How to make a sheet bending machine with your own hands. Sheet bending machine - make a manual sheet bender with your own hands Machine bending sheet iron

Most often, to work with metal workpieces, a person needs a metal bending machine. This is a fairly simple device, but its benefits cannot be overestimated. In addition, it is quite possible to make it yourself. This will save a significant amount of material resources, but will also require certain knowledge, skills and, of course, time.

Description

The machine, as its name implies, is used for the production of bent metal parts. It is worth adding that, in addition to this function, it can also have one additional function - cutting material. Such machines are most often used to produce strips of metal. In addition to these two functions, the presence of such a machine will allow you to produce various types of profiled metal. The advantage of using a metal bending machine is that it allows you to change the shape of the material at any desired angle, but it does not damage the surface coating or protective layer of the product.

Working on the unit

You can work on such a machine not only with steel products, but also with copper, brass, aluminum and iron. If a workpiece made of any material is characterized by the fact that its thickness is less than 0.8 mm, then its width must be at least 40 cm, but not more than 2.5 m. With such dimensions, the height of the shelf (for bending) must be no more than 2 cm. If you need to cut workpieces with the same thickness, then it is important that their width is from 80 mm to 40 cm and no more.

Another important condition that must be met in order to work on a metal bending machine is the absence of defects on the surface of the sheet that will be bent. Compliance with this condition is important to ensure that those parts and product samples that will be produced are not inferior in quality to those blanks that are produced on an industrial scale in factories. In order to ensure protection of the polymer or paint coating on the material itself, it is recommended to install silicone or rubber substrates on the machine.

The design of a machine for bending sheet metal, made by yourself

A homemade machine for bending metal products has a rather simple but very functional design, consisting of several basic elements.

Knife. Since the machine has an additional cutting function, this part is also the main one. It should be installed on movable rollers, and is intended for cutting workpieces. It is important to note here that this element must be made of very strong steel, on the Rockwell scale the strength level should be about 100. The service life of such a product is quite long, but it will be difficult to sharpen. But this drawback is completely offset by the fact that the knife will allow you to cut a huge number of linear meters of material before it becomes dull. To make it easier to move the rollers, a weighting material should be installed on them.

Machine components

A do-it-yourself metal bending machine must also have several of the following components:

The required part is a working beam (table). The purpose of this element is quite clear; it plays the role of a working surface on which the workpiece lies. The width of the beam can be almost any. It is worth noting that if the dimensions are quite large, then you can turn a metal bending machine into a full-fledged workbench with your own hands. Craftsmen recommend making or covering the surface of the beam with rubber or silicone so as not to scratch the surface of the workpiece.
Next comes the sheet folder itself. The design is quite simple and should be made in the form of a frame made of wood material, and also have a weighting agent.
It is necessary to acquire various stands and stops that will prevent the material from sliding.
Another important element is the stops for bending the sheet. These parts will regulate the width of the sheet fold and set the bend angle.
In order to cut workpieces, it is recommended to add stops to indicate the width of the cut.

Start of production of a homemade metal bending machine

It is recommended to start work by drawing up a diagram of the unit. It is also necessary to purchase and manufacture all the necessary elements and parts before starting assembly. The first thing you need to buy is two pieces of channel No. 5 and No. 6 with the same length. Also, these two elements must have a straight edge. These elements are used to prepare the base. Piece No. 5 is used for pressing, and No. 6 for arranging the base. To select the length of the channels, you need to start from the length of the workpieces you plan to work with; this parameter must match. Most often, experts recommend taking a length of about half a meter. This is enough to make almost any part that may be useful in everyday life.

Manufacturing and assembly of the machine

Next, to manufacture a machine for manual bending of metal, it is necessary to make holes on the channel, which is a clamping channel. The number of holes should be from 2 to 4, and their diameter should be 9 mm. The hole closest to the end of the clamping piece blank should be located 3 cm from the edge. Another important point is that the clamping device must be shorter than the base, by about 5-10 cm. In order to make a punch for crimping, you must have at your disposal a corner whose profile thickness will be greater than that of future workpieces. A lever handle is best made from materials such as rebar or timber. If timber is used, then its cross-section should be no less than 15 mm, and if timber is used, then its dimensions should be no less than 50x50. It is recommended to make the lever shape U-shaped. This element is attached to the corner using welding or bolts.

Final works

After all the previous manipulations have been completed, you can begin making an element such as cheeks. They are made of rolled steel, and the thickness of the parts should be about 5 mm. It is important that these elements have chamfers, the thickness of which should be 0.6 cm. The length of this section should be from 3 to 3.3 cm. It is important that the ends of the punch are also equipped with chamfers with parameters such as 0.5 cm in depth and 3 cm long. They must be removed from the punch to allow the axle to be installed. The production of an element such as an axle is carried out from metal rods whose diameter is 1 cm. The axle is fastened by welding. When installing, it is necessary to ensure that the axis line is parallel to the edges of the angle. This entire finished structure, together with the punch, is connected using a vice. When combining, it is important to ensure that the free flange of the corners is located in the same horizontal plane in which the free channel flange is located.

After this, the assembly work can be considered complete. To check the performance of the machine, it is recommended to take a mild steel workpiece with a thickness of up to 1.5 mm. It is worth noting that the price of a purchased metal bending machine can reach up to $2000.

Sheet folding process

The design of a homemade machine may also consist of parts such as a frame, a flywheel nut, a sheet for bending, a clamp, a clamp, and a punch for crimping. In order to operate this type of machine, certain knowledge and skills are required. The advantage of using this unit is that it will keep the metal intact, unlike welding.

During the process of bending metal, the following happens: the outer layers of the metal workpiece are stretched, but the inner layers, on the contrary, are compressed. It is important that in order to bend a metal workpiece it is necessary to apply a force that will be greater than the ultimate elasticity of the material. With the help of metal bending machines, this condition can be achieved. The advantages of the finished product, that is, bent sheets, include the following factors:

the presence of high strength of the final product;
the possibility of obtaining a one-piece structure without welds, bolted joints, etc.;
the possibility of corrosion is eliminated, since there is no damage to the metal during the bending process;
the ability to obtain the desired angle without creating a weld.

Conclusion

Having such equipment at home greatly simplifies working with metal workpieces. However, when operating this device, it is extremely important to know and adhere to safety precautions. The price of a do-it-yourself sheet metal bending machine will also be significantly lower than a purchased one. You will only have to spend money on those materials that are not at hand and will have to be purchased.

Making a sheet bending machine with your own hands is sometimes much more profitable than buying a ready-made mechanism. This way you will save financially and get exactly the machine that will meet your requirements.

When planning to make a sheet bender with your own hands, you must adhere to a certain principle - the entire load when working with a manual device should fall on the strongest muscles. And the return of the unit is to press your feet to the floor. This way, the process of working on the machine will require a minimum of physical effort.

Using a roller or simple sheet bending machine, you can make an unusual roof pattern, make some additional elements, and create entire structures. It all depends on what type of machine you are going to make with your own hands.

Roller devices are the most compact sheet benders. They are often used when installing seam roofing. Roller machines ensure the production of bypasses, additional elements, roofing patterns of non-standard types, increase the rolling depth on the inside of a seam roof, etc.
Machines that bend sheets at an angle of 90 degrees. Such devices are the most popular among those who decide to make a sheet bending machine themselves.
Press. Trying to make such a unit with your own hands is almost pointless. These are machines for industrial use, the assembly of which should only be carried out by professionals.
Broaching benders. Here, the radius of the bends directly depends on how the rolls are positioned. Such devices are multifunctional, but there is no objective need for them for domestic use.

From this we can conclude that the most attractive sheet benders for DIY production are those that provide a bend at an angle of 90 degrees. With their help, you can carry out minor repairs, correct unevenness on metal products, make some crafts, etc.

Buy or make

Making a sheet bending machine with your own hands is a task that requires certain skills and free time. It is the need to waste their time that forces many to give preference to purchased machines, despite the abundantly presented diagrams and drawings of machines on the Internet.

But what is the right thing to do - buy or make a sheet bending machine yourself?

To create a homemade sheet bending machine, you will need a minimum of tools and materials.
The main costs of creating a sheet bending machine are temporary. Many machines are assembled from scrap parts, so you rarely have to spend money.
It’s not uncommon for factory-made machines to turn out to be less efficient and easy to use than a homemade sheet bender.
A large number of ready-made machines are designed for bending sheets up to 3 meters wide. This device is too large even for those who have a spacious yard or a large garage.
Price issue. By comparing a homemade manual sheet bender and a ready-made machine in terms of cost, you will be pleasantly surprised at how much you can save by spending literally a couple of hours on making a homemade sheet bender.
Many factory machines have a mechanical drive type. But it is completely inconvenient if you need to carry out delicate, accurate work with metal sheets. Plus, their operation will require a connection to the electrical network, additional costs for paying for electricity.
There are models with hydraulic drive, which are more convenient and preferable for home use. They allow you to work delicately with workpieces. But the price of a hydraulic machine is impressive, the design itself is quite complex. Even if you regularly plan to bend sheets, the payback period for this machine will be too long.
The best option is a manual drive. Here you control the force and distribute it over the workpiece. Manual machines for bending sheets are very easy to use, and they cope with their tasks no worse than their mechanical and hydraulic counterparts.

But the most important question is your real need for such a machine. If you need a sheet bender for a one-time use, it’s easier to borrow from a neighbor, or pick up a simple mallet.

For those who plan to actively use a sheet bending machine, we will tell you how to make a sheet bending machine without resorting to complex structures.

Assembling a sheet bending machine

Finding sheet bending drawings is not a problem. Therefore, first of all, think about what dimensions of the machine you presumably need, for what purposes you are going to use this tool.

Each drawing provides a detailed description of the assembly process. Complete the drawing with a video manual, which will allow you to make a full-fledged compact sheet bending machine in just an hour.

In our case, we will look at a drawing of a machine designed for minor repair work in our own garage.

The drawing includes several basic elements of the sheet bending design:

Clamp;
Crimping punch;
Lever handle;
Base.

The material for manufacturing the machine can be metal. Although more than one drawing provides for the use of ordinary wood for these purposes. Wood as a basis for creating a sheet bending machine allows you to carry out minor work when you need to bend small sheets of iron, aluminum and other materials.

The wooden base can be left in its original form, or reinforced with metal corners or sheet metal. Based on the strength of the selected tree, as well as the expected loads on the base.
Secure several strong loops that will be responsible for the movement of the bending link of the sheet bender.
If the bending link has impressive dimensions and weight, there is no need to install an additional frame. Its installation allows you to increase the pressure created when bending metal sheets.
The crimping punch is a structural element of the machine that matches the profile of the matrix used. The punch acts as a closing component that forms the product from above. The punch is used for stamping, marking or pressing.
The punch should be secured to a wooden base using wing nuts. Be sure to install washers underneath them.
If you plan to bend sheets with different parameters on a machine, it is better to make several different punches at once, differing in the thickness of the grooves.
If you want to get a high-quality 90-degree bend on this simplest machine, it is recommended that the surface limiting the span of the bending component be made with a slight slope. Literally 5 degrees will be enough. Otherwise, problems may arise in obtaining a right bend angle.
If you notice during the first bends that the result of processing the sheets is not very accurate, try making guide cuts in the bend areas.

Some require bending of larger parts, metal sheets. For these purposes, the design of the sheet bending machine presented above will not be powerful enough.

A self-produced sheet bender, designed for working with large sheets, has an identical design. It only differs in its larger size and other materials used for its manufacture. Use channels and angles, and make connections by welding.

Plate benders are an essential hand tool for many homeowners. They are easy to make with your own hands, and their scope of application is limited only by your needs and imagination.

Home » Major home repairs » How to bend reinforcement, sheet metal, etc. without having a special tool

How to bend rebar, sheet metal, etc. without having a special tool

If you have already started a major renovation with your own hands, regardless of where it is carried out: at home or in an apartment, then you need to be prepared for many tests.

Among other things, a number of issues may arise that are very difficult to solve without the proper experience and special equipment. For example, not everyone knows how to bend a sheet of metal, reinforcement, profile, corner, etc. getting a decent result. In this article we will try to answer “inflexible” questions, while making do with a minimum amount of tools.

Very often, when installing metal structures, it is necessary not only to cut steel sheets, but also to give them a curved shape.

This can be done at home without spending money on third party services. For example, how to bend a sheet of metal? To do this we need a wooden or rubber hammer, pliers, and a table. If a 90-degree bend is expected, then this set of tools should be sufficient.

The sheet is simply hung over the edge of the table, after which the desired curvature is achieved by uniform tapping in the bending area.

DIY sheet metal bending machine: Drawings

If the workpiece is relatively small, then you can use a vice, in which, using two gripping bars, you can firmly secure a sheet of metal, and only after that bend it with a hammer. If necessary, the bend can be heated with a gas burner, but this method is not applicable to galvanized products!

Bend a sheet of metal

If we are talking about a thin metal sheet, then the bending procedure can be significantly simplified.

To do this, the metal is “scratched” at the bend (we use a rule or a metal ruler, and a pointed piece of a hacksaw blade for metal as a cutter). The metal, cut to half its thickness, subsequently easily bends along the outlined line. We can say that we have almost figured out how to bend a sheet of metal.

We bend galvanized steel

How to bend galvanized steel?

This can be either a galvanized metal sheet or a finished product, for example, a profile. The sheet is bent in the same way as when bending any other metal sheet.

How to bend a profile? You'll have to tinker with him. To obtain a large radius of curvature of a square or rectangular profile, you can use the following method: tightly fill the profile with fine sand, plug both holes with wooden stakes, and only then bend it by gently tapping it with a mallet. To bend a U-shaped profile (this, in principle, also applies to obtaining sheets of curved shape), it is necessary to additionally use a form object, the curvature of which corresponds to the finishing part.

To facilitate the bending process, triangular elements can be cut out in the profile.

Then the bent product is “wrapped” around the object by uniform tapping with a hammer.

Important! In order for the bend to be as even and correct as possible, the hammer blows should be light and lie as close to each other as possible. How to bend galvanized sheet easier? Using a grinder, we make one or two cuts in the bend area (thereby temporarily weakening the structure), bend the product, and then weld the bend. This approach is important to use when bending profiled pipes and products of complex metal shapes.

We remember that you cannot heat galvanized steel to simplify bending!

Perhaps one of the most difficult tasks faces people who are thinking about how to bend a corner. To get a solid product, you will have to sweat, evenly and slowly tapping the surface of the corner, gradually bending it. It is recommended to use a gas burner, which can be used to heat the bend.

You can do it easier - use a grinder as in the case described above with a galvanized product. It’s even easier to buy an already curved product, then the question “how to bend a corner” will disappear by itself.

How to bend reinforcement

At home, it is quite possible to bend the reinforcement, however, a lot depends on your physical characteristics and the diameter of the metal rod.

How to bend reinforcement? To do this, we need two pieces of steel pipes, the diameter of which is greater than the diameter of the bent rod. The longer the length of such pipes, the easier it will be to bend the reinforcement (gain in strength due to leverage).

All you need to do in order to bend the reinforcement is to insert it into two pipes and, securing one of the pipes (pressing it with your foot or resting it between the pillars), using the second as a lever to give the reinforcement the desired curvature. That's it!

Cutting metal at home is a boring process. And its quality often leaves a lot of desire, thereby imposing additional processing on the acquired persons. Fixing the situation in several ways allows you to use special devices, including those that you produce yourself. We will talk to you today about one of these devices, namely steps.

Rollers for metals

Today, the roller knife is becoming increasingly popular.

This is due not only to the high performance of such a device, but also to its rather simple design. The principle of the mechanism is simple: two cutting discs rotate in different directions, are compressed into a metal surface and thus cut.

The friction between the metal and the knives ensures the unhindered movement of the workpiece along the tool.

In most cases, sheet metal cutting knives include two rotating cylinders - an upper and a lower one. Depending on the variation of the cutting element used, these tools can be classified as follows:

Parallel knives - used for cutting metal into strips, while providing very acceptable quality;
Edges with one slope - this group allows not only longitudinal cutting of the material, but also the cutting of round and circular beams;
Knives with multiple inclined devices allow you to effectively flicker a circular, curved or ring-shaped formation with a small radius.

It should be noted that all the above-mentioned changes are handled perfectly when cutting sheet metal, while the cutting edges do not require additional attention and subsequent processing.

Home roller knives

With all its obvious advantages, even the simplest knife model is a worthy value.

DIY bending machine: 7 steps to implementation

This is the reason for the inaccuracy of purchasing it for a one-time job or periodic use. But the best solution from a financial point of view still exists - you can manually make a foot roller at home.

The design of such a device can be very different.

Below are the most common changes (photo, photo 2). In any case, the main part remains unchanged - the cutting knife.

It must be made of the strongest and most reliable steel alloy, the characteristics of which must necessarily exceed the analogue parameters of the material being cut. If this condition is not taken into account, the quality of the cut will be poor, which will require additional processing of the cutting edges.

Practice shows that the working source of a knife production plant is about 25 km of steel sheet if its thickness is 0.5 mm.

If the thickness is greater, the source will be lower. However, this tool can be virtually problem-free and continue to function effectively.

If we are talking about the source of domestic knives, this directly depends on the material from which the cutting parts of the device are made.

What can you make a knife from?

The options can be very different, here you should pay attention to what is planned to be reduced.

So, unless the strongest steel sheet is available, including aluminum, galvanized metal and other similar materials, the best solutions will be the right ones. The truth is to pre-sharp your goals.

For cutting, one of the cylinders is mounted on a handle, which will act as a drive that forces the knife to press against the metal.

Please note that the larger the diameter of the bearings, the faster the material can be cut.

You can additionally equip the device with guides, which will not be complex for special ones, but in the future it will be good.

The resulting tool is very versatile and can be used in conjunction with a variety of metalworking equipment, including bending machines, which can also be made independently at home.

DIY sheet metal bending machine

A sheet bending machine is a tool distinguished by its fairly simple design, which, however, does not in the least prevent it from demonstrating amazing productivity and efficiency when performing bending work. Today we will talk about how to make such a device with your own hands and with minimal financial investment.

Bending technology and its features

During the bending process of metal, compression of its internal layers occurs with simultaneous stretching of the outer layers, while the applied stress exceeds the maximum permissible stress for this sheet metal.

As a result, the sheet of metal is bent at a pre-selected angle. The degree of deformation of the material depends on various factors, primarily its thickness, the speed of the operation and the required bending angle. And you shouldn’t forget about the plasticity of metal.

I would like to draw special attention to the fact that bending must be carried out in full compliance with the technological process - the slightest deviation can cause various, including quite significant, defects, nullifying all previously applied efforts.

Materials and tools

To make a bending machine with your own hands you will need the following:

Welder;
Steel I-beam;
Corner;
Bolts;
Handles;
Clamps;
Loops.

Making a machine with your own hands - the initial stage

A homemade bending machine includes the following units and components (Fig.

Base;
Clamp;
Flywheel nut;
Crimping punch with lever handle;
Clamps securing the device to the workbench.

So, in order to make a sheet bending unit with your own hands, you should first of all take care of arranging its base, which is made from metal channel No. 6.5 (No. 8 is also possible), the length of which does not exceed 0.5 m (this parameter can be selected at your discretion) .

The clamp, the basis of which is a corner, allows you to bend sheets at an angle of over 90°, which is especially important in situations where seam joining of sheets is required.

The design of the clamp itself is welded, the main angle under No. 5 is reinforced with a profile from angle No. 3.

DIY sheet metal bending machine

For maximum rigidity, the thickness of the corner flanges should be at least 5 mm. The length of the clamp should be approximately 70 cm less than the base, while at its ends brackets from angles No. 3 are welded, the wall thickness of which is also 5 mm (Fig. 2).

The edges of the corner, especially those that will be in contact with the metal, are cleaned with a file or milled so that they are parallel to the base.

An 8 mm hole is drilled in the middle of each bracket.

For the crimping punch, use angle No. 5, which is 10 cm shorter than the clamp. The lever handle is bent from a reinforcement rod with a cross-section of 15 mm, giving it the appearance of a staple, and then welded to the punch. From a sheet of metal, the thickness of which is 5 mm, cheeks are cut out and holes of 10 mm are drilled in them.

A chamfer is removed from the ends of the punch ribs - depth 5 mm, length 30 mm, which will allow the installation of steel axles made of rod with a cross-section of 10 mm.

The direction of the welded axes must coincide with the edge of the angle. Similar chamfers, but slightly larger in size - length 32 mm, depth 6 mm, are also removed from the edges of the base.

Homemade sheet bending machine - work continues

We continue to manufacture the bending unit with our own hands. The time has come for preliminary assembly of the device. To do this, the punch and base are installed in a vice, making sure that the flange of the angle and channel arrives in a single horizontal plane.

The punch axes are supplemented with cheeks, fixing them by welding or any other convenient method.

Test bending is carried out on a soft sheet of metal (1 mm thick). It is laid on the base, and rollers and a clamp are pressed on top of it, pressing it to the base with pins or clamps. If necessary, after trial bending, the position of the cheeks is adjusted, after which they are finally welded to the base.

Through the holes in the brackets, holes are drilled on the base - a cross-section of 8 mm, after which an M10 thread is cut into them.

The holes in the clamps are expanded to 10 mm. Bolts are screwed into the base from below, fixing their heads by welding.

The base with the clamp is tightened with M10 nuts with washers placed under the heads.

To release the pressure back, springs pre-attached to the bolts are used. Although rubber shock absorbers are far from the worst choice.

For the manufacture of fastening clamps, angle No. 3 is also used. Their design can be seen in Figure 3. Support pads are installed on M10 clamping screws, and the clamps themselves are mounted by welding near the cheeks on the base shelf.

Buying or making your own – what to choose

That's all.

We figured out how to make a bending machine with your own hands. But the question arises: isn’t it easier to buy a ready-made device in a store? Let's see. Practice shows that the advantages of a homemade machine are more than obvious - factory models in the vast majority of cases are quite large and capable of bending sheet metal up to 3 m wide, the cost of such devices is very, very significant, and the mechanical drive with which they are mainly equipped is not at all suitable for fine work.

Another thing is a hydraulic type drive, although the cost of such equipment is so high that its use even when performing constant work in small volumes is impractical.

So it turns out that there is nothing left for home use other than a manual drive. It is simple to set up and operate, the costs of its production are minimal, it is quite possible to make it yourself and without using any specific equipment, while the quality of work in many respects is in no way inferior to purchased models.

Listogibami, or sheet bending machines, are called specialized equipment, which is intended for cold bending of metal sheets, as well as the formation of profiles of the required configuration.

Machine-building plants design and manufacture manual sheet benders, as well as machines with pneumatic, hydraulic and mechanical operating principles.

Application of sheet bending machines

Sheet bending machines are used to produce sheet metal profiles, which are used in the construction of metal roofs, ventilation systems and gutters.

They are also used to produce individual elements of various sizes and shapes for finishing building facades.

The production of roofing and facade elements using sheet bends is of significant importance in the production and construction market, and there are reasons for this.

Homemade manual sheet bending with your own hands drawings

Significantly expanded technological capabilities in metal processing make it possible to produce high-quality metal products on sheet bending machines. With the help of sheet bending machines, it is possible to produce both standard and non-standard products from steel sheets of various thicknesses in accordance with the technical characteristics of a particular machine, which can be manual, hydraulic, pneumatic or electromechanical.

Manual sheet benders are usually used in small industries or in construction. Their distinctive features are ease of use, durability and reliability.

Mobile bending machines

Mobile manual sheet benders are used to carry out work directly on the construction site. The entire process is characterized by mobility and high productivity.

Thanks to the low weight of the structure, the machine can be easily moved around the construction site. It can be quickly assembled and disassembled. In addition, transporting sheet benders of this type is not difficult.

Stationary sheet benders

Sheet benders, whose operation is based on the hydraulic principle, are used when there is a need to process metal sheets exceeding 0.8 millimeters in thickness.

Compared to manual sheet bending machines, the process of manufacturing parts is significantly simplified, while their quality is higher.

Such machines are widely used for serial production of steel profiles of the same type. On electromechanical (mechanical) sheet bending machines, the production of parts is carried out due to the operation of an electric motor with a gearbox attached to it.

Such equipment is stationary.

Mechanical sheet bending machines are versatile and compact. With the help of such sheet bending machines you can make almost any metal elements. Electromechanical sheet bending machines can be made in several versions, including those with an increased level of wear resistance. Using the listed modifications of sheet bending machines, it is possible to produce products from various metals, for example, such as: stainless steel, copper, aluminum, galvanized steel sheets, and paint-coated metals.

At the same time, the protective strip or vinyl insert does not allow the machine to damage the coating. Accordingly, high-quality and reliable production of the product is guaranteed, carried out in compliance with all necessary requirements.

Operating principle

The production of profiles using sheet bending machines includes a certain sequence of operations. The original sheet of metal is pressed and bent. Then, if necessary, it is further bent to the required angle, after which the metal profile is cut to the specified length. Uniform pressing of the sheet along its entire length is ensured by a pressure crossbar, which makes it possible to give the product manufactured on a sheet bending machine a perfectly flat surface.

During the bending process, the accuracy of the bend angle is carefully adjusted, resulting in high quality of the product. Some sheet metal bending machines are equipped with a device for cutting steel sheets. For example, circular hand knives with hardened rollers (with their help, cutting metal is very professional), roller knives, electric vibrating shears. Cutting equipment is characterized by increased wear resistance and will ensure high-quality metal cutting throughout its entire service life, which will allow the production of high-quality products.

Great attention should be paid to the safety level of sheet metal bending machines. Personnel must be protected as much as possible from possible injury when working on sheet metal bending machines. As an auxiliary function, restricting the access of an employee who disrupts the technological process during the manufacture of parts on such machines can be used.

Various sheet bending operations are an important part of the general work on building or renovating your own home. Without the use of special equipment, it is impossible to perform them efficiently. For one-time bending of sheet blanks, it is permissible to rent a suitable device from a neighbor or friend. But if such procedures are often performed, it is more advisable to have a manual sheet bending machine of your own making on hand. If you have certain skills, tools and space, making a homemade sheet bender is not so bad.

Drawing up technical specifications

Thanks to the capabilities of the Internet, you can quickly find the required set of drawings, and on the YouTube channel you can even watch promotional and informational videos about the device and operating principle of the required unit. However, all these materials are strictly individual, and therefore were intended by their authors for specific sheet-bending operations. Therefore, before building a sheet bending machine with your own hands, you need to make the right choice of its future technical characteristics. The main ones should be the following:

maximum width of bent metal, mm;
maximum thickness of the workpiece, mm;
desired range of bending angles;
overall dimensions of the mechanism (length, width, height);
required bending accuracy.

The direct choice of the limit values of the listed parameters depends on the conditions of use of the machine that will bend sheet metal products. In particular, when constructing a roof, you will most likely have to deal with galvanized sheet or steel with a thickness of no more than 1 mm. When processing copper, an even thinner sheet or strip is often used, and when making fences and railings with your own hands, on the contrary, the thickness of the metal can be 2 - 3 mm.

When choosing the optimal width of a workpiece - sheet or strip - you should proceed from the fact that the width of the part will rarely exceed 1000 mm (in extreme cases, adjacent workpieces can then be joined into a fold using the same machine).

The most difficult point in the technical specifications is considered to be the choice of the optimal range of metal bending angles. If everything is clear with the upper limit - 180°, then the lower value should be chosen very wisely. A natural consequence of bending most sheet metals in a cold state is springback - a spontaneous decrease in the actual bending angle due to the elastic properties of the deformed metal. Springing depends on:

How to choose the kinematic diagram of a bending machine

The most accessible machines for making with your own hands are those in which sheet metal will bend as a result of rotation of the movable crosshead. The operating principle of such a machine is as follows.

The workpiece to be bent is installed on the guide plane of the lower table of the machine and fixed by a stop, which is fixed to the support frame of the device (it is advisable to provide for adjustment of the stop).

In the guides of the sheet bending frame, the upper traverse moves back and forth, which, when moving downwards, clamps the bent product with its ruler.

In front of the lower table there is a rotating beam that can rotate around its axis. The rotation can be done with a handle from a lever drive, but a version with a foot drive can be made. In the latter case, the operator’s hands remain free, which makes it easier to manipulate the workpiece when it is pressed against the ruler of the upper traverse. In addition, when operating a sheet bending machine using a foot, your hands get less tired.

The set of bending tools on the top and rotary beams can be changed. The easiest way for this purpose is to order a set of punches and dies with the required bending radii and standard seats. You will have to send all the details with your order - ruler, clamp, etc. – which will require qualified milling work for their production.

The bevel of the top beam will determine the largest value of the bending angle by which the sheet metal can change its axis.

To make such a unit with your own hands, you will need the following materials:

steel channel number 6 and above;
a set of steel angles designed for making your own machine support frame;
thick-sheet broadband steel from which the rotary, upper and lower beams will be made;
assorted fasteners;
rod for the manufacture of a manual lever drive for turning a beam.

To make work easier, you can also use a bench vice, guides from a decommissioned lathe, as well as massive hinges from steel entrance doors.

Using a similar principle, you can make a homemade sheet bender using wooden parts. True, it will only be able to bend aluminum and thin-sheet steel (up to 1 mm in thickness), but in many cases these capabilities are quite sufficient, and the labor intensity of building a sheet bending machine with your own hands will be noticeably reduced. In particular, there is no need for welding operations. It should be noted that the working parts of such a machine should be made only from hardwood (pine, spruce are not suitable).

Having decided on the operating principle of the sheet bender, you can look for suitable drawings. However, a person with an engineering education will be able to produce a set of drawings independently. The advantage of this option is that a number of working drawings can be quickly modified and processed to suit specific capabilities and source materials.

Drawings of the sheet bender must take into account the method of installation. For small units, for example, the bending machine can be mobile or even portable. Otherwise, you will have to use welding to make a stable base, otherwise excessive mobility of the machine will reduce the accuracy of work on it.

Once the machine is ready, it must be checked for functionality and accuracy. To do this, bend a test strip of thick cardboard of the required thickness. If the bending is performed correctly, then the height of the strip flanges will be the same, and there will be no traces left on its surface from the deforming tool.

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How to make a wood planer with your own hands How to make wood cross-cutting machines with your own hands How to make a pipe cutter for steel pipes with your own hands How to make a zig machine with your own hands?

Sheet metal and tin are in great demand, because many products are made from them: metal tiles, various shaped parts, drainage systems, parts for auto repair, etc.

Such products are bought ready-made, but if you make a manual sheet bender with your own hands, you can save a lot.

What types of benders are there?

Of course, you can buy a ready-made bender, for example, the famous Edelweiss, but such machines also cost a lot, but if you make them yourself, you won’t need any special financial costs. There are several types of metal bending machines:

Manual. Metal bending occurs through the application of physical force. Despite the apparent simplicity of the design, they can be used to perform almost all necessary operations with sheet metal, including folding work.
Hydraulic sheet benders. Very similar to manual machines, but the application of force occurs due to a hydraulic drive.
Roller edge bending machines. They differ from the previous ones not only in design, but also in the principle of operation. In them, the sheet does not bend along a certain line, but is smoothly rounded. Such machines are necessary for the manufacture of pipes and other similar products.

Manual and hydraulic machines are easier to manufacture than roller machines. Do-it-yourself edge bender drawings are easy to find, but the process of their production itself is not described everywhere.

Making a manual sheet bender

On the Internet you can find many drawings for making a sheet bending machine with your own hands. One of the simplest and most effective designs is an I-beam machine diagram. To make a manual sheet bender with your own hands, you will need: three pieces of I-beam with shelves of at least 45 mm and a thickness of 3 mm, two screws with a diameter of about 20 mm, a spring, thick metal for making jibs (to strengthen problem areas), door hinges.

The tools you will need are a drill, a grinder and a welding machine. The manufacturing algorithm is simple:

This work is very simple and does not require additional description. The bed can be used with unnecessary or broken tools, if available. The result was a powerful homemade sheet bending machine; the drawings used were simple, one of the most common. With its help, you can easily bend even long and thick sheets of metal. By the way, instead of an I-beam, you can use a metal corner with similar characteristics.

A do-it-yourself manual edge bender is made from a corner according to the same drawings, only the corners of the base need to be welded together in pairs.

To make a manual edge bender with your own hands, drawings can easily be found on the Internet. For the clamping part, you can use an unpaired corner, but it is advisable to strengthen it with jibs to give the necessary rigidity.

Features of Roller Machine

Roller benders are less common, but if you need to give a sheet a radial bend or make a pipe, there is no alternative. On the Internet you can find drawings of a sheet bending machine with your own hands; let’s look at the simplest and most effective design. The easiest way to buy rollers for a sheet bender is to buy them ready-made or order them from a turner; you will need 3 of them.

For this type of sheet bender, a powerful bed is especially important. Again, you can make it yourself or take a ready-made one. The two lower rollers are fixed stationary, and the upper one can move; it should be located above them. By pressing on the upper roller, the radius of curvature of the part being manufactured is adjusted. To make pipes, it is necessary to provide for the possibility of removing the top roll.

The most difficult thing is making a drive so that all three rolls rotate synchronously. You can use sprockets and a bicycle chain.

Precautions during operation

When using sheet metal bending machines, you must strictly follow the safety rules:

Inspect the condition of the robe and shoes. There should be no hanging parts, unfastened zippers or buttons.
Check the working parts of the sheet bender for any malfunctions. If detected, do not start work until they are eliminated.
The workplace should be sufficiently illuminated by natural or artificial light.
There should be no unnecessary tools or materials within a meter from the machine.
You cannot bend sheets thicker than those provided for by the design and characteristics of the machine.

Thus, you can easily make a sheet bending machine with your own hands.