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Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: PixelCloud on March 28, 2005, 12:55:11 am

Title: Sheet metal
Post by: PixelCloud on March 28, 2005, 12:55:11 am
For my project i'm planning on using sheet aluminum (brushed for the top, and polished for the sides and bottom). I have an attached image showing the basic design of what im' maknig. Does anyone have expereince with sheetmetal? and would know how i would make this part below? It needs to be able to open and close.

Thanks
Title: Re: Sheet metal
Post by: DrewKaree on March 28, 2005, 02:31:23 am
I dunno on the thickness, but I'm guessing you'll need a metal-bending brake for forming that curve.  Someone posted their results on something similar, and even gave a link for a VERY inexpensive brake you can purchase, and how he went about making curves.

It seems like a very basic box other than the curve.  What exactly are you looking to have answered in the way of questions?
Title: Re: Sheet metal
Post by: Grasshopper on March 28, 2005, 06:30:38 am
Fabricating your own metal box will involve an insane amount of work. Why don't you just hack a printer (or KVM) switchbox like I did?
Title: Re: Sheet metal
Post by: Hoagie_one on March 28, 2005, 08:47:13 am
GameDork does metal work.  Contact him.  He did a fabulous job on my CP
Title: Re: Sheet metal
Post by: PixelCloud on March 28, 2005, 12:06:33 pm
Fabricating your own metal box will involve an insane amount of work. Why don't you just hack a printer (or KVM) switchbox like I did?

i'm going into industrial design... it needs to look pretty (i'm almos putting it in my portfolio)

a link to that bending brake would be nice
Title: Re: Sheet metal
Post by: DrewKaree on March 28, 2005, 12:25:43 pm
For how the rounded part was made, you'll have to do a search here for metal CP or brake or something similar for a keyword.

I dunno if these were the exact type of brake he used, but here were two I found doing a quick-n-dirty search:

Link for 30" Bending Brake (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=41311)

Link for 18" Bending Brake (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=39103)

When you find the thread explaining the technique used by that person, I believe there's a link to the actual brake they used.  $35 comes to mind, but that doesn't match up with either of these, so mebbe you'll wanna do a little investigative work. 

Good luck with your project - it'd be nice to see more metalwork projects
Title: Re: Sheet metal
Post by: Crazy Cooter on March 28, 2005, 12:40:06 pm
If anyone finds the link for a $35 brake, please post it.  I'm very interested in something like that.  Don't make me spend $55. ;)
Title: Re: Sheet metal
Post by: JODY on March 28, 2005, 01:44:38 pm
If anyone finds the link for a $35 brake, please post it.
Title: Re: Sheet metal
Post by: PixelCloud on March 28, 2005, 07:51:16 pm
For how the rounded part was made, you'll have to do a search here for metal CP or brake or something similar for a keyword.

I dunno if these were the exact type of brake he used, but here were two I found doing a quick-n-dirty search:

Link for 30" Bending Brake (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=41311)

Link for 18" Bending Brake (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=39103)

When you find the thread explaining the technique used by that person, I believe there's a link to the actual brake they used.  $35 comes to mind, but that doesn't match up with either of these, so mebbe you'll wanna do a little investigative work. 

Good luck with your project - it'd be nice to see more metalwork projects

I'm going into school tommorow and i *hope* that the schools metal shop will already have what i want. *crosses fingers*