READY Benders^®

Precise Rotary Forming Motion
“Benders” transfer the vertical movement of any press into a precise, rotary forming motion. This allows the bender to easily overbend past 90° to counter material springback, a distinct mechanical advantage. READY Benders^® give tool designers and metal stampers a way to produce tooling that holds consistent part angle tolerances, especially when higher volume production is required.

READY Benders^® are available in Medium Production (under 300,000 parts per year), High Production (over 500,000 parts per year) and Compact High Production to fit in tight die spaces.
All are available in both standard inch or metric sizes.

Standard In Stock Benders

• Standard benders form 90° bends in virtually any press working situation, from intricate progressive dies running at 250 spm, to large, fully automated panel forming machines.
• Our READY Bender^® is designed specifically to replace most wipe tooling applications.
• Almost any length bend in practically any thickness of metal can be made using either in stock benders or by specifying your special requirements.

Special Custom READY Benders^®

• The READY Bender^® is a highly efficient method of producing a wide range of different forms in metal. We make special custom benders, quoted by application.

Three Reasons Toolmakers and Stampers Specify READY Benders^® over Wipe Tooling

Benders increase part quality

1. Hold + 1/2° angle tolerance, no “coining” required
2. Overbend up to 135° in one press stroke
3. Benders are more tolerant of material thickness variations
4. Hold consistent leg heights, eliminate cams and re-strikes
5. Hole locations near bends are usually not distorted • Form prepainted and decorative metal without tool marks
6. Ideal for forming high strength steel and aluminum
7. Form narrow channels and short leg bends

Benders reduce tooling costs

8. Less expensive than wipe tooling – compare the costs for yourself.
9. Reduce operations and eliminate die stations
10. Decrease forming tonnage by 50% to 80%
11. The “Hemmer”, page 11, reduces operations and costs

Benders work better in production and form metal consistently

Compare the forming action:

Popular Bender Options

1. Dart Stiffeners … Benders Make it Easy
   1. Darts are rolled into the part during bending, reducing springback and stiffening the part. Darts are produced using dowels through the rocker and require relief grooves in the anvil. The side angles of the darts are a function of the angle and size of the dowel.
2. Tooth Benders… Eliminate Part/ Die Interferences
   1. Tooth benders use special rockers to eliminate die/ part interferences. Often the saddle needs to be made special without gibs in one piece.
3. Over Square Bends … up to 135 degrees in one press stroke
   1. READY Bender’s^® ability to bend 45 degrees beyond ninety (135 d PA) is one of its greatest features. Customers buy standards and do simple alteration themselves, adding a degree or two of overbend to the rocker. This easy alteration is done by grinding the bending jaw of the rocker, while not disturbing the working radius of the bending lobe (grind past center line).

The “Hemmer”

• Eliminate Die Stations and Operations;
• Use in Progressive Dies, Automated Machines

This tool can form a slightly open bend completely flat in one vertical press stroke. Use it to form UP or DOWN in high production stamping dies and automated machines. Eliminate the cam action “pre-hem” operation and do hems in two stations instead of three. We use full hard D-2 rockers and special READY High Production style saddles. This is a special bender, yet attractively priced. All hem applications should be quoted by READY. Fax prints and the worksheet on the back cover. We usually suggest a test-bend using your material to accurately predict results and select the right hemmer design. We charge a modest fee for this service, based upon the application.

Important Hemmer Functions

1. Diameter may be chosen more by leg height than material thickness.
2. Testing is highly recommended on all hem applications to help determine proper positioning.
3. Pressure pad needed to avoid sliding as hemmer contacts and flattens.
4. Maximum hemmer length is 12”. For longer lengths, butt end-to-end with .010” gap between saddles.

pad Benders

Pads can help in many bender applications. By activating the bender on top of a pad, you isolate the rocker from the part on the critical hold down surface. NO CONTACT = NO MARK.

Important Pad Functions

1. Pads can be designed to match a part’s “irregular” shape on one side yet be flat and parallel on the surface that the bender contacts.
2. Eliminates rocker contact and impact on part hold down surface.
3. To protect a part cutout or hole from distortion due to its proximity to the bend line.
4. To eliminate humping of the material when the application dictates upsizing the rocker diameter. The pad provides hold down pressure close to the bend radius.
5. To match a standard rocker diameter to the Zee bend or offset vertical height. Allows use of standard rockers versus making specials.

When Using Pads, READY Technology Recommends:

1. Locate the pad and its shoulder screws/ spools as close as possible to the tangency point of the radius. This location and bushings or guides will prevent the pad from tipping.
2. Springs to lift the pad should work separately from the spring return of the bender.
3. Additional part hold down may be required in some applications (pilots, die springs or nitrogen cylinders).

Our Test-Bending Service Takes the Guesswork Away

For a modest fee, we’ll test-bend your material using our benders. This test is ideal for evaluating compatibility with pre-painted metals, checking for cutout distortion and determining the springback characteristics with your material. READY Technology will test-bend your material (between .010” and .250”) using our standard 87° rocker and 3° overbend. Tell us the goal of the test bending and we will structure a test to give you answers. Send ten pieces of your material, 4” x 12” (max. length). A report and three pieces will be returned to you. Special test-bends are available but may be expensive due to the special tooling required, averaging $300.00, USD, each and several weeks for tooling.

Browse our website and if you need additional assistance, please email us at sales@readytechnology.com, and one of our representatives will contact you.