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A plate brake is a device used to bend things, mostly plates of metal. I needed one to bend 1/4 inch thich 5ft wide sheets of steel for the big boat hull. It's been thru several versions. This is it's story.
This is a 5ft long 2 inch wide strip of 1/4 thick steel, bent down it's center lengthwise. It shows the brake works.
This is how it started: a 6ft long section of 1/2 inch plate, with a 5/8 section welded to it's bottom edge, set on 4 wheels for mobility. Another piece of 1/2 plate will sit on the 5/8 piece, and be able to rock a little back and forth.
Unsorted, old.
An early top plate clamp arrangement. It didn't work. It is way too springy, lengthwise. The four 2 inch wide 1/2 inch thick strips stretch too much, allowing the clamp plate to rise.