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Harbor Freight Bender mod for on-edge [hardway] forming.
My long running electrical project requires a fair amount of hardware. My installation is somewhat unconventional.
Instead of EMT, IMT or Rigid (heck NO) conduit, opted for wireway. Shop to be is a standalone building, ramped, loading dock high, zoned M1 and entirely free span inside. Profile pic is 9500+ American Pacemaker pounds last 100' from flatbed in California to Midwest doorway. Huge delay awaiting a proper roofer to insure structural integrity above a 110 yr old brick box. Assembling materials continuously, everything is coming together, after god of trusses and 50 yr asphalt shingles sent just such a contractor my way. Delay? Dead set against hanging 3 phase from leaky low pitch roof & rafters. It would negate reasonable corrections later on, or beat me up with constant maintenance $$. Cue up Mark Knopfler and "No Can Do" or "Don't You Get It?". Period.
I work in a steady mode, key elements are function and form in that order. Conducting multiple projects, that obligates me to wring each deeply. Features deemed important are part of plan, not just bolted on. It is the very basis of measure twice /cut once.
So, wireway is being suspended with door flap perpendicular to floor, not on top as usual. Commercial hangers, couplers, tees and ells not ideally designed for that either.
So what? Instead designed complete system to suit the installation. More importantly it presents a clean-looking install that passes a full Electrical Inspection.
A] Drew up hanger and support for max headroom [no pun]. It gets everything plumb and level, directed over each of the machine aisles.
This post is about manufacturing the hanger brace.
I can answer mechanical/ machining questions on the tool modification. Have inserted most everything needed so readers can duplicate or alter as needed. Click the pix, text is embedded already. Apologetically, withholding on the full bracket and other components until install is done, as solution is patentable.
Attachment 10023 Attachment 10024 Attachment 10025 Attachment 10026
My sister holds a Masters in English. According to her, English is comprised of 750,000 words; and someone with a substantial vocabulary uses about 35,000. Much of remaining 700,000 are occupational vocabularies; law, medicine, the sciences, engineering, even religion.
Some are meant to exclude laypersons; from comprehension, practicing or responding. Sort of job security, shelter for those without multiple talents. Television has good examples of introducing terminology, albeit with imperfect definition. Police and law drama, surgical procedures, Arctic fishing, ... I'm disappointed "How It's Made" depicts end products without any of the immense tool-making behind a canning line, custom auto manufacturing, or machine tools themselves. It makes manufacturing appear to be a service, instead of layers of capital investment needed to produce volume. Not to mention economic waves it generates.
I'm prejudiced 'our' vocabulary, that of mechanics, seems most important of all.
Think how it permeates other disciplines. Use those branches to expand your understanding. Look at the geographical span members of this site occupy, the span of interests, abilities, resources, and age. Places like this co-mingle our common language, creativity, and adaptation of other solutions we use as individuals.
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Harbor Freight Bender handle mod.
Getting the bender hardway dies ready, impression of unit was sound, a little loose, but not from scrimping on material, just tolerances.
Handle did not impart the feel desired of operating a tool. Most if not all came from fit of main tube to extension handle, even when retracted. Now it does.
Like my roof mentioned earlier, it won't need more attention later.
Like Rome, brick by brick.
Attachment 10030
Goal is increasingly self-supporting operation, teach a group of intern /students to run it, while I work as leadman /supervisor. A lot like tradeschool, with an entirely different fee program. It is to teach basics, with metal-work at the center. Drafting, hand tools, shop math, welding, sharpening, heat treating etc. Not just because but why, and how they interact.