Such a simple tool, as an edge bender, can be useful in many situations, related to the need to process sheet metal products. Many models of such a device are presented on the modern market, but if desired, you can make it with your own hands.
Edge benders can be used to form quite complex profile elements
Areas of application
Edge bending machine or a simple hand tool, designed for bending edges, is widely used in many areas. The edge bending allows, in particular, to make elements of air ducts from sheet metal, prepare the edges of the workpieces for their connection by welding. Car repair (body work) - another area of application of such tools and equipment.
The edge bender is also actively used in construction and repair work on the house. Using such a tool, form rebate joints of sheet metal elements and even make products of different configurations.
Bending of the end face of a drain pipe on the electromechanical edge-bending machine
If we talk about the principle, on which the edge bend acts, then it is quite simple. To bend the edge of the sheet, the edge bending scale is set to the required processing width, then the edge of the workpiece is placed between the working rollers of the device and, moving the device, perform perished.
The main varieties
The simplest on a design from the edge-bending devices presented in the market are manual adaptations of roller type. All manipulations with such edge benders are carried out by means of the handle, which they are equipped with, and the main work on deformation of the edge of the metal workpiece is performed by rollers. Bend width, performed with such a device, regulated by a special limiter, mounted on the guide device.
Compact manual edge benders can be used directly on site
High mobility of the edge bender, which can be worked with even on high-altitude objects, providing not only its compact size, but also light weight, which is about 2 kg. Using a hand edge bending tool, you can bend the edge of the metal workpiece at an angle of up to 90 °, the thickness of the metal, of which it is made, cannot exceed 0,8 mm.
With the help of an edge bender, you can perform bends of any length, and their width can be in the range of 0.5-20 cm. As can be seen from the technical characteristics of such a device, its capabilities are quite limited, therefore it is expedient to use it only for the decision of simple technological problems. More productive and functional is the edge-bending machine, equipped with hydraulic drive. Operator, working on such equipment, no significant physical effort is required to do so, to bend the edge of the metal workpiece. Due to the high power, which is different from such a device, it can be used to process sheet metal blanks, even of considerable thickness.
Kromkogibochny ZSH-4,0 machine with a hydraulic clip of rollers
Depending on the dimensions, the hydraulic edge bending machine can be stationary or mobile.. Such equipment is most often equipped with a hydraulic drive, which has another name - "edge bending press".
The edge-bending machine can be equipped with an electromechanical drive. With the help of this equipment it is possible to make folds of various types and even to carry out a deposit of a seam seam, if the equipment of the machine allows to do it.
Edging or trimming on a roller machine is performed using replaceable rollers, on which the form of a deflection also depends
Edge benders are very popular, equipped with a pneumatic drive. Working bodies of such machine, working on the principle of "rotary beam", due to the use of the pneumatic actuator allow to put considerable pressure on the processed preparation, the value of which can reach 6,2 there is. Meanwhile, use such an edge-bending machine for processing blanks of sheet metal, whose thickness does not exceed 1,2 mm, the width of the processed edge cannot be more 12 mm. Deciding to use serial equipment of this category or make a pneumatic machine with your own hands, you have to keep in mind, that for full operation of such device it is necessary to provide air consumption, equal to 113 l / min.
Independent production of the edge-bending machine
How to make a device for edge-bending operations? This task is solved quite simply.
Option one. Machine for bending long straight edges
To make such a device, you will need drawings, which are not hard to find online, as well as the following equipment and consumables:
- metal channels, from which the base and clamps of an edge bender are made;
- thick-walled corner for making a crimping punch;
- metal sheet, from which the brushes of the edge bender will be made;
- metal bracket, used as a device handle.
The scheme of work of a self-made edge bender
Assembly scheme, that allows to make the machine for performance of edge-bending operations, looks as follows:
- Chamfers are removed on the edges of the punch and the base, the size of which should be 7x45 °, and length - 30 cm
- Metal rods with a diameter are welded to the punch 10 mm, which will act as axes. Welding such rods, it is necessary to monitor that, so that their axis coincides with the edge of the corner.
- Samples are made at the ends of the working part of the clamp.
- The self-made edge bender is previously assembled in vices, by means of which the punch is compressed with the basis. It is important to monitor this, to the wall of the punch and the working shelf of the base, between which there is a cardboard gasket, were located in one plane.
- Steel brushes are put on the axis of the punch, which are pressed to the base with clamps.
- After checking the correct position of the brushes, they are welded to the base of the device.
- On the basis of an edge bend openings are drilled, in which clamping screws are screwed.
- Pins are welded to the base of the machine - a metal channel, on which nuts are screwed.
- Unscrew the bolts, they are inserted into the drilled holes of the clamping mechanism and screw the limiting nuts on them.
- A handle is welded to the metal corner of the self-made edge bender.
Drawings of bending beams (click to enlarge)
Drawings of the lower beam (click to enlarge)
Drawings of a clamping beam (click to enlarge)
Once your edge bending device is assembled, it remains only to fix it in metalwork vices.
The edge bender fixed on a workbench
The video review of the production of the first version of the edge bending machine can be seen in detail in the video below.
Option two. Manual edge bender for flanging
This homemade device can bend the edges of any length, and the design is taken from manual edge benders of factory production.
The whole course of work in detail of the edge bender of this type is shown in detail in the video below.
In these examples, we have considered the procedure for making typical edge benders, which can be used to perform a whole list of technological operations. If you need an edge bending device, by means of which carry out car repair, then it has an even simpler design and, in accordance, low cost, therefore it is inexpedient to make it independently: it is better to buy such a device.
And finally, another option for making a homemade edge bender in video format.