Scale Models - View Single Post

alan2525 · 07-02-2008

I need to flange the ends for a small copper boiler, approx 40mm diameter from 1.5mm copper sheet. External Fired copper horizontal loco pot boiler with no internal flue.

I was thinking that it'd be a dismal failure clamping the copper to a small steel disk and trying to hammer the edges to form the flange. I can see that swiftly ending in a nasty creased ugly piece of mangled copper fit for the bin. And my temper soon going down the pan too.

I also have access to a hydraulic press which seems to be a far nicer prospect. Give it a little press, remove and then anneal, press a bit more, anneal rinse and repeat! Remove finished flanged end and file the edges for a nice neat job.

The press is one of those 10 ton machine mart jobs with a hydraulic ram.

How best to make the press tools for the job? How would you keep the two parts of the tool in alignment as you use them, steel pins in the corners? I'd have thought a chunk of steel with a hole machined in it to the outside diameter and then a disk with slightly radiused edge of the internal diameter. What sort of clearance would I need to prevent the two from wedging up with the 1.5mm copper as it's formed?

Alan

07-02-2008	#1 (permalink)
alan2525 Scale Model Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Essex, UK Real Name: Alan My Models: Anything that isn't worth throwing out Visit alan2525's Gallery Posts: 921 Images: 39	Flanging Boiler Ends I need to flange the ends for a small copper boiler, approx 40mm diameter from 1.5mm copper sheet. External Fired copper horizontal loco pot boiler with no internal flue. I was thinking that it'd be a dismal failure clamping the copper to a small steel disk and trying to hammer the edges to form the flange. I can see that swiftly ending in a nasty creased ugly piece of mangled copper fit for the bin. And my temper soon going down the pan too. I also have access to a hydraulic press which seems to be a far nicer prospect. Give it a little press, remove and then anneal, press a bit more, anneal rinse and repeat! Remove finished flanged end and file the edges for a nice neat job. The press is one of those 10 ton machine mart jobs with a hydraulic ram. How best to make the press tools for the job? How would you keep the two parts of the tool in alignment as you use them, steel pins in the corners? I'd have thought a chunk of steel with a hole machined in it to the outside diameter and then a disk with slightly radiused edge of the internal diameter. What sort of clearance would I need to prevent the two from wedging up with the 1.5mm copper as it's formed? Alan __________________ Last edited by alan2525; 07-02-2008 at 06:49.