Plate Brkt reinforcment

**garage nut** · Jan 7, 2018, 03:18 AM

Again the heat is driving me off the boat so time to make a bracket to fit the radio. the radio was previously surface mounted, but I would not like to cut a hole in the new center console untill such time I have confirmed the radio works. Also technology has moved on and now it is possible to connect your radio to your GPS and if you send out a distress call your GPS coordinates are also sent, so perhaps time for an upgrade

I have seen these little simple tools, just a nice big "V" in a solid block of steel. Once the plate brkt about 1 to 1.2mm sheet steel is bent, you simply take a chisel and create a dent into the "V" right on the corner of the bracket. It gives it a lot of stiffens.

**thx569** · Jan 10, 2018, 05:08 AM

Originally Posted by garage nut

Again the heat is driving me off the boat so time to make a bracket to fit the radio. the radio was previously surface mounted, but I would not like to cut a hole in the new center console untill such time I have confirmed the radio works. Also technology has moved on and now it is possible to connect your radio to your GPS and if you send out a distress call your GPS coordinates are also sent, so perhaps time for an upgrade

I have seen these little simple tools, just a nice big "V" in a solid block of steel. Once the plate brkt about 1 to 1.2mm sheet steel is bent, you simply take a chisel and create a dent into the "V" right on the corner of the bracket. It gives it a lot of stiffens.

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Thanks for that simple solution.. Sometimes I over think my problems with elaborate tools that take too much time and money

**Ralphxyz** · May 16, 2018, 07:12 PM

Thanks, so simple

Ralph

**Toolmaker51** · Sep 19, 2018, 08:22 PM

Yep, punched gussets, dimples and all their other AKA's very common feature in stamping dies. Your car can have hundreds of them.
You'll see them in construction ties, garage door hardware, brackets etc. Expedient money saver in dies, presses and material by compensating with thinner material. A pointed punch is common, but the strongest is rounded, little more than a dowel and pocket equal to dowel diameter + material thickness with 10%. Some are rubber die blocks, but most are tool steel. Block doesn't need full contact at width, then the notch eases, blends or 'fairs' into each perpendicular face. An ideal contour is not pinched, with minimal thickness lost to deformation.
An engineering spec can delineate male or female, not so easily described looking at a part, but how they desire form achieved in the dieset. The opposite can be described as a 'knuckle'. You've seen these in footlocker corners, and feet of different articles. Simple as a short ball-nosed rod, into a pocket sized as mentioned above.

**nhengineer** · Sep 20, 2018, 08:23 AM

Probably a 'dulled' chisel, eh Mr. G. Nut? Those 'gussets' are quite effective but man are they tough to draw in SolidWorks. Every time I need to make one I have to go back to the tutorial to figure out how to do it. This is one of the few times, using your idea, it is actually easier to make it in the shop than in engineering.