[tarawa]

I have been thinking about this design for a while, so I headed to the industrial suppy store and bought some material. I laid it out on Thursday and began making chips on the milling machine. Finished it up Friday night, but ran out of the socket head bolts that I needed to finish the job. Woke up early on Saturday (today) and ran to the hardware store to buy two bolts. Held my breath and made the first of 4 bends. Flipped it and made the 2nd bend. Both top rails were bent. Set up for the lower bends and folded both of them. After folding the top bends I realized that pressing twice made for better bends. I will remember that on the next flat, because with my jig, you must do the bends in order and there is no going back. All in all, I am real happy with my first attemp at bending a Tapco flat. I have another flat in the drawer, so I will modify the things on the die that I feel could be better job on the next one. Actually, I made this with just ideas and no drawings. Not a bad attempt. Comments ??????

 

[tarawa]

More pics of the bending process.

 

[tarawa]

The final product.

 

[mbadboyz]

Thats awesome!! Im building something similar with a bending brake. Im Modifying the brake for the mag wells and using a piece of stock for the U. I went to harbor freight and bought a brake for $21.00 today and just waiting on a friend to help me out with the process of bending.(more like the thinking process) How did you come up with your measurement where the bends are? Did you get it from the 555th design? Good luck with it and post some more picks when your done with the other flat. I will post pics later in the week or next weekend.

 

[tarawa]

Thats awesome!! Im building something similar with a bending brake. Im Modifying the brake for the mag wells and using a piece of stock for the U. I went to harbor freight and bought a brake for $21.00 today and just waiting on a friend to help me out with the process of bending.(more like the thinking process) How did you come up with your measurement where the bends are? Did you get it from the 555th design? Good luck with it and post some more picks when your done with the other flat. I will post pics later in the week or next weekend.

I took the measurements off of a 80% bent metal. It will be tough to bend this metal with a lightweight brake. I don't think it will be impossible, just difficult. You may have to beef it up a bit. My die is made of 1 1/4" square cold rolled steel. The bending ram is 12" wide by 1" thick.

 

[7.62x39]

George,

Somehow I just knew you were going to pull this off.
Looks great.

 

[tarawa]

There are many great ideas out there, but I wanted something that would do all 4 bends. My top rails will be better when I beef it a bit with the heavier bolting. I haven't even welded yet. I will do that when it is exactly like I want it.

 

[Triumph955i]

thats a great idea.

you're going to have to sell a few sets now.:biggrin:

 

[Grendeljaeger]

Nice work gtbehary, but then again, that's what you are becoming known for!! I like the idea of one bennd at a time, starting with the top rails.

 

[BamaSam]

Sweet!

 

[tarawa]

No plans to sell them. The die is too labor intensive for mass production( ie: I am too lazy). The rest is very easy. I may get a friend to quote me a price on the die (CNC instead of manual).

 

[sniper69]

looks great!

 

[Winn R]

George-- M. Guillotine would be proud.

It's a different approach offering the advantage of upper rail bends, retention of x, y dimples, and the greater accuracy inherent in an improved design.

My compliments.

 

[justashooter]

very cool. another low tech approach we should all be able to pull off.

kudos :thumbup1:

 

[tarawa]

As I said in my first post, I left a step out when bending my top rails (actually didn't know I had to do it and discovered the step by accident). I finished my jig using the proper stand offs and welded in the lower ram guide for better alignment and sharper bends. Here are the results. The improved receiver is on the right. The first is usable, but I will sharpen the top rail bens the old fashioned way......big hammer.

 

[yosuthnmasa]

GREAT job! Your bent receivers look great. How did you do the top rails? Did the first set of pictures demonstrate how to bend the 2 sides only?

So, you clamp it down, with the die in middle, and move the ram down and bend each side in succession? After the 2 side bends, then you left the die in the middle and hammered the top rails over?

 

[tarawa]

GREAT job! Your bent receivers look great. How did you do the top rails? Did the first set of pictures demonstrate how to bend the 2 sides only?

So, you clamp it down, with the die in middle, and move the ram down and bend each side in succession? After the 2 side bends, then you left the die in the middle and hammered the top rails over?

Step 1: Mark receiver for top rail fold locations (bottom fold is set by the die).
Step 2: Align flat in jig for first top rail bend.
Step 3: Bend first top rail using 1" plate ram.
Step 4: Turn complete fixture on its side (90 degrees) and press 1" plate ram tight against the die.
Note: This is the step that really sharpens the bends!
Step 5,6 &7: Repeat steps 2 thru 4 on the other top rail.
Note: Top rails must be completed first because they fold around the die when bending the bottom folds!
Step 8: Mount flat on the die using the alignment screws and then clamp down top plate.
Step 9 & 10: Repeat steps 3 & 4 on the bottom fold.
Step 11: Reverse position of flat (turn 180 degrees).
Step 12 & 13: Repeat previous steps on opposite bottom fold.
Step 14: Unclamp top plate and remove alignment screws.
Step 15: Slide your new receiver from the die through the cut-offs in the side (see pics).

 

[Bluejack]

I like it, can I get one ? or can you send me the CAD print ?

 

[tarawa]

I like it, can I get one ? or can you send me the CAD print ?

I have no prints yet, but I can take some photos of the die from the top and give the dimensions. It is pretty straight forward because if you have a Tapco flat, you can see what all the grooves and pockets match up with. I built this tool on the fly with just a set of calipers and a Tapco flat in my hand.