Week 4: Initial Bender Idea, Shop Access

I have created a basic Solidworks model of what our Hossfeld-type bender may look like. It consists of an arm that has a pin that rotates about a center pivot, a base with a pin and the aforementioned center pivot, and a die that sits on the center pivot and allows material to be bent across/around it.

The dimensions of the bender, and more specifically the die, will largely depend upon dimensions determined by the track improvement team for the next generation track.

The first prototype will most likely be created out of wood (plywood or hardwood) with a metal band on the edge of the die and metal pins, though this is still being debated. The final build should be made of mostly or entirely metal. The intent is to make use of material currently sitting in the shop to fabricate these benders before purchasing more material.