making u-channel

What material? What tolerance? How many?

That bend radius is a show stopper regardless.

I would mill a piece of 1/8 x 3/8 bar and run a 1/4" cutter down the center of one side say, 1/16" deep. You could do that in aluminum or steel or plastic and have nice sharp corners.

--Winston

What Winston said.

If you are trying to build a channel with 1/8" long legs, and 3/8" outside dimension, 12" long you may have a problem. The legs are too short for a press brake. A box and pan brake will do the job, but may need a block to act as a female form inside the channel.

Tolerance is a big issue.

If I needed to make at least 5, with +-.010", I'd make a die set from Ironwood. Cheaper than Aluminum, can be worked with wood tools. An Ironwood die set shaould last for a hundred parts or more.

Dave

Sorry about forgeting the important parts.

Brass or aluminum. Tolerence...maybe as much as 1/32.

matthew ohio

Thanks for the lead.

For this project tolerance is not a huge factor. +-.015 or maybe more.

matthew ohio

I'm stunned, somebody actually read and responded, thank you.

If you decide to build a single purpose die set, of any material.

A depression to position the pre-cut blank is required. Ejector pins/holes should be drilled to kick out the part.

And, yes, this I'm thinking of a die that could be put on a firm table and whacked with a dead blow hammer a few times.

Again, QUANTITY??? Dave

Square brass tubing is a common hobby-shop item; my old Small Parts catalog lists 3/8" square with .028" wall, you could saw a length into two channels.

Some aluminum extrusions (like for picture frames) could also be suitable.

:) Thanks for the help. I post like this on a big newsgroup could easily be over looked.

This sounds great. I think I've come acrossed this in my google search but the process was just mentioned and you explained it better.

matthew ohio