When building a house, making your own roof ridges, ebbs, it is necessary to carry out bending operations with metal sheets. For this, manual devices or specialized machines are used. In order not to buy expensive equipment, you can make a sheet bending machine yourself.

Do-it-yourself sheet bender

To understand how sheet metal bending machines work, you need to study the types of equipment. Types of machines by control method:

1. Manual sheet bending machines. Moving mechanisms begin to work after applying effort on the part of a person.
2. Hydraulic equipment. It works using a fluid that pushes a plunger under pressure. He moves the working part of the structure, which bends the metal sheet. Thanks to the system of movable cylinders, the effort on the part of the master is reduced, and the productivity of the machine increases.
3. Electromechanical equipment. Industrial machines that are installed in large enterprises. They are powered by an electric motor, which drives the bending beam through a drive system. Machines with electric motors can bend sheets of great thickness, which cannot be done with a manual device.

By design, 4 groups of equipment can be distinguished:

1. Roller mechanism. Consists of 3 movable shafts through which a sheet of metal passes. When processed, it is possible to produce smooth semicircular, round products, gutters without sharp corners. The bending radius is set using a central movable shaft.
2. Traverse design. The most popular type of manual sheet bending machine. The workpiece is clamped using a special clamp at the future bending point. The master bends the sheet at the desired angle using a movable traverse. There are industrial models that bend workpieces without effort on the part of the master.
3. Roller sheet bending machine. An auxiliary device with which you can bend parts at the ends and far from the edge. Inconvenient to use.
4. Press for bending sheets. Consists of two punches. The workpiece is located between moving parts, which bend it under pressure.

When buying a traverse mechanism, you need to ask whether the kit includes a knife for cutting metal sheets. With its help you can make even cuts. You need to set the metal to size, hang the knife, and forcefully guide it to the end of the traverse.

Design of sheet bending machines

You can make a tool for bending metal workpieces only after familiarizing yourself with its internal structure and operating principle. Design of a manual sheet bender:

1. A beam clamping a metal surface.
2. A beam that bends a sheet.
3. A stable base on which the main elements are fixed.
4. An inclinometer is a device that allows you to make bends at the desired angles.
5. Desktop. Must be equipped with depth stops.
6. Handles for transmitting force to the bending beam.

The machine can be equipped with hydraulic or electric drives.

Bending device

Selection of materials

Before you begin assembling homemade metal bending equipment, you need to prepare the necessary materials:

1. Metal corners - 4–6 meters.
2. Ball from the car. Must be supplied with a bracket.
3. Car stabilizer.
4. Channel for making the base.
5. Metal sheet.
6. Loops - 2 pieces.
7. Wooden block.
8. Metal pipe.

To make a homemade sheet bending machine, you will need different tools: a welding machine for connecting elements, a drill with metal drills, a grinder for cleaning seams, a large grinder.

Improving the design of the sheet bender

For a homemade sheet bending machine, you don’t need to come up with a complex design. It is enough to put together a number of homemade elements:

1. Wooden pillow.
2. Channel base.
3. Desktop made of sheet metal.
4. Corners connected by loops.
5. Handles for bending workpieces.

To improve the machine, it is necessary to make an additional pressure beam. To do this, a metal plate is welded onto the corner, which is wider than it.

DIY sheet metal bending machine

If you don’t know how to make a sheet bender, use the step-by-step instructions:

1. Initially, you need to make a drawing of the sheet bender. On it you need to mark the moving elements, fasteners, and dimensions. No need to make a complex design yourself. It is enough to assemble a simple device without additional functions.
2. Make a base from a channel. It must be stable so that there are no distortions during operation.
3. Make a softening pillow from wood.
4. Using a grinder, cut the corners into 1-meter pieces.
5. Use the stabilizer bar to support the hinges.
6. Grind off the flats on the corners for installing the axle.
7. Weld the axle shafts to the finished samples. Cylindrical elements should protrude beyond the corners by no more than 1 cm.
8. Place the corners with welded axle shafts parallel to each other.
9. Using welding, weld the hinges onto the corners so that they can move freely relative to each other. When unfolded, the corners should present a flat surface.
10. Drill holes to secure the sheet bender on a pre-prepared base with a work table.
11. Cut the metal pipe into two equal parts with a grinder. Weld them onto the corners so that they act as handles.

The dimensions of the work table are selected depending on the dimensions of the workpieces being processed. The same applies to the length of the corners.

DIY sheet metal bending machine

How to increase the strength of machine mounts

Many novice craftsmen make homemade devices without a base. These are sheet benders that are secured to the workbench using clamps. When actively working with such a mechanism, the fastenings will become loose. The technician needs to constantly clamp the fasteners. To get rid of this drawback, you need to make a support beam, assemble a base from channels, and install braces from metal corners.

You need to make a desktop on the base. To do this, you need to attach a sheet of metal with stoppers to the structure, which will limit the depth of fixation of the workpieces.

Safety precautions when working with a sheet metal bending machine

In factories that are equipped with machines for bending metal, there are a number of rules regarding working with the equipment:

1. Use a stopper to set the desired angles.
2. Monitor the specified parameters using a protractor.
3. Place the sheets carefully on the work surface.
4. Check the set depth before lowering the pressure beam.
5. Make a test bend to determine how accurately the angle is set.

When using a homemade sheet bender you need to be especially careful:

1. Wear protective gloves to avoid cutting your hands on the sharp edges of the sheet.
2. Do not rush to bend the corners; lower the pressure beam with both hands.
3. Check the integrity of moving elements before starting work.
4. The hand-held device is securely fixed on the work table.
5. Do not attempt to bend thick sheets.

You need to bend the workpieces slowly, checking the angle. Additionally, you can attach a knife for cutting metal to a homemade machine. When using it, you need to periodically sharpen the cutting discs.

Equipment for bending metal sheets can be purchased at a hardware store or assembled yourself. To do this, you need to know the structural elements, the operating principle of moving mechanisms, and how to connect them. A homemade machine will not allow you to work with workpieces of large thickness, but it will be sufficient for bending skates and ebbs.

In modern construction, it is impossible to imagine work related to reinforced concrete structures, metal reinforcement or creating a foundation without the use of convenient bending machines that can perform many useful functions. Manual homemade sheet benders are fairly simple tools that allow even an unskilled craftsman to bend high-quality products from sheet material.

The emergence of the sheet metal bending machine

The first mechanical press brakes were invented in the USA. The emergence of sheet metal bending machines dates back to the 19th century, when production organizations in all kinds of industries felt the need for widespread production of metal structural parts.

Manufacturing metal products without the use of special equipment was extremely expensive and time consuming. Then there were attempts to introduce a pneumatic press into production, but they failed because they were characterized by low productivity and poor visibility of the material.

But the technical process does not stand still, and inconvenient, massive, energy-consuming and traumatic mechanical sheet benders have been replaced with hydraulic models that have better performance properties. This happened in the second half of the 20th century, when steel processing began to improve. And then off we go...

The work of scientists in this environment contributed to the automation of sheet bending machines, the development of additional equipment and the safety of employees. After 60 years, the sheet metal bending machine has become an integral part of production. And today, even private craftsmen constantly wonder how to make a sheet bending machine with their own hands.

Purpose of the sheet bending machine

A sheet bending machine is a pressing device that bends solid sheets of metal or cut strips of metal of different thicknesses and shapes. A homemade sheet bender is capable of bending sheets at the desired angle, without disturbing the flatness. Sheet bending machines are used for processing sheets of brass, steel, aluminum and copper, as well as other metals with a thickness of up to 0.7-0.8 millimeters.

At the same time, there are no deformations in the folded part of the sheet, which cannot be achieved when using a traditional mallet and mandrel. This allows you to make a variety of objects from the sheet. Products made in this way are almost no different from similar ones made on industrial machines.

The presence of a silicone insert on the bending beam makes it possible to bend painted sheets without the risk of damaging the coating. There are also convenient functions for adjusting the thickness of the sheets to be bent. The sheet bender easily bends sheets of iron and tin, the accuracy and quality of the bend is quite high and meets all requirements. Many of these machines can simultaneously cut metal.

Sheet bending equipment is widely used:

• in mechanical engineering - for the manufacture of bodies and spare parts;
• in ship and aircraft construction;
• in the field of construction - finishing of roof fronts, production of roofing, ventilation shafts and air ducts, wind strips and cornices, door and window frames, facade cladding, production of ridges and ebbs for windows, as well as elements of metal siding, metal tiles and corrugated sheets;
• in electronics - for the manufacture of cases for personal computers, washing machines, refrigerators and microwave ovens;
• in furniture production - for creating open and closed profiles, cones, boxes, cylinders.

A sheet bending machine consists of a sheet of iron, which is the base, a clamp, a crimping punch with fastening, 2 clamps for attaching the equipment to the workbench table top. They make a sheet bending machine with their own hands from metal blanks. Experts recommend buying a 6.5 - 8 channel at a metal warehouse, which has a length of 500 - 650 millimeters, on which the entire structure of the sheet bender is supported.

Often, sheet bending machines are equipped with additional options: a device for holding rolled metal, a protractor, duplicate supports for metal sheets and a profiling device. Sometimes it is practiced to manufacture a sheet bender with a reinforced support, which ensures reliable fastening of the machine, and a special roller blade, which can cut metal at the level of quality achieved in factories.

Construction of a sheet metal bending machine

A sheet bending machine is in most cases used to manufacture roofing elements from metal profiles. Sheets can be fed into the sheet bending device from the back and front, which eliminates the need for preliminary cutting. The design includes a cutter that allows you to cut metal directly on the object.

The main elements of the drawing of a homemade sheet metal bender for bending sheet metal are the following:

• Roller knife. This tool is made from the most durable and high-quality steel alloy; the service life ranges from 25 kilometers of half-millimeter-thick metal. The knife can be sharpened after the end of its service life and the cycle can be repeated several times. The design of the steel knife with powder coating is very resistant to loads, the weight reaches 5 kilograms.
• Back table. A sheet of metal can easily be placed on the table, which you can move in the required direction and tuck in for work. The bender and cutter of the material are installed on the table supports.
• Stand. The work table is placed on a wooden stand, so the sheet bending machine does not slide on the floor. It is possible to adjust the height of the stand, and the machine can be easily moved on wheels, which is convenient for regular transportation.
• Front stops. These elements allow you to set the width of the cut, and their design can be rotated 180 degrees and then returned to the first position.
• Measuring plate and corner stop. The stop is able to quickly set the required angle of the sheet, or perform the bending process itself without fixing it at an arbitrary angle.

Operating principle of the machine

A manual homemade sheet bender is intended for the production of profile parts from thin sheet steel, aluminum and copper: 0.5-0.7 millimeters thick, up to 2500 millimeters wide, with a shelf height of 20 millimeters, cutting strips of this sheet from 80 to 400 millimeters for folding the curved shelves to give the product additional rigidity.

The operating principle of a sheet bending machine is based on fixing the workpiece on the bending table using a clamping frame and then bending the protruding part of the workpiece to the desired angle with a rotary beam. The maximum bending angle reaches 135 degrees, with the possibility of bending up to 180 degrees. The maximum thickness of the metal that is fed depends on the power of the pressing mechanism.

The clamping is performed mechanically using an eccentric coupler. You can adjust the clamping force. The simple design of the sheet bending machine and the materials used can ensure its reliability and high reliability, as well as maintainability in harsh conditions - even in the field. The peculiarity of the design is the possibility of unlimited supply of workpieces along the length.

There are special machines on sale; the drawings of sheet benders of this type have certain distinctive features. The workpiece can be pressed using an electromagnet, which is located in the body of the device. The power of the electromagnet is capable of providing clamping that prevents the workpiece from slipping out from under the clamping beam.

The increased rigidity of the above structure demonstrates straightness and high quality bending. The length of the workpieces and the bending angle can be fixed or specified using limiters to create identical or similar parts.

The assortment also includes bending presses, in which the deformation of the workpiece is accomplished by pressing it into the recess of the matrix with the protrusion of the punch. The force is provided by a hydraulic or pneumatic drive. Such sheet bending equipment is intended for bending sheet steel, which has a thickness of up to 3 millimeters and a length of up to 2500 millimeters.

Types of sheet bending machines

According to mobility, sheet-bending equipment is divided into mobile and stationary. The first types of machines are used in production for processing large volumes of material, the second types of machines are used in small enterprises or construction sites for the production of individual parts.

Depending on the method of processing the material, sheet bending machines can be rotary, equipped with a bending beam, press machines with a punch and a die, or rotary - sheet bending machines include rolls.

According to the type of drive, sheet bending machines are divided into 5 types:

• Pneumatic devices operate due to the functioning of pneumatic cylinders; mainly rotary models are on sale.
• Electromechanical machines are stationary mechanisms equipped with a drive system, electric motor and gearbox.
• Mechanical machines are stationary machines that operate using the energy of a flywheel.
• Hydraulic machines are capable of operating using hydraulic cylinders.
• Manual machines require the muscular strength of workers for their operation and are very convenient for quick transportation and work in places where products are produced.

When choosing a sheet bending machine or making a sheet bending machine yourself, you need to decide on the thickness of the metal sheets, because a manual machine is considered the optimal solution for processing material that has a thickness of less than 0.1 centimeters.

This device is able to provide the necessary accuracy and free owners from large investments. If you require various metal parts that are more than 1 centimeter thick, it is best to choose an industrial model with an electric drive and the ability to perform a wide range of functions. Such machines cost much more, occupy a larger area, but demonstrate high productivity.

Manufacturing of sheet metal bending machine

A sheet bending machine in the practice of home-made workers is still a little-used device. However, this tool is very useful, because even unskilled craftsmen can perform high-quality work related to bending sheet metal.

A sheet bending machine, consisting of a base, a crimping punch with a lever, a clamp and two clamps, can be made using electric welding. Only undeformed angles number 3 and 5 are needed, as well as a section of channel. The base is usually made from channel number 6.5 or 8, which has a length of up to 500 millimeters. It is customary to choose the size at your own discretion.

A clamp made from a corner is capable of bending a sheet at an angle that is more than 90 degrees, which, for example, is necessary for joining sheets into a fold. The clamp of a self-made manual sheet bender has a welded design. The main corner 5 must be additionally reinforced with a profile from corner number 3.

To ensure a rigid clamp, it is recommended to use corners with a shelf thickness of 5 millimeters. The clamp is made shorter than the base by 70 millimeters; brackets from sections of angle number 3 with a wall whose thickness reaches 5 millimeters should be welded to its ends.

The edges of the corner shelves, which are in contact with the sheet being bent, are filed or milled, making them parallel to the base. In each corner bracket in the middle of the shelf, you need to drill a hole with a diameter of 8 millimeters.

Make the crimping punch from corner number 5, it is 10 millimeters shorter than the clamp. The lever is usually bent from a reinforcing steel bar, which has a diameter of 15 millimeters, in the form of a bracket and welded to the punch. Next, cut out the cheeks from a steel sheet, the thickness of which is 5 millimeters, and drill a hole in them with a diameter of 10 millimeters.

Remove chamfers from the edge of the ends of the angle-punch, the length of which is 30 and the depth of 5 millimeters, which are necessary for fastening and installing steel axles from a bar, which has a diameter of 10 millimeters. The axles must be welded in such a way as shown in the video about do-it-yourself sheet benders, so that the center line of the rod is directed parallel to the edge of the angle. On the edge of the base, remove chamfers that have a depth of 6 and a length of 32 millimeters.

The base and punch for pre-assembly must be secured in a bench vice so that the flanges of the angle and channel are placed in the same horizontal plane. Place the cheeks on the punch axles and attach them at several points to the base using electric welding or attach them using another method.

For test bending, it is customary to place a sheet of soft metal, approximately 1 millimeter thick, on this surface and fix it on top with a clamp, temporarily pulling it to the base with pins with overlays or clamps. It is recommended to check the position of the cheeks relative to the base through trial bending and adjust if necessary. After making sure that the cheeks are in the optimal position, they need to be finally welded to the base.

When using holes in the clamp brackets, they are drilled with a diameter of 8 millimeters at the base and an M10 thread is cut into them. The holes in the clamp must be drilled to a diameter of 10 millimeters. In the base, screw the bolts into the threaded holes at the bottom, the heads of which should be fixed to the base by welding.

Attach the clamp to the base with M10 nuts and place washers under their heads. It is advisable to use handwheel nuts that can be removed from the water fittings. When unscrewing the tightening nuts, the pressure is released by the springs that are put on the bolts. Rubber shock absorbers can also be used.

The clamps for securing the sheet bending machine to the base are homemade, welded from corner number 3. The design of the clamps is completely clear from the do-it-yourself sheet bending drawing. The M10 clamping screws are equipped with support plates. The clamps must be welded to the base shelf near the cheeks.

Requirements and safety precautions

Different types of sheet bending machines are designed for different purposes, but they all must meet the requirements outlined below: ease of use, safety, minimal energy consumption, stability, good quality of component parts, the ability to replace elements when they fail, and their compliance with the required standards.

To avoid on-the-job injuries, it is strongly recommended that you become familiar with safety precautions. A sheet bending machine is a dangerous device, as it contains many piercing and cutting elements that pose a threat to the health and life of the operator. Immediately before work, you need to study the instructions for each specific device in detail. It is necessary to work with a sheet bending machine only in protective clothing.

Before each start-up of the device, you should carefully check the functionality of the equipment. It is forbidden to bend metal sheets above the permissible thickness and leave the sheet bending machine unattended.

Thus, a sheet bending machine in skillful hands is capable of ensuring high quality manufacturing of such parts as casings, chassis, housings; the machine will also be needed when joining sheets into folds, guaranteeing in all cases the proper presentation of the product. The main thing is to know how to make a sheet bender correctly. This ensures the absence of deformation and flatness in the folded part of the sheets.

Many products are made from sheet metal - drainage systems, shaped parts for cladding or metal tiles, flashings for bases, corners for structures made of corrugated sheets, etc. All this can be done by a special bending machine for sheet metal. We’ll talk about how to make a sheet bending machine with your own hands in this article.

Types of sheet benders

All these devices are classified as sheet bending machines. The easiest way to make one with your own hands is the unit of the first group, a little more difficult - the third (rollers for sheet metal). So we’ll talk about them - from how to make a sheet bending machine with your own hands.

Simple manual

Shaped metal parts cost a lot of money. Even more than corrugated sheeting or metal tiles, therefore it makes sense to make a simple machine for bending sheet metal, and with its help make as many corners, ebbs and other similar parts as you need, and exclusively to your own dimensions.

Bending machine - side view

If you're worried about appearance, you shouldn't be. On sale today there is sheet metal not only galvanized, but also painted. In all designs, the sheet is fixed tightly, so that when working it does not slide on the table, which means that the paint does not rub off or get scratched. It is also not damaged in places of bending. So the products will look quite decent. If you try, they will look even better than what they sell on the market.

Powerful sheet bending machine from brands

This sheet bending machine will require a flat surface (table), preferably metal, three corners with a shelf width of at least 45 mm, and a metal thickness of at least 3 mm. If you plan to bend long workpieces (more than a meter), it is advisable to take wider shelves and thicker metal. You can use brands, but this is for bending metal sheets of large thickness and length.

You will also need metal door hinges (two pieces), two large diameter screws (10-20 mm), wings on them, and a spring. You will also need a welding machine - weld the hinges and make holes (or a drill with a metal drill bit).

For a homemade sheet bender, a 70 mm brand was used - three pieces of 2.5 m each, two bolts of 20 mm in diameter, a small piece of metal 5 mm thick (for cutting jibs), a spring. Here's the procedure:

1. Two brands are folded, and grooves are cut into them at both ends for hinges. The edges of the recesses are beveled at 45°. The third tee is cut in the same way, only the depth of the recess is made a little larger - this will be the clamping bar, so it should move freely.

   

2. Weld the loops on both sides (weld on the front and back).

   

3. Two jibs on each side are welded to one of the brands (the one farthest from you, if you “open” them). They are needed so that you can install the clamping bar clamp bolt on them.

   

4. Weld the bolt nut to the jibs.

   

5. Install the clamping bar (third cut tee), weld metal plates with a hole in the middle in the upper part. The diameter of the hole is slightly larger than the diameter of the bolt. Center the holes so that they are on the same vertical line with the welded nut. Weld.

   

6. Cut the spring so that it raises the pressure bar by 5-7 mm. Pass the bolt into the “ear” of the clamping bar, put on the spring, tighten the nut. After installing the same spring on the other side, the clamping bar rises on its own when unscrewed.

   

7. Weld two pieces of reinforcement to the screw head to serve as handles for tightening.

   

8. Weld a handle to the movable (closest to you) brand. That's it, you can work.

   

This option is very powerful - you can bend long workpieces and sheets of considerable thickness. Such scales are not always in demand, but they can always be reduced. The video suggests a similar design of a smaller size, but with a different fastening of the clamping bar. By the way, no one bothers you to also install a spring on the screw - it will be easier to raise the bar. What’s interesting about this design is that you can make beading on it, something that such devices usually cannot do.

From a corner with a different type of clamping bar

This model is welded from a thick-walled angle, the frame is made like an ordinary construction sawhorse, which is welded from the same angle. The handle is from a luggage trolley. The design of the screws is interesting - they are long, the handle is curved in the shape of the letter “L”. Convenient to unscrew/screw.

This homemade sheet metal bending machine has many features:

Now let's move on to the design of the clamping bar (pictured above). It is also made from a corner, but is laid on the machine with an upward bend. To ensure that the bar does not bend during operation, reinforcement is welded on - metal jumpers. Small metal platforms are welded at both ends of the strip, in which holes are drilled for bolts.

Another important point is that the edge that faces the bend is cut off to obtain a sharper bend angle.

The clamping bar is placed on the machine, and a spring is placed in the place where the nut is installed. The handle is installed in place. If it does not press the bar, it is raised above the surface due to the elastic force of the spring. In this position, the workpiece is tucked under it, positioned, and pressed.

Place a spring under the hole, then a bolt

A good option for home use. It will not be possible to bend thick metal, but tin and galvanized steel can be bent without difficulty.

Sheet metal rollers or roller bender

This type of sheet bending machine can have three types of drive:

• manual;
• hydraulic;
• electric.

They make rollers for sheet metal with manual or electric drive with their own hands. Manual ones have 3 shafts, electric ones can have 3-4, but usually there are also three.

This machine needs a good solid foundation. This could be a separate bed or some kind of workbench or table. The basis of the structure is rolls. They are made the same size. The two lower ones are installed permanently, the upper one is movable, so that in the lower position it is located between the rollers. By changing the distance between the lower rollers and the upper one, the radius of curvature changes.

The machine is set in motion using a handle attached to one of the shafts. Then the torque is transmitted to other rollers through sprockets. They are selected so that the rotation speed is the same.

If the equipment is intended to produce pipes, the upper roller on one side is made removable, with a quick fixation system. Once the sheet is rolled into a pipe, there is no other way to pull it out.

When working with tin, two main tools are used. Metal shears and sheet bending machine.

Of course, when making a gutter for the roof of a barn, you can use the old-fashioned method - tap a galvanized sheet with a mallet on the edge of a workbench, or using a metal corner.

Examples of such work can be seen on roofing in the private sector. However, the quality of the product leaves much to be desired, and the metal is damaged at the point of impact.

In addition, artisanal bending of metal is suitable only for simple structures. If the bending profile has several multidirectional edges, you cannot do without a professional tool.

For example, the correct ridge for a roof “on the knee” cannot be bent, and its appearance will always remind you of the owner’s negligence.

Buying an industrial machine is an unforgivable luxury. In this material we will tell you how to make a sheet bending machine with your own hands from simple and affordable materials.

A little about the design of a homemade sheet bender

The simplest design is to clamp the edge of the sheet between a steel corner and a rule (or two corners) using a clamp, and bend the workpiece by hand. This is how the simplest roofing elements are usually created.

IMPORTANT! All work with metal must be performed using protective gloves.

However, it is quite possible to make a traverse sheet bending machine yourself. Precision markings and patience are required.

The design and operating principle are visible in the drawings.

Step-by-step manufacturing instructions

To make a traverse sheet bender we will need:

• 4 meters of steel angle, side – 50 mm;
• Ball joint for car, with mounting bracket;
• The stabilizer rod is from the same, with a diameter of 10 mm;
• Grinder, drill, electric welding.

1. We cut the rolled metal into pieces of 1 meter with a grinder. If there is a need to work with metal of a larger width, the length of the corners increases. At least 100 mm must be added to the width of the working surface.
   
2. Using an angle grinder, we cut out two eyes from the ball joint bracket. These will be the working loops of the movable traverse.
   
3. From the stabilizer strut we make an axis on which the hinges will rest.

   IMPORTANT! The future play of the rotary mechanism depends on the quality of fit of these elements.

   
   
4. We carefully measure and mark a sample on the corner for attaching the axle.
   
5. We grind the flats strictly to size to install the axle shafts. This must be done as accurately as possible so as not to waste time and material on subsequent adjustments.
   
6. We apply the markings exactly in the center of the axis, and combine it with the top of the corner - the traverse. This point is important. because if the alignment is incorrect, the quality of the workpiece bending on the machine will deteriorate, or the sheet bender will be unsuitable for work.
   
7. We weld the axle shafts to the samples, maintaining parallelism to the top of the angle. To increase accuracy, you should use a jig when welding. For example, a vice and a clamp. The length of the protruding part of the axis does not exceed 1 cm.
   
8. The result should be a structure with perfect alignment at the ends.
   
9. Place the corners next to each other.
   
10. We mark the sample on the second corner strictly opposite the axes of the first corner.
    
11. The angles relative to each other should be located as follows:
    
12. We fold both traverses, keeping them flat, and fix them for welding. We weld the loops onto the second corner on both sides.
    
13. The corners should rotate freely relative to each other on their hinges. When turning 180 degrees there should be no snags or wedging. In this case, the gap between the traverses should be minimal.
    
14. The metal clamp will be positioned as follows:
    
15. Having previously marked, we use a grinder to cut out a sample around the axis on the clamping angle. The lower side of the clamping angle is ground at an angle of 45 degrees.

    IMPORTANT! The edge should remain perfectly straight; it is along it that the fold line will run. In case of unevenness, creases and folds on the workpiece are possible.

    
    
16. Opposite the axes, mark and drill holes for 10 mm bolts. We weld the bolts with the threads up to the lower fixed cross-beam.
    
17. We also make a hole in the center of the traverse, but do not weld the bolt. This will be a removable element, so we weld the short axle to it in a T-shape.
    
18. Bolts are needed to press the workpiece to the crossbeam when bending. The central bolt is used when the workpiece has a width that is half that of the traverse. When working with wide workpieces, the bolt is removed.
    
19. From a 15-20 mm circle we cut two handles 30 cm long. A thinner rod will not work, since the force on the handles can be significant, and you can simply bend them.
    
20. We weld the handles from the bottom of the turning angle (traverse).
    

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? For 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 fall 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 all!

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 cutting of round and round 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 perfectly processed 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 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 get a look. 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 design 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.

Due 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.

Principle of operation

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 a high quality 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.