Sheet metal bending is a popular method of metal bending. It is currently being used in various sectors of the economy, such as the aerospace and automotive industry. It involves the application of a specific amount of force in order to get a particular shape. The critical point to note is that sheet metal bending does not change a material’s characteristics, such as thickness and length. Furthermore, the malleability of a material makes it possible to undergo shaping procedures. There are different sheet metal bending techniques in existence; below are some of the basic;
The basics of sheet metal bending techniques
1. Coining
The coining bending technique is quite popular. The technique’s popularity is attributed to its high precision rates and its outstanding ability to develop excellent sheets. The technique does not use sheet spring-back. The lack of a spring-back is due to the coin penetrating the sheet metal at a tiny radius. Thus, coining creates a dent that helps differentiate one sheet from another, the processes used in coining help develop permanent deformation on sheets.
2. Air bending
Air bending is a technique that uses compressive forces on sheet metal to ensure that it gets into a die, but the force ensures it does not touch the die’s walls. The air bending technique is not very accurate as compared to others. But it is very flexible and can be used for making u-shapes, V-shapes, and several others. Its flexibility is attributed to the die geometry not corresponding evenly with the sheet metal bend because both surfaces do not interact.
3. Roll bending
The roll bending technique is used in sheet metal bending to shape metals into curved shapes or rolls. This method requires the use of a press brake, hydraulic brakes, and three rollers to create various bends. Additionally, roll bending is famous for developing hollow shapes, tubes, and cones because it uses the rollers’ distance to create curves and bends.
4. Bottoming
The bottoming technique uses punch force to ensure that the sheet metal comes into full contact with the die, thus developing a bend corresponding with the die’s inside. Bottoming is commonly used in the creation of V-shaped bends.
5. Folding
The folding sheet metal bending technique involves clamping beams holding the sheet’s longer side. The beams fold and rises the sheet on a selected profile. The sheet can be moved up and down to permit the creation of parts with negative and positive angle bends. The bend angle results from material properties, tool geometry, and beam’s folding angle. The folding method can handle large sheets. One of the benefits of bending is that there are minimal surface dame risks.
6. Step bending
Step bending can also be referred to as bump-bending. The bending technique ensures that an almost smooth-curved bend is achieved. The method involves using tiny V-shaped bends continuously, hence producing curved bends.
7. U-bending
U-bending follows the same principle as V-bending. It shapes materials into U-shapes. But, U-bending is not as flexible as other materials.
Conclusion
The different sheet metal bending techniques are best used differently. Thus, if you want to ensure you attain a particular outcome or shape, then ensure that the correct technique is used. Furthermore, it is essential to know of the different techniques in existence.
