The ultimate tool for the hobby jet builder

[Anders Troberg]

I was looking through a tool catalog while performing bodily functions, and found this little gem:

http://www.jula.se/Butik/docs/produkt.a ... =SE-129019 (Link in Swedish, but there is little text)

It cuts, bends and rolls sheet metal up to a maximum width of 760 mm, max thickness 1 mm. Price is 4695 kr, something in the vicinity of $500. There are some better images in the paper catalog, but I couldn't find them online. I think I'll go and have a look at it some day.

Perhaps not for heavy duty professional use, but certainly a good tool for an enthusiastic hobbyist.

If they'd just add a MIG welder to it, they could name it "The Pulsejet-o-matic"!

[Al Belli]

Hi Anders,

I have a similar machine that will do 1016 mm wide and 1.5 mm thick in low carbon steel.
The shear is useless for thin stainless steel of 0.6 mm .
I have tried adjusting the shear blades, but cannot get it to cut properly.
It cuts partially across and then bends the rest of the sheet down between the blades.
The rolls are 38 mm diameter so small tubes have to be hand finished.

A foot operated shear is about $1200 US .
A hinge type bending brake is about $800 US.

This is four times the cost of the above combination machine, but would be a much better investment .

For rolls, there are several inexpensive ones that will do the job.

I would go to your local metal dealer and buy a selection of round bar to use as forming mandrels.
For forming cones, I have taper turned several aluminum bars to appropriate angles.
A heavy " dead blow " hammer is used to beat the sheet metal into submission.

Al Belli

[Anders Troberg]

For me, floor space is also an issue, so I'll still think I'll at least have a look at it. There were some other models on the same concept, I'd guess that the quality varies.

[Fricke]

Hi Anders T.

I have the "little brother" of the 3-in-1 and I can tell You that it´s not that good. But it´s better than nothing.

The shear is bad. But the brake and roll parts are quite good.
Only drawback is that the rolls is made from very soft steel so they dent easy.

[Anders Troberg]

I took a look at it yesterday, and I seriously hope nobody has ordered one, and if someone has, I apologize.

It was low quality and an incredibly awkward construction. The only part that looked somewhat decent was the roller.

The brake was awkward and I think it's very hard getting any precision in the bending, and it looked like it only does 90 degree bends with any precision at all. It was some kind of "guilloutine" construction, with a "blade" that pushed down into a V-shaped groove. I prefer the traditional "fasten and swing upwards"-approach.

Avoid it.

Too bad, if properly done, it could have been such a wonderful tool.

[Al Belli]

Hi Anders,

That type of bender is called a press brake. Industry uses them for forming, since various shapes of punches and dies are available.

Al Belli

[Eric]

Yea I have a 3:1 machine too and im not at all happy with it, the only thing remotely useful is the roller and it wont roll cones, only tubes.

The shear is completely useless on any metal.

Eric

[Anders Troberg]

I didn't check if this one could roll cones. Frankly, I don't see a big need for rolling tubes, I can buy them.

[Fricke]

The one 3-In-1 I have rolls cones easy. It´s this one 305 mm 3-in-1

The back roller is adjustable. And the press brake part is good for making <= 90° bends. And the shears is only good for cutting PCB laminate.