$3)$ Bracket Shearing and Bending

The machine support bracket illustrated alongside must be manufactured from $5$ mm low$-$carbon, commercial quality steel $($AISI $1018$ steel$)$ using a turret press with plasma profile$-$cutting capability, followed by press brake operations. The dimensions of the blank prior to bending are $\backslash (20\backslash$times $15\backslash$mathrm$\{$~cm$\}\backslash ).$ After bending the horizontal base is nominally $5$ cm wide and the vertical wall is $10$ cm high, tapering down over a horizontal length of $8$ cm to a height of $4$ cm $.$ The vertical slots are $6$ cm long and the horizontal ones $7\mathrm{.}5$ cm long. All four slots have a width of $1\mathrm{.}25$ cm wide. $(15$ points total$)$

$($a$)$ Estimate the required press force to cut the blank and then to cut the four slots, report your answers in units of N $.$ Clearly state your assumptions and cite any references. $(8$ points$)$

$($b$)$ Estimate the required press force for the bending operation, report your answer in units of N $.$

Clearly state your assumptions including a sketch with labeled dimensions. $(6$ points$)$

$($c$)$ In which order would you perform these operations and why? $(1$ point$)$