Be hard to explain if these benders were all made in one factory, and that one factory applied a consistent quality regime, but that’s not  how it works!

The design is long out of patent protection so anyone in the world can make them.   Developing economies often feature multiple start-ups rushing to make cheap stuff, where the start-up can be anything between a few men in a shed and a brand-new CNC shop with full Total Quality Management.   How well-made the same item is by these different enterprises varies,  with the small guys more likely to misread drawings, cut corners, or assemble parts incorrectly.  A mix of good and bad arrive on the wholesale market.

Western sellers buying this class of inexpensive tooling wholesale rarely do more quality checks.  Instead, they protect the customer from lemons by replace or refund and are more careful about buying next time.

It’s a highly imperfect process, but poor quality goods are slowly squeezed out as economies develop.   In my youth ‘Made in Japan’ usually meant ‘cheap rubbish’:  not so today, now it usually means ‘high-end’.   The same is happening in China.   I’m expecting someone else to become the next developing economy – perhaps it’s Africa’s turn!   After industrialisation, the next phase appears to be a British invention – the ‘Post Industrial’ economy.   Currently being adopted by Europe and the USA.   Makes money, but has another set of  disadvantages.

Dave

Bob,

As Dave says, I imagine the ‘design appreciation’ and/or quality control at the manufacturer of the Bender wasn’t up to scratch.

Also the point about countries moving through the steps from farming> manufacturing> services is quite fascinating (and slightly worrying?) ie …

…. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tertiary_sector_of_the_economy …

Economies tend to follow a developmental progression that takes them from heavy reliance on agriculture and mining, toward the development of manufacturing (e.g. automobiles, textiles, shipbuilding, steel) and finally toward a more service-based structure. The first economy to follow this path in the modern world was the United Kingdom. The speed at which other economies have made the transition to service-based (or “post-industrial”) economies has increased over time.

Personally, I believe the UK should retain the bare minimum of a manufacturing base….you’ll never know when you might need it!

Ches

<p style=”text-align: left;”>I would say yours is correct. GHT designed a bending rolls set with grooved lower and adjustable roller for rolling T and L sections. The upper pinch roller needs to pinch the material in the groove and the rear adjustable roller has to be grooved to accept  it.</p>
regards Martin

Probably need the pair of grooved one above the other to prevent the work becoming “D” shaped which could happen if the ungrooved top roll is running on the round wire. May not be a problem on easily bent 3mm but as thickness goes up pressure and No of passes may have an effect.

Interesting that the Machine Mart site shows the 12″ with plain top roll but the wider ones with grooved top roll to match the lower. Looking at Stakesys they have 4 small rolls, two with plain top roll and two with grooved.