In fine tuning my 24" finger brake I've notice some things that I have to correct. The biggest issue is raising the inside edge of the apron to the center of the pivot point.
I don't want to get too far carried away here with the explanation, but here is a brief description of what I'm seeing.
On the left side of the brake the edge of the apron is about .005 below the center of the pivot point. On the right side it's about .011 below the pivot point.
To some that may not seem like a big deal but what happens here is when the apron is raised to make a fold the right side moves away from the edge of the fingers by the amount of error I
mentioned. So the fold starts out being clean and sharp on the left side but gradually transitions to a smoother larger radius band going to the right. Not a big deal if 16 ga. sheet metal is being
bent but with thinner material it's quite noticeable.
So after filling in all the dings and imperfections along the top edge of the apron I have lowered that surface by a couple more thou. Don't care because I have to come up with a way to raise the
apron to the center of the pivot point on both sides. The problem is the apron is located by a dowel pin on each side and to compound the issue the right side dowel pin hole is about .010 higher
than the pin on the left side lowering the right side of the apron.
So........... after thinking about this I think the easiest way to raise each end of the apron the needed amount would be to remove each dowel pin from the pivot arm and grind a few thou off the
bottom side so I can raise the apron and place a sliver of the appropriate thickness shim on top of the dowel to keep the apron from dropping. then tighten the hold down bolts.
In this pic you can see the dowel pin just below the bolt. I could also elongate the hole in the apron but would rather sacrifice the dowel pins rather than the apron.
I hope I haven't lost anyone here !!

I've indicated this thing nine ways to Sunday so I know where and where the errors lie.

This is what the edge of the apron looked like. I've spent a few hours tigging all those little dings in and filing the top flat. I may set it up on the grinder and take the rest of the imperfections
out of it. A few more thou won't matter as I can adjust for that with the dowel pin grinding and shimming.

JL....................
I don't want to get too far carried away here with the explanation, but here is a brief description of what I'm seeing.
On the left side of the brake the edge of the apron is about .005 below the center of the pivot point. On the right side it's about .011 below the pivot point.
To some that may not seem like a big deal but what happens here is when the apron is raised to make a fold the right side moves away from the edge of the fingers by the amount of error I
mentioned. So the fold starts out being clean and sharp on the left side but gradually transitions to a smoother larger radius band going to the right. Not a big deal if 16 ga. sheet metal is being
bent but with thinner material it's quite noticeable.
So after filling in all the dings and imperfections along the top edge of the apron I have lowered that surface by a couple more thou. Don't care because I have to come up with a way to raise the
apron to the center of the pivot point on both sides. The problem is the apron is located by a dowel pin on each side and to compound the issue the right side dowel pin hole is about .010 higher
than the pin on the left side lowering the right side of the apron.
So........... after thinking about this I think the easiest way to raise each end of the apron the needed amount would be to remove each dowel pin from the pivot arm and grind a few thou off the
bottom side so I can raise the apron and place a sliver of the appropriate thickness shim on top of the dowel to keep the apron from dropping. then tighten the hold down bolts.
In this pic you can see the dowel pin just below the bolt. I could also elongate the hole in the apron but would rather sacrifice the dowel pins rather than the apron.
I hope I haven't lost anyone here !!
I've indicated this thing nine ways to Sunday so I know where and where the errors lie.
This is what the edge of the apron looked like. I've spent a few hours tigging all those little dings in and filing the top flat. I may set it up on the grinder and take the rest of the imperfections
out of it. A few more thou won't matter as I can adjust for that with the dowel pin grinding and shimming.
JL....................
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