Could also use a modified vise grip in a similar manner.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Fordman7795]

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Wiss-3-1-4-in-Hand-Seamer-WS3/202924681

 

[Empty Pockets]

Knipex pliers wrench?

 

[K-Dog]

Heating the aluminium will aid in moving it with less chance of cracking. Different aluminiums have different heating thresholds.

 

[brooksdr]

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Wiss-3-1-4-in-Hand-Seamer-WS3/202924681

This... I use my wiss ws3's all the time. They have a ws6 too. USA Made

 

[Tim37]

I use cresent wrenches from on occasion usually to straighten bent brackets they tend to work better than pliers

 

[Tribalvision]

I think the Wiss WS3's are the way to go.. I dont want to get too crazy with it. If it's bent too bad we'll just replace the piece.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I knew you'd all come thru.!

 

[unslow1]

I use cresent wrenches from on occasion usually to straighten bent brackets they tend to work better than pliers

I've seen them used to straighten frames on old cars. Two large ones work very well.

 

[Wamsutta]

C-clamps with a couple of flat steel bars to sandwich the bent metal in between for squeezing straight. A couple of C-clamps that you can tighten with a wrench would be ideal for maximum squeezability.

 

[anndel]

I've done metal bending/straightening using Channellocks, Knipex Wrench Pliers, Klein Lineman pliers, etc. Anything with a handle to grip then bend the metal.

 

[abvw]

Some Visegrips will work. Clamp down on the folds and use a hex key to tighten down the pliers.

Its also easier to work with bent metal when you don't have to hand clamp the pliers. Saves a lot of energy, since Channellock is only effective when you clamp down on the handles.

 

[Gmonkee]

Can you up the armour some to provent damages getting bad?

Alu honeycomb or a section cut from an auto AC condensor to take the hits before it folds up?

 

[Tribalvision]

Can you up the armour some to provent damages getting bad?

Alu honeycomb or a section cut from an auto AC condensor to take the hits before it folds up?

No we couldnt beef it up. We have a weight restriction and we are right at the limit. Plus, I'd rather have the hooks bend and not the lifting arms. That's why we cut a bunch of replacements.sometimes we have time to change them and sometimes our matches are only minutes apart.
We just had our last competition with this robot so it will be retired. But the next build season starts in January so I'm planning ahead.

thanks again for all the info. I appreciate it

here's a video of one of our matches. The game is called Stronghold. The first 15 seconds is totally autonomous. You have to weaken the defenses by crossing them. shoot the balls into the goal, low or high. Then the last 20 seconds you can scale the castle to defeat it.. It's really alot of stressful fun.. lol