Three-point, air-bending sheet metal bender

摘要

A three-point, air-bending sheet metal bender comprising a pair of elongated U-shaped finger dies mounted parallel to one another is disclosed. The elongated finger dies are mirror images of one another (when appropriately aligned) and, prior to bending, are spaced from each other by an amount generally equal to the thickness of the sheet of metal to be bent. The elongated finger dies are laterally position adjustable such that the "finger" of one die is alignable with the "palm" of the other die and vice versa; i.e., the finger of each die is alignable with the palm of the other die. During bending, the "finger" die remains fixed and the "palm" die rotates. As the palm die rotates, sheet metal located between the two dies is bent. The direction of bending, with respect to the plane of the sheet of metal prior to bending, is determined by the die that is chosen to rotate. A part support table is provided for supporting sheet metal parts and moving them into the space between the two finger dies prior to bending. The part support table is arcuately movable in the plane of part insertion such that the part can be moved between the dies along axes transverse to the longitudinal axis of the finger dies, other than an orthogonal axis. By sequentially moving the part through the dies, with a bend being performed subsequent to each such movement, a complex array of bends may be formed in a part prior to ejection from the bender.