Building Flat Top Plate Bender
I purchased a HD bender from SWAG a couple of years ago. It works in my hydraulic press. SWAG also sells what they call a flat top bender that just sits on top of the big bender or it can be used by itself. It's a piece of 5/8" X 6" X 19 1/2" steel plate with a couple of 3/8" x 3" x 19 1/2" plate that bolt to it. The thinner plates are slotted so they can be adjusted in and out. This will allow for much sharper bends in thinner stock then the big bender does. SWAG wants 120 dollars for their bender. I figured I could make one similar for a lot less.
I called my local steel supplier for a quote on a piece of 5/8 plate to make the base for my bender. Uncommon size, didn't have any in stock. Would cost 70 bucks to order it... Hmmm, not very cost effective. I asked about 3/4" and they had plenty of that! A 6" inch wide piece that was plasma cut on one side was 20 bucks! Perfect! I had a 6" wide hunk of 3/8th's in the rack so I took that with me. They sheared the 3 /8ths to length and split it down the middle for me and I walked out of the shop with everything for 30 bucks...
Here is the piece of 3/4" set up in the drill press.
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a4...D550/ry%3D400/
After drilling the four corner holes to 27/64th's I clamped the plate up on the fab table for tapping the holes for 1/2-13.
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a4...D550/ry%3D400/
Tapping the holes. I use Tap Magic cutting fluid for all of my drilling and tapping. Makes a HUGE difference. Took about a half hour to tap all four.
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a4...D550/ry%3D400/
All tapped and cleaned up. I ran a chamfering bit into the holes after tapping and cleaned up the plate with a flap disc on the 4" grinder.
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a4...D550/ry%3D400/
Tomorrow I'll work on the two "bend" plates. Getting them set up in the mill and cutting the slots.
Mark
