One very BIG question... (P.E.)

There are a couple of tools out there (off the top of my head, one of them is called Etchmate I believe) that are designed to hold your pe parts while you bend them. (just like a full sized sheet metal brake). Just be prepared for sticker shock ($60 US and up)

why not make your own using barstock and a cnc machine?

I use a variety of different tools ..... assorted pliers, tweezers, and razor blades to work with PE.

QUOTE: Originally posted by 1337 why not make your own using barstock and a cnc machine?

Why do you make ridiculous statements like this all the time?
You must be in your early teens right?

Mike

Mike: not close. I was serious: If i had access to a Milling machine, i would make you all some. but i don't. Cnc is like $2000.

QUOTE: Originally posted by qmiester There are a couple of tools out there (off the top of my head, one of them is called Etchmate I believe) that are designed to hold your pe parts while you bend them. (just like a full sized sheet metal brake). Just be prepared for sticker shock ($60 US and up)

In fact there are at least four :

_Small Shop
_Mission Model Etchmate
and this side of the big pond :
_Finn Brynildsrud ( Norwegian )
_ Jadar ( Polish )

The Jadar is much cheaper but not so sophisticated as the three others, and it seems that you can get the Small Shop products also from Great Britain now as far as custom fees are concerned

It is most predictable that other manufacturers will make this kind of stuff to fill demand.

QUOTE: Originally posted by 1337 Mike: not close. I was serious: If i had access to a Milling machine, i would make you all some. but i don't. Cnc is like $2000.

Well, I have seen somewhere ( I think I could find it again ) that there is a possibility to equip an Unimat with step motors and electronic interface to drive it on CNC. I assume you already own a computer. So it's up to you, chap.

See the LINK

www.smallshopeu.com

http://smallshopeu.com/images/8_inch1.jpg

http://smallshopeu.com/Hold&FOLD%20idex%20page.htm

AJ

Hey Mandrake,

PE parts are a pain, but so much worth it sometimes. I think everyone has their own combination of tools that they use. I've never tried any of the tools specifically made to work with them, but I bet they make it even easier. Here are some thing I couldn't do without:
- low tack masking tape.
- a variety of fine tweezers (locking and not)
- a few pairs of hemostats (without the grippy teeth)
- small dowel rod pieces
- sharp x-acto knife

I use the back side of the x-acto to do most of the actual bending. some blades are better for this than other. Like most modeling tools, if you visit your local hardware or art supply store you'll see a million things that you'll find can be adapted to what you need.

good luck!

~ Garth