Manually bending a strip flat into a ring is not difficult and does not require much effort, while bending it on an edge (along the narrow side) is not so simple and is quite labor-intensive. This work is for a strong man, especially if the transverse dimensions of the strip are large. But if you use a little trick, then even a high school student or an elderly person can handle it.
Will need
Of the materials, in fact, in addition to the steel strip, you will need two pairs of steel plates of different sizes.
Let's prepare the following tools and devices:- Anvil made from railway rail;
- grinder with cutting disc;
- pliers;
- tape measure and chalk;
- welding machine;
- heavy hammer.
Edge bending process
We place the anvil on its side on a massive and durable base. We cut out a pair of approximately square plates from different sized corners. Using a grinder and pliers, we round two corners of each of them.
Approximately in the middle of one side of the large plates, we mark and make a horizontal cut with a length equal to the height of the rail base.From its end downwards at an angle coinciding with the inclination of the rail neck, we make a second cut.
We place the steel strip that is to be bent across the anvil.
To the strip held on the edge, we apply smaller plates on both sides, which with their flat edges are in contact with the side of the rail head.
Holding the plates in this position, with the workpiece located between them, we attach them to the anvil by welding.
After making sure that the workpiece slides freely between the stops, we weld along their perimeter.
In the same way, using the strip as a template, we weld large plates to the base and neck of the rail thanks to the cutouts. We make sure that the strip moves freely, without jamming, between two pairs of limiters in the longitudinal direction in both directions.
We place the workpiece with one end between the smaller stops welded to the base of the anvil, and begin to strike the upper edge of the strip measuredly and with equal force, gradually pushing it from the head to the base of the anvil.
If the strip bends to the side, we remove it by hitting it with a hammer in the opposite direction.
When I reach the middle of the strip, we bring its other end into the limiters and repeat the previous operation.
Gradually, the free ends of the workpiece will begin to converge, and depending on their relative position, by adjusting the location and force of the blows, we ensure that its ends rest against each other.
If there is lateral curvature, the product is straightened on a flat and hard surface.
