I believe that the way this is normally done is with a thick layer of
rubber or urethane on the top. The rubber or urethane acts as one half
of the die. Forget pumping oil, find a real press with some tonnage.

Another approach (option 2) is to build the pocket separately, and weld
it in. You could use a simple 4 inch by 24 inch by 0.5 inch piece of
steel or aluminum, even hardwood, as a hammerform to make the pocket.
More info on this available on the metalmeet.com site, or look at
metalshapers on yahoogroups.

Since I don't have a press, I would select option 2. The pocket could
be welded in before or after the the bends are put in.

Richard



richard wrote:
I need to press some .048" steel sheet to make a replacemnet body
panel, a replacement will cost more than the materials to make the
press whatever way i end up doing it..
it's a simple enough shape which is formed in a brake but with two
depressions, the pocket is ~4"x24"x.44[widthxheightxdepth] the
depressions have radused corners and i will put a slight taper onthe
sides, i can be a bit liberal with the dimensions to make it easier to
press.

I intend on milling a 4x24x.44, plus an allowance for the steel
sheet, pocket in a piece of 6x24x1 steel to form a die to press the
shape into.
The poket has a bend close to each side of it and one of them is

90degree so it really needs the pockets putting in the sheet prior to

bending it.

I wondered if i made a top that basically supported a lip that would
surround the pocket and withstand pressing onto the die. I would put a
sheet of steel on the bottom 'die' then a piece of rubber sheet on top
of it and press the top down and pump oil into the space between the
top and the rubber, it should press the steel into the pocket..
shouldn't it?

alternatively I wondered about a die as above with a top press tool.
and multiple large bolt's though the two to press them. the depression
will have a 2.75x25 hole cut out of the middle of it.

any suggestions?
I do have a cad drawing of the panel if you want to see exactly what i
need..
I did ask before and someone suggested the easiest method was
explosives, don't think it's to easy to get explosives inthe uk.

the second idea saves making a press to press the bits between.
--
richard