Is it possible to cross 2 1/2 round beads to form an "X" with a bead roller? I have a stamped panel with reinforcing ribs that cross each other. Not hard to do with a big press, but very hard with a bead roller (as far as I can tell). Neil
You can but as it crosses the new roll crushes the old one. Just stop a little short on the x, it will look ok and be plenty strong. Or stop short on both legs of the x and leave the center open, would look better and still be strong.
What he said, i would stop just short of the intersection on one of the lines. It keeps alot of distortion from forming in the panel.
Run the lines straight, off the edge if possible and dont round the corners with bead. Most of the warping can be worked out over an "english knee". I dont use a bead roller because of this, and it also seriously restricts creativity. I like being creative!!
Tinman, you have got to be a witch or an alien to put that rolling goodness into metal......voodoo perhaps?
Some parts of that piece are done with a step roll, and some of it is done with my supertop secret homemade rolls. Thanks! No magic, No voodoo, just miles and miles of practice. Oh and before you ask, yes that piece was warped all to hell, and after a few passes over the leg its flat-ish, we still have to build a frame for it. Here's some links to some other good threads, there are a few outstanding rollers here on the hamb, and we dont mind showing off either!! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=248326&highlight=bead+roll http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=248531&highlight=bead+roll and the be all, end all, showing the hell off thread!! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=144995&highlight=bead+roll
Hey, You can form an "X" with calking tools, and finish the details by hand. The problem I see would be one of structurual design. The bead needs metal around it to do its' job, which is that of a controled stretch in the panel. If two lines intersect, you now have a hinge. Movement in a panel is some- thing you're trying to design out with a bead to begin with, no? This thought is ment for structural design of sheetmetal panels and not "artwork". Swankey Devils C.C. "Meanwhile, back aboard The Tainted Pork"
The rolls are there to stiffen the panel in the center. The majority of the panel strength comes from the shape and support structure the the sheet metal is attached to. Basically what this means is if the panel cant support itself adding beads and steps will help, but you really need to rethink your overall design. As for the artwork part,, just because it has to be there, (bead/step rolls) doesnt mean it has to be ugly.
you need to use a skateboard wheel as one of the rollers on your bead roller. It will allow you to cross the x's without crushing the first one.
There's going to be a sudden rash of kids wondering what happened to the wheels on their skateboards, after this tech info.
yep I need to see this one too. If your thinking that a soft upper or lower die is going to stop the crushing, well, your are mistaken.
Can you connect across if you've stretched or domed the metal correctly to make up for metal shrinkage while bead rolling? I pictured the rest of the problem. The center of the crossing can only be finished by a shaped punch and receiving die to manually finish the desired crossing.
thats not the issue, the problem when crossing with a bead is the dies physically crush the bead as you cross over. not a shrink stretch deal
I always ease up on the pressure, skip over the intersect, and drop the pressure back down and roll. Works for me.
Rather than use a bead, why not use a step die, and recess all the metal that isn't the "X" you're looking for? Draw an "X" on your panel, with, say, 1-inch wide ribs. Then use a step die and RECESS all the area between the ribs, in effect raising a wide "X" in the panel. -Brad
Thats what I would do, I dont even have a set of bead rolls and can count on one hand the number of times I've used them in the last 15 years. But that wasnt what he asked
Nope, wasn't what he asked... but it is an elegant solution, isn't it? I actually just thought about it when I read the post, and figured that'd be a good way to go. Neat that you could post what I was thinking about! -Brad
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