Bending 1/4" flange

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Need to bend a couple 1/4" flange on some 14ga sheet metal. I believe they're about 8-12" wide. I have a 50ton press and a Baileigh magnetic sheet metal brake. I've tried small flanges on the mag brake before and it doesn't work too well. I could make a quick brake for the press possibly... Experience?John 3:16(2) Miller Pheonix 456(2) Millermertic 252Dynasty 210DXHobart 210MVPDoringer D350 SA Cold SawScotchman 350LT Cold SawWebb 10x50 MillWebb 15x40 LatheGeka Bendicrop Ironworker
Reply:It's going to be very difficult no matter how you do it. That's not much leg to get a hold on for the bend. Normally 1/2" is a minimum bend sometimes 3/8" is possible. I'd be looking at making it longer and cutting after bending.Millermatic 252XMT 304'sDynasty 280DXHypertherm PowerMax 1250Miller Trailblazer 302 EFIOptima PulserXR feeder and XR Edge gun and more athttp://members.dslextreme.com/users/waynecook/index.htm
Reply:Originally Posted by irish fixitIt's going to be very difficult no matter how you do it. That's not much leg to get a hold on for the bend. Normally 1/2" is a minimum bend sometimes 3/8" is possible. I'd be looking at making it longer and cutting after bending.
Reply:Well there's gotta be a somewhat feasible way to do these! I'm mimicking a piece that came from a relatively local general fab shop.John 3:16(2) Miller Pheonix 456(2) Millermertic 252Dynasty 210DXHobart 210MVPDoringer D350 SA Cold SawScotchman 350LT Cold SawWebb 10x50 MillWebb 15x40 LatheGeka Bendicrop Ironworker
Reply:It's not big stuff your talking about, how about making a small jig/form out of 1/2" angle, (1/4" on each side), use a piece of 3/16" as your pusher?
Reply:If you just need a few for cheap, get a couple pieces of heavy steel, say 3/4 x 2 or thicker.  Use the press to clamp the heavy steel together with your piece of 14ga in between sticking out the necessary amount for your short flange.  Get your favorite hammer and work the flange down.
Reply:run an angle grinder along the crease line a few times to weaken the metal a little there, and it will bend like butter. I do this with a track saw on 16 gauge aluminum sheet metal.
Reply:a local shop here has a really tight radius punch and a small bottom die. they do alot of that same thing. could cut a piece of angle down to change you die opening. kinda a cheater die
Reply:" If you just need a few for cheap, get a couple pieces of heavy steel, say 3/4 x 2 or thicker. Use the press to clamp the heavy steel together with your piece of 14ga in between sticking out the necessary amount for your short flange. Get your favorite hammer and work the flange down. "BFH and persistence can carry the day.I offer three choices: Good, Fast, & Cheap. You may pick two.Hobart AC/DC StikMate LXHarbor Freight AD HoodHarbor Freight Industrial Chop SawDeVilbis 20 Gallon, 5 HP Compressor
Reply:Here ya go....play with this idea Each smaller angle iron scrap allows for shorter lips. just stack em up
Reply:It can be done with a CNC press brake. Find a local place that has one, they'll probably charge you like $20.Welding/Fab Pics: www.UtahWeld.com
Reply:If they have the right tooling it can be done.   Lets think about what's needed. The die will have to be less than 1/2" wide before you can use a press brake. Thus you need a 3/8" die. It calls for 8.8 tons per foot. Even then the end of the piece is going to go off the edge when pressed so the die needs to be V shaped. My chart doesn't recommend using a smaller die for 14ga so I don't know how well that would go.  Thus to do this you're probably going to need a milling machine or shaper  to cut the groove in a piece of stock. The shaper would be preferred since you can make the die a little tighter than 90deg (say about 85 deg) to allow for spring back issues. I have a die I built a good while back that would probably do it. At least I think I put one that small into it. I made it with 4 different widths so I would have more options.   So yes it is doable with the right setup but not so easy to build without machine tools.Millermatic 252XMT 304'sDynasty 280DXHypertherm PowerMax 1250Miller Trailblazer 302 EFIOptima PulserXR feeder and XR Edge gun and more athttp://members.dslextreme.com/users/waynecook/index.htm
Reply:Originally Posted by irish fixitIf they have the right tooling it can be done.   Lets think about what's needed. The die will have to be less than 1/2" wide before you can use a press brake. Thus you need a 3/8" die. It calls for 8.8 tons per foot. Even then the end of the piece is going to go off the edge when pressed so the die needs to be V shaped. My chart doesn't recommend using a smaller die for 14ga so I don't know how well that would go.  Thus to do this you're probably going to need a milling machine or shaper  to cut the groove in a piece of stock. The shaper would be preferred since you can make the die a little tighter than 90deg (say about 85 deg) to allow for spring back issues. I have a die I built a good while back that would probably do it. At least I think I put one that small into it. I made it with 4 different widths so I would have more options.   So yes it is doable with the right setup but not so easy to build without machine tools.
Reply:I think he is talking about milling or shaping a die mold to a 3/8" wide at the top V, so that the workpiece will be sitting 1/16" on the edge when you start your 1/4" bend with the brake.
Reply:Exactly. Even then I think it would be tricky but at least it might be possible. You cannot start a bend in the middle of the V. Even smaller would be better but I'm not sure how well it would work. Millermatic 252XMT 304'sDynasty 280DXHypertherm PowerMax 1250Miller Trailblazer 302 EFIOptima PulserXR feeder and XR Edge gun and more athttp://members.dslextreme.com/users/waynecook/index.htm