Bending and Forming Sheet Metal
Since sheet metal is a versatile item that can be easily transformed into various forms…
With the rapid advancements in the last few decades, there has been extensive growth in the demand for custom-made products. The sheet metal manufacturing industry is no exception. Since sheet metal is a versatile item that can be easily transformed into various forms, it has brought new techniques that have made metal work more efficient and valuable.
The transformation begins by using sheet metal forming procedures like metal bending to convert sheet metal into the desired shape required for multiple production operations. Whether it is chassis, brackets, cabinets, electrical enclosures, covers, etc., there are endless different sheet metal components that give the impression of being easy to manufacture but attaining its part accuracy includes a complex fabrication process.
In the coming parts of the article, you will come to know about the entire process of sheet metal bending and its intricacies. So, ensure reading it till the end.
When it is about the sheet metal forming, it is a process in which force is applied to a sheet metal piece in order to alter its geometry. The force puts stress on the metal sheet beyond its yield strength that causes the material to plastically deform. The process of sheet metal forming includes bending, wherein the application of force on a sheet metal workpiece results in a bend at a specific angle to create the desired shape.
The process is an efficient way of creating new products, and it also ensures the simplicity of shapes. The external force applied to the workpiece modifies only the external characteristics of the sheet. It means other vital parameters of sheet metal remain unchanged, which includes its length and thickness.
Bending is one of the popular and essential sheet metal fabrication operations in the metal manufacturing industry. For instance, metal bending plays an important role in the automotive business because they use various shapes to have an accurate automobile part that goes perfectly with their design. The process of bending varies in methods that are used to plastically deform the sheet. Size, workpiece material, and thickness are some significant factors that play a vital role in the bending process.
The sheet metal bending process leads to deformation along a single axis. However, a series of different operations can be performed to form a complex part which can be small in size like a bracket or up to 20 feet in length. The bending operation causes compression and tension both in the sheet metal.
There are some sheet metal materials that are more malleable than others. It simply means that some materials will bend, whereas others might get weakened and crack. When it comes to less malleable materials, it is suggested to heat up the workpiece. It reduces the risk of cracking. Here is a list of several materials that you can use for bending:
There are different methods of sheet metal bending, but they are similar in terms of their end objective, I.E., to alter sheet metal structures into the desired form. As mentioned earlier, to determine the bending method, it is important for you to have a sound understanding of the thickness, size, bend radius, and intended purpose of the material.
Following are some methods which you can use to get the best outcome. Each of these has its merits. However, the dilemma lies between selecting the simplicity or accuracy of the method. Have a look at the different bending methods:
It is the most popular sheet bending method because it is used for all the major bending tasks. It uses equipment called a punch and a v-shaped die to form a bend in the sheet metals at the desired angle. During the procedure, the bending punch applies force on the sheet metal that is placed over the die. The angle created by the material is dependent on the pressure of the punch. It is an easy and efficient method because it is used for bending steel plates.
It is a procedure that is used to bend sheet metals to form curved shapes or rolls. Roll bending utilizes a press brake, hydraulic press, and three sets of rollers to form various bends. This method is useful for forming tubes, cones, and other hollow shapes.
In terms of technique, u-bending is similar to v-bending. The equipment is the same except that of a u-shaped die. The shape formed using this method is u.
It is yet another common method used for sheet metal edges. In this method, it is vital to ensure that the sheet is accurately pushed onto the wipe die. The wipe determines the inner radius of the bend.
Rotary bending has merit as compared to v-bending and wipe bending. It doesn’t scratch the surface of the sheet metal. Moreover, it can be used to bend different materials into sharp edges.
It is possible to bend some kinds of sheet metals without using any machinery. But using tools for bending enhances the precision and productivity of the process. Although, it is vital to employ all the safety measures while using the machines. Here are some machines that are used to bend sheet metals:
With this, you’ll have a fair understanding of sheet metal bending. The requirement for customized products will not going to reduce in the coming future. Thus, this article will help you in getting to know about metal bending.
Metal bending is a process that is used to deform metal into the desired shape using a piece of equipment called a press brake. Here at newport steel we utilize a variety of different types of press brakes that allow us to perform any type of bend you may need. In addition to manual and mechanical press brake metal bending equipment, we offer cnc press brake services that will create accurate bends in your material.
If you need a sheet of metal formed into a custom shape newport steel offers metal forming services that can help you. Our engineers will develop a system that will efficiently form metal into whatever shape you require. Allow us to help you form your metal material using our presses, benders, dies and extruders. If you need your metal sheet formed into a custom shape, we will be happy to help you.
Newport steel offers both cnc and manual press brake services to our customers. Our team designs tooling for customer products to be used in our presses. We are capable of air bending, bottom bending, and coining parts up to 14′ long, with our machines rated up to 240 tons. Unlimited possibilities and configurations allow us to cost-effectively produce the most demanding parts with our cnc press brakes.
The knowledgeable and helpful team here at newport steel is here to help you produce your metal parts and components in an efficient, cost effective manner. Our engineers will work hard to ensure that we produce high quality metal parts. You can rely on newport steel to deliver your metal parts quickly with short lead times. If you have any questions about the capabilities of metal bending and metal forming services, or would like to request a quote for production of your metal part, please contact us today. Give us a call or fill out the online contact form below. One of our knowledgeable team members will be more than happy to assist you.
