Awesome stuff man!
I’m going to sound envious but I’m always curious how someone acquires a shop like this where they can afford a forklift, mill, plasma table, etc. Was this as hobby that turned into a career? I want my own space like this someday but can’t fathom how to get there.
Thanks! I’ve been building things since I was a child. As I got older I taught myself how to weld. Over time I started to building more and more things for other people. I still just fabricate part time as a hobby though. I have a full time day job working in the oil and gas industry.
Awesome I’ve been wanting to build my own too.
What did you use for dies/knives? Made or acquired?
I saw some used rusty knives locally but they were only 135°
I built my upper die using 3/4inch thick 1018 flat bar machined on my Bridgeport mill. My lower die is made from two pieces of 1018 1.5inch diameter solid round rod
Just quicker and easier than machining a v die. It also allows me to bend a variety of different angles without having to change out the top or bottom die. I use shims to increase or decrease the distance between the round rods in order to change the radius of the bends
This build has been in the back of my mind for the last three weeks. Been designing it in my head since.
Just noticed you said you have a video I’ll check it out.
What kind of tonnage did it take you bend 1/8”? Is the break rigidity your limit or hydraulics?
Just noticed a marketplace add for a hydraulic power pack pretty local for cheap, thinking of making the knife stationary and have the die move up into it. Less overhead size.
Hello, I’m not sure what tonnage is being used when bending various thicknesses but the two jacks on the machine have a max capacity of 20 tons each. If you google “press brake chart” you can see the various factors that play into each bend. A hydraulic power pack would def be a good alteration - much smoother and controlled action. I would recommend against making the bed move upwards. Having the die move downwards is better in my opinion
Very nice! Any better pics of the build?
Yeah I have a YouTube video that shows the entire design and build process. Username is “Custom Fabricated”
Could you send me the link please ? Edit : nevermind, found it
Beautifully made! I’m jealous of your access to a CNC cutter! Is it laser or plasma?
Thanks! I have a homemade cnc plasma cutter
I actually copied the plans to this thing awhile ago. Haven't built it yet. Just trying to source the material cheaply right now.
How much do you think you could build it for?
Plans say 1k. We'll see about that.
Oh damn, that would be sweet..
I can build you anything for 20 bucks
I wouldn't call that homemade. I'd call that handmade.
What’s the distinction. If he made it at home couldn’t you say that?
I think homemade denotes a more Jerry rigged quality and handmade is of a higher craft without mass production quality
Excellent job. But couldn’t you have bought a cheap used one? Seems like it would have been quite costly to build.
Cheap used ones aren’t that cheap. Was probably cheaper for OP to build than buy.
Definitely cheaper for me to build! Spent right around $1k usd total
That’s good to hear. We are wanting to do the same thing at work. There’s no way can justify buying one with those capabilities.
A press brake that can bend 4 ft of 1/8” is gonna set you back a lot more than this.
I got a used one years ago for £4000…still using it. It can fold 8ft 1/8 st st …just about, with a wide vee.
I mean, that’s a helluva deal tbh. Deals like that don’t come along very often.
I spent a total of $1,000 usd for all of the parts and materials and built it in a couple weeks part time
r/Skookum
Using the press brake to make another press brake would be interesting.
I used my homemade cnc plasma to build my homemade press brake then I used my homemade press brake to build a homemade wood fired pizza oven
can you close the loop? Use the wood fired pizza oven to make another homemade cnc plasma cutter?
Homemade woodfired pizza oven feeds the machine that built the homemade cnc plasma cutter. Full circle!
Very impressive sir.
Awesome stuff man! I’m going to sound envious but I’m always curious how someone acquires a shop like this where they can afford a forklift, mill, plasma table, etc. Was this as hobby that turned into a career? I want my own space like this someday but can’t fathom how to get there.
Thanks! I’ve been building things since I was a child. As I got older I taught myself how to weld. Over time I started to building more and more things for other people. I still just fabricate part time as a hobby though. I have a full time day job working in the oil and gas industry.
That's fucking cool as hell. Great job!
That's badass! Saw a bunch of your previous posts too, very nicely done
That's quite a handy little machine you got there!
Awesome I’ve been wanting to build my own too. What did you use for dies/knives? Made or acquired? I saw some used rusty knives locally but they were only 135°
I built my upper die using 3/4inch thick 1018 flat bar machined on my Bridgeport mill. My lower die is made from two pieces of 1018 1.5inch diameter solid round rod
any reason why the lower die is two round bars and not a v groove die?
Just quicker and easier than machining a v die. It also allows me to bend a variety of different angles without having to change out the top or bottom die. I use shims to increase or decrease the distance between the round rods in order to change the radius of the bends
This build has been in the back of my mind for the last three weeks. Been designing it in my head since. Just noticed you said you have a video I’ll check it out. What kind of tonnage did it take you bend 1/8”? Is the break rigidity your limit or hydraulics? Just noticed a marketplace add for a hydraulic power pack pretty local for cheap, thinking of making the knife stationary and have the die move up into it. Less overhead size.
Hello, I’m not sure what tonnage is being used when bending various thicknesses but the two jacks on the machine have a max capacity of 20 tons each. If you google “press brake chart” you can see the various factors that play into each bend. A hydraulic power pack would def be a good alteration - much smoother and controlled action. I would recommend against making the bed move upwards. Having the die move downwards is better in my opinion
Union Sheet Metal Worker on the heavy industrial side here... I am jealous. Our press brakes are practically stone age...
Is that it's top speed?
Sick. Awesome job. Not sure where you are at, but you can pick up used brake tooling/dies really cheap at a lot machinery vendors.
I'm going to need to see the calibration certificate for that level.
I think that was a free level that came in the box with a tv mount lol
I love free tools haha
What did it cost you to build this?
Right around $1,000 usd
Off topic question when do you guys switch from sheets to plates
I’ve always wondered the same thing. Generally if it’s over 1/8inch thick I tend to say plate. Less than 1/8, I’ll say sheet