Building a prototype and need 5 of these, and thought I would ask here.
hello kink,
this is a very simple bend i’m guessing by your mouse in the background this is no more than 1/2" thick material. even if its stainless i am guessing a simple bending jig by hand with a pipe cheater. I would use my horizontal press break or one of my other bending machines doing the u first then bending the legs together for the offset.
Function? Function? and Function? What are they supposed to do? Are the ends supposed to be parallel (as if it has to slip into two parallel holes)? Or does it just get laid on the side of something and get welded there?
How long do the ends need to be? How close to the same length do they need to be? (Cut the stock length a bit long and trim both ends to a correct dimension as a final operation?)
How will it be located for the next operation? (By the ends or by the center section?)
Is the width at the bends most critical or is it the spacing at the tips?
Do they all need to be “the same” or do they all just need to be “right”? (Either of these criteria would still be within tolerances)
Will you have a chance to beat them into submission or are they to be “shipped out” to someone else who will reject them if they require such “fitting”?
There are probably a lot more ways to make them wrong even though there are a lot of ways to make them right. A bit like Jason’s “Tables”.
1 Like
I will check today to see what the application is. But I believe it slides into two parallel holes.
I am thinking so, I will know more today.
I believe by the ends
I am thinking “right”
They are for a customer right down the road and they have the ability to tweak if needed.
So you did not tell me where you are located? and what is your time frame?
So sorry to mislead. I’m a retired dimensional management engineer, not a working fabricator. My comments were intended to elicit consideration of the function of the piece for anyone actually trying to produce it. It is definitely expedient to avoid anyone making parts NOT parallel if parallelism (to fit two deep holes) is a critical function. I imagined hammering a part with correct tip spacing (but NOT parallel) into two parallel (deep) holes. Not good.
Make sure the answers to the questions are part of your specifications to the eventual fabricator.
Mike
| Knick
October 29 |
- | - |
mfmatusky:
Function? Function? and Function? What are they supposed to do? Are the ends supposed to be parallel (as if it has to slip into two parallel holes)?
I will check today to see what the application is. But I believe it slides into two parallel holes.
How long do the ends need to be? How close to the same length do they need to be? (Cut the stock length a bit long and trim both ends to a correct dimension as a final operation?)
I am thinking so, I will know more today.
How will it be located for the next operation? (By the ends or by the center section?)
I believe by the ends
Do they all need to be “the same” or do they all just need to be “right”?
I am thinking “right”
Will you have a chance to beat them into submission or are they to be “shipped out” to someone else who will reject them if they require such “fitting”?
They are for a customer right down the road and they have the ability to tweak if needed.
So you did not tell me where you are located? and what is your time frame?
Knick
Ok thanks clarifying
To make only 5 of these, I would estimate $40 ea. It has to be worth my time. Given I would likely need to figure the stretch out for the customer. I’d probably spend two hours or less messing around with a little part like this.
Most of the time would be spent making several samples to get all the bends and distances correct. Can be formed on a press brake with simple tooling. Can also be formed in a sizable vice with home made punch & die if someone really wanted to.
Once the method is perfected, that’s when you can make some money. But only making 5 pcs, almost not worth the time. Drawing required.
I ened up finding a company that has CNC wire forming equipment to make them $20 each and the price really drops if I go to 50 of them
2 Likes
is this an online service? can you share their name so we can throw them business.
They are not really a online service but they will do small orders and ship.
They are a small family run company and do a good job.
Here is their Website https://wmtubewire.com/