Hossfeld Modification

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Anyone done a digital readout modification on a Hossfeld bender?  I find the hydraulic solenoid bypass/shutoff switch less than completely reliable for accurate repeatability.  Some of that is due to different springback from material hardness but I am thinking a digital readout would compensate with the ability to adjust a bend 1 or 2 degrees and generally improve production.Another issue is line of plane doing multiple bends [3] on the same length of material.  I have a number of railing returns to do using 1 1/2" sched.40.  About 1/2 of the returns only have two 90 degree bends in them which will get welded to the top rail and post on the bottome bend.  Using levels it is fairly reliable to keep these in plane.  When bending the returns with 3 bends in them [90, 33, 57] the 3rd bend has been consistently out of plane with the others regardless of leveling.  Any insights or feedback on either of these topics greatly appreciated.
Reply:Bump.  132 views, nobody has any good ideas?
Reply:i wish i did. every-time i see a hossfeld bender post i think of mine with all the bells and whistles collecting dust on the shelves. maybe if mine was hydraulic powered? it sounds like you really get use from your's.i.u.o.e. # 15queens, ny and sunny fla
Reply:On the Hossfeld I used to use, we actually just degreed the dies.  The back edge of the bending shoe is a good indicator of the end of the bend, and I just marked the die every 5 degrees around to 180.  You have to do a little playing around with your materials to learn the spring back of each, but once you know what that material wants you learn to push in the extra degrees to correct for the springback.As for bends on different planes, I built a tool out of some 3/8" steel to hold a magnetic degree indicator.  I cut a V in a plate to accomodate various size tubing and put a thumb screw underneath so it could be clamped onto the tube.  Once you have tube securely clamped in the bender for the first bend, put your indicator holder on the tube sticking out the back of the bender, attach the magnetic degree indicator and 0 it.  Then for each additional bend you need on a different plane just pull the tube into the next bend mark and rotate it to the correct reading on the degree indicator.
Reply:Here ya go. Don't say I never gave you anything. Attached ImagesIan TannerKawasaki KX450 and many other fine tools