A centerless sheet metal bending machine is provided for forming cleats in
sheet metal. The machine includes a housing having a table upon which a
piece of sheet metal can be supported. The housing has a mouth through
which the sheet metal can be extended and a gap between an end of the
table and the mouth. The machine includes a clamping assembly for holding
said sheet metal in place and a bending assembly for forming bends
(cleats) in the sheet metal. The clamping assembly comprises a hold down
bar and a table bar having a clamping surface. The table bar is link
driven between an open position in which the clamping surface of the table
bar is spaced from the hold down bar and a closed position in which the
table bar clamping surface is positioned beneath the hold down bar. The
bending assembly comprising a bending bar mounted on a gear segment which
rides in a curved track. The gear segment defines an arch of less than
360.degree. and the track defines a slot so that the machine, when in the
start position, can accept sheet metal having a width greater than the
width of the machine. To facilitate the bend, the bending bar bending
surface defines an obtuse angle with the table bar clamping surface and a
complimentary acute angle with the horizontal. The acute angle is
preferably less than about 20.degree..
