ViperTX - It's possible to get the reverse bends from from flat stock, if you make the panel from the other side. The right 3 sections are connected by the bottom panels, and where it gets to the reverse bend, it's now connected by the top panel, so there is material to notch for the corners. This was done in Alibre Design Professional, which is can get picky about not generating a feature if the geometry doesn't work.
I don't have a JD^2 die set for the box tubing (bought it for roll cages), but the largest box tube that will fit in the Model 2 Bender is 1.5", with a 5.5" centerline radius. I would need something closer to 2 or 2.5" if possible. Maybe a fab shop with a CNC'd Ercolina mandrel bender can handle tighter radii?
I was hoping an automated solution would be less expensive, but if they're moving the part around by hand in a brake, I could see that taking a while! I haven't spoken to fab shops about this specific part, yet. There was a company I met at a design and manufacturing trade show in NY that suggested making it from flat stock, which is how I got this bug in my ear in the first place! I'm close enough where I can show them something, and at least get an estimate, or get alternative ideas to make it easier to manufacture. Thanks for the ideas everyone. |