ironstein Posted November 30, 2012 Share Posted November 30, 2012 Inspired by Bruce Macmillans bulldoze bender i decided to make a bender out of one of my tables. The table is 7/8" plate, it was some type of machine pedestal, i got two of them for $600! They measure roughly 6'x6'. I used my enerpac cylinder i got from Larry, its 30 ton, 10,000 psi. The pump i got at a swap meet for $75. So i drilled my table for 11/2" holes with a mag drill and annular cutter, worked great. I cut the slot (i think the table tops are hardened because it was tough stuff to cut, had to use a torch), made a block out of tank armor 4"x3"x8", and made heys on each end to slide in a slot on the table, and in a piece of 1/2" thick wall square tube for the bottom track. This thing works great, i can bend circles, and the cylinder is a push pull so if i can get my enerpac cylinder threaded, i can use it to pull s well. I didn't want to hijack Bruce's thread on the bulldoze bender, so i posted a new thread. Thanks Bruce, you inspired me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
macbruce Posted November 30, 2012 Share Posted November 30, 2012 So much for portable, WOW......I hope (Ican't tell from the pics) that you engineered in a means to prevent lift, If not galling will occur as the bull pin reciever travels along the the slot under load........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironstein Posted November 30, 2012 Author Share Posted November 30, 2012 well i did make a slot top and bottom for the block to ride in, but we will see. The table is 7/8" thick, and the bottom "channel is 1/2" with a piece of 1/4" welded on top to give the block a nice thick surface to ride on. Any ideas would be appreciated, it seems to be locked in pretty good. I figured the slots i cut into the block will have enough surface area on the sides, and on the shelfs cut into the block. Only time will tell! I can still put a plate on the bottom of the block like you did, with zerks for grease, good idea. I thought a slot top and bottom would be enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
macbruce Posted November 30, 2012 Share Posted November 30, 2012 I thought a slot top and bottom would be enough. That's what I thought too, keep an eye on the underside of the top plate if it gets galled due to the pin reciever scaping along don't just let it go. A support underneath isn't that hard to make. I had to retro fit my first one because of this. The pin wants to lift under load because there IS deflection caused by the pin not being centered/supported like in an H press.....Just keep an eye on it for now...... ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
macbruce Posted December 1, 2012 Share Posted December 1, 2012 This explains it better than I can, and no I don't think you're an idiot..... :D ...... The first pic shows what is happening with a bending table, The work piece is off center and when the power gets put to it, it's gonna take the path of least resistence and deflect over to the right or up like in a bending table unlike pic 2 which is centered. The only solution is to try and counteract that inevitable path it wants to take. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironstein Posted December 1, 2012 Author Share Posted December 1, 2012 The top and bottom of the block that holds the pin have keys, I figured that the shoulders of the block riding under the bottom of the table would keep the block from lifting, being a 4" key, it would keep lateral movement to a minimum as well. I will make a backing plate for the underside of the lower track just to be sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.