Building a Flat Top Bender

[astroracer]

Thanks Andrew! The upper plates didn't turn out "quite" the way I was planning but it will work fine. My little lathe/mill combo wasn't up to the task of milling the slots... I just couldn't keep the plates stable enough to keep the end mill from wandering.
This is my initial attempt at milling the slots. This got ugly real fast... You can see how the mill was trailing off and wandering.

Not good. I gave up and trimmed off the holes. I cut them down and will use them as "washers" to clamp the plate to the base.
After getting everything trimmed and cleaned up.

The washers will work alright for now.



I laid a centerline on the base. It's not really necessary but I'll use it to align the two benders. I can set the width of the plates using a piece of tubing or any thickness stock for that matter.

I'll have to experiment with the gap to determine what works for specific bend angles.
Mocking the benders up. This is the SWAG bender.

With the flat top bender loaded.






This will work okay for now. I have a few ideas to try if I make another one. I have plans to pick up a "real" mill. a co-worker has a "frankenmill" he wants to sell. I have looked at it and committed to buy it. THAT would let me do some of this machining I am unable to do now.
Mark