Definition
A sheet metal forming machine used to bend metal into precise angles along a straight line. The upper jaw is made up of a series of removable, separately mounted blocks called fingers, which can be rearranged or removed to allow the operator to form boxes, channels, and other shapes that a solid-jaw brake cannot accommodate.
Plain English
A workshop tool for bending sheet metal. The top clamping bar is made of small removable blocks (the fingers), so the metal can be folded up on more than one side without the bent edges getting in the way.
Context Anchor
Seen in cockpit control descriptions, ground handling discussions, and aircraft checkouts when learning how that airplane’s brakes are operated.
Derivation
Called a 'finger' brake because the upper jaw is divided into separate finger-like blocks rather than one solid bar. 'Brake' here is the metalworking sense of the word — a machine that bends or breaks metal along a line, unrelated to a stopping device.
Why Pilots Care
Allows braking and steering control while keeping both hands on the primary flight controls.
Intuition Check
Brake' here is not the kind that stops something. In sheet metal work, a brake is a machine that bends metal — the word comes from an old meaning of breaking or folding material along a line.
Example Sentence 1
The mechanic used a finger brake to form the flanged edges of the new inspection panel.
Example Sentence 2
Differential pressure on the finger brakes helped steer the airplane on the narrow runway.