Build your own sheet metal equipment?

[Zumba]

After reading the Northstar press brake thread last month, I concluded that it would be easy enough to build my own. Is there anything special about that brake? Can 1018 cold roll steel be used for the dies?

Also, are shears made in a similar fashion?

Lastly, are there any plans out there for building your own shop press? Grizzly has a 50 ton shop press for $600. Does the hydraulic ram actually have a 50 ton pushing capacity? Seems a bit far fetched. I'm looking at the Surplus Center website and the only cyclinder they have over 50 tons is an 8" bore double acting model for $1200.00.

[Mcgyver]

lots of homemade examples, Dave Cofer @ the homeshop bbs has even built a cnc hydraulic press. I agree it takes a whopping big cylinder to go to 50 tons, when i looked at it there you could get a 6" cylinder for the HF price, then again I would expect a decent home made effort to easily surpass a grizzly/hf effort . my hyraulic press has been on hiatus pending a nice surplus hydraulic find. do some searching at the home shop machinist bbs, I have seen manual, power and cnc diy brakes there. Here's a finger brake made by another guy there. http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/09...oxBrake3xx.jpg

I'm also in market for some sheet metal equipment, I know they are not the same tool but I think i'm going to find a good used finger brake or make one instead of a hydraulic brake. I've a 4' 16 gauge brown boggs shear bought used, don't know that i'd want to make one, knives would be a challenge.

[Zumba]

Thanks for the info. Sweet pics in that link.

As for the shear, I think I might actually just build a linear carriage that holds a plasma torch. That'll give me plenty of capacity, probably up to 3/8". A cheap acme screw and a DC motor should make for an even cut.

[lwill]

After reading the Northstar press brake thread last month, I concluded that it would be easy enough to build my own. Is there anything special about that brake? Can 1018 cold roll steel be used for the dies?

Also, are shears made in a similar fashion?

Lastly, are there any plans out there for building your own shop press? Grizzly has a 50 ton shop press for $600. Does the hydraulic ram actually have a 50 ton pushing capacity? Seems a bit far fetched. I'm looking at the Surplus Center website and the only cyclinder they have over 50 tons is an 8" bore double acting model for $1200.00.

Remember you can use leverage! If you use a 2 to 1 lever you can use a 25 ton ram to gerate 50 tons at the point of use.

[One of Many]

Lastly, are there any plans out there for building your own shop press? Grizzly has a 50 ton shop press for $600. Does the hydraulic ram actually have a 50 ton pushing capacity? Seems a bit far fetched. I'm looking at the Surplus Center website and the only cyclinder they have over 50 tons is an 8" bore double acting model for $1200.00.

The pump on these units are capable of 10,000 psi. If the cylinder were a 3.5" bore then it would take 10,400psi to get 50 tons. If it were a 4" bore cylinder, it would take 8000 psi.

The 8" cylinder would only take 2000 psi. Surface area becomes your mechanical advantage. That also requires addition strength in the materials used since the force acts on everything within the cylinder.

So, to answer you question. Yes, it may have a 50 ton capacity. Just by the skin of its little pump.

Compared to our Dake structurally. Anything near 50 ton on that frame looks scarey!

DC

[Zumba]

Compared to our Dake structurally. Anything near 50 ton on that frame looks scarey!

DC

I'm thinking the same thing!

But my production level is way too low to justify nice fab machines like a Dake.

I think I'll end up buying that Grizzly anyway and just make sure I don't go overboard with it. I ditched the idea of making my own... not only will it probably cost more to make, but I treat all my machines as commodities. If for some reason I had to sell my press, it'd be hell of a lot easier to sell a Grizzly than my own, just because Grizzly has a name out there.

[One of Many]

Yes, the Dake is a bit on the high end. These are rated to press 50 ton anywhere along the upper member. It looks like the Grizzly is fixed on center due to the structure needing the load shared equally.

I bought the Cummins Tool 20 ton last year. For $200, I couldn't buy the materials for that much. I liked the idea of the sliding cylinder,internal return spring pressure gage etc. No modified truck jack on this one. Mine came with some press plates to press and bend on. Now I see they are sold seperately. Comparable to some of the better name 10 ton units, but still half the price~!

Cummins 20 ton

I know it isn't 50ton, but then it isn't 3 times the price either. I was impressed, and that is tough with cheap import equipment!

I don't know what the market is for used 50 ton presses. They are sought after quite often, so I'm sure good name brands hold their value.

DC