A hemming
machine is disclosed having a base, a
nest adapted to support a part to be hemmed, a
nest carrier which supports the
nest and in which both the nest and nest carrier are vertically movably mounted to the base. At least one hemming die is laterally slidably mounted to the base and movable between an extended position in which the die overlies a portion of the nest, and a retracted position in which the die is spaced laterally outwardly from the nest. A lock unit selectively locks the nest carrier against vertical movement relative to the base in at least one, and preferably two positions, so that, with the nest carrier locked against movement relative to the base, inflation of a hydraulic bladder sandwiched between the nest and nest carrier displaces the nest vertically upwardly from the carrier so that the part carried by the nest is compressed against the hemming dies and performs the hemming operation. Preferably, a single
drive shaft not only displaces the nest and nest carrier, but also powers the
hydraulic circuit to inflate the bladder and thus upwardly displace the nest relative to the nest carrier with an amplified force required to achieve the final flattening of the hem.