New Improved Plank Bender

gene438

gene438

Joined
Oct 30, 2023
Messages
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Location
Baton Rouge, LA
I know a few people have tried versions of this device, but I think I have come up with an improvement/modification that really works well. I have made a rough video of the bender in action and I am still playing around with gear sizes and springs. The vulcanized or rubber rollers are really the game changer. I will attach the video and a couple of pics.

The video is too large to upload so I created a link. When link opens, click on the video and sound will come on.

Link to Video

IMG_8429.jpg
 
gene438 said:
I know a few people have tried versions of this device, but I think I have come up with an improvement/modification that really works well. I have made a rough video of the bender in action and I am still playing around with gear sizes and springs. The vulcanized or rubber rollers are really the game changer. I will attach the video and a couple of pics.

The video is too large to upload so I created a link. When link opens, click on the video and sound will come on.

Link to Video

View attachment 513077
Click to expand...
i think you're on the right track
 
gene438 said:
versions of this device
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Your machine looks very nice. :) Can it be used for the biggest problem, edge bending? The problem with other benders is that they only work for one axis. The lifting we see is from edge bending and this cannot be done with any of the benders I have seen so far. The four part video by Chuck Passaro is a big help, or go with spiling. Some new kits provide spiled planks making the planking process much easier without the lifting that occurs using straight planks. If this is not making sense, my apologies. It is probably more clear if you look at some planking expansion drawing as they shows the tapering and shapes needed across the breadth. One example from RMG is below.
Allan
1744458247796.jpeg

Below, the top drawing is a plank tapered in breadth and shaped against broad axis. The small sketch at the bottom is as from your machine, in the thin axis. It is best to taper the breadth of the strake before doing any bending as tapering the breath after being shaped is not so easy.
1744458831688.png
 
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With no heat or moisture involved in your process I suspect that fibres are being snapped, or at least gently pulled apart without showing damage on the surface. This would weaken the wood but does that really matter in modelling? I don't think so.

I have found that the wood is very severely weakened by those bending tools like pliers that crimp the planks repeatedly but they have been on sale forever, usually from the kit manufacturers themselves so I guess they work satisfactorily.

Like @AllanKP69, I'm interested to see how your machine works on a plank that has been spiled and edge bent already. I guess it would be fine because of the width of the rollers.

Oh, another point that you might like to try would be tightening down the upper roller on one side only. The rubber would allow for a little 'conical rolling' and maybe that would put an edge bend in at the same time as the face bend?

I think you should press on with a few more experiments before making a better video and then going for crowdfunding. This time next year Gene, you could be a millionaire! :D
 
Smithy said:
With no heat or moisture involved in your process I suspect that fibres are being snapped, or at least gently pulled apart without showing damage on the surface. This would weaken the wood but does that really matter in modelling? I don't think so.

I have found that the wood is very severely weakened by those bending tools like pliers that crimp the planks repeatedly but they have been on sale forever, usually from the kit manufacturers themselves so I guess they work satisfactorily.

Like @AllanKP69, I'm interested to see how your machine works on a plank that has been spiled and edge bent already. I guess it would be fine because of the width of the rollers.

Oh, another point that you might like to try would be tightening down the upper roller on one side only. The rubber would allow for a little 'conical rolling' and maybe that would put an edge bend in at the same time as the face bend?

I think you should press on with a few more experiments before making a better video and then going for crowdfunding. This time next year Gene, you could be a millionaire! :D
Click to expand...
lol....i'm afraid in our hobby, just beaking even would be nice....
 
Y.T. said:
I like this. Looks very easy to make a plank bends. But how are you adjusting the radius? Radius is not adjustable?
Click to expand...

This is the same principal as a slip roller used to form curves and cylinders in sheet metal. The radius is adjusted by changing the distance between rollers, which, in this case, looks like the function of the black knobs. Nice piece of machining!

Smithy said:
This time next year Gene, you could be a millionaire!
Click to expand...

Alas, 'tis been done! MicroMark has something similar, as long as you can live with a maximum 1/32" sheet thickness. Nevertheless, you could no doubt beat their price! ROTF
1744547321768.png
 
The problem I have with the others is that the steel on steel shafts do not work well especially with wood. The cylinders just slide against the wood and do not pull the strips through....unless you crank down so hard you splinter or crack the wood. The rubber cylinders, the tigher springs, and the metal pinion gears (vs. plastic} make a lot of difference. Trying a couple of different gears this week and I want to try a little stronger springs and I think we are there. I will work on another video and show the capabilities with wood...and wire.
 
gene438 said:
The problem I have with the others is that the steel on steel shafts do not work well especially with wood. The cylinders just slide against the wood and do not pull the strips through....unless you crank down so hard you splinter or crack the wood. The rubber cylinders, the tigher springs, and the metal pinion gears (vs. plastic} make a lot of difference. Trying a couple of different gears this week and I want to try a little stronger springs and I think we are there. I will work on another video and show the capabilities with wood...and wire.
Click to expand...
I can absolutely see your point. How did you coat your rollers with rubber?
 
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