Sheet Metal Bending: Everything You Should Know Explained

Sheet metal bending refers to the process of changing the angle of a sheet or panel, which can involve shaping it into various forms such as V or U shapes.

Generally, there are two methods used for sheet metal bending: mold bending and press brake bending. Mold bending is suitable for sheet metal parts with complex structures, low production volumes, and high-volume processing. Conversely, press brake bending is ideal for sheet metal structures with larger sizes or lower yields.

Both of these bending methods have their own distinct principles, characteristics, and areas of application.

I. Materials and Common Metals

Sheet metal bending is a process used extensively in the manufacturing industry. The material choice greatly affects the final product. This section will discuss the most common metals used for sheet metal bending, including their properties and applications.

Steel

Steel is a widely used and versatile material, consisting of iron and carbon. It exhibits desirable properties such as strength, durability, and cost-effectiveness. There are several types of steel available for sheet metal bending, including:

• Mild Steel: Low carbon content allows for easy bending; commonly used in automotive parts and construction.
• Stainless Steel: Corrosion-resistant due to the presence of chromium; used in a variety of industries, including food processing and medical equipment.

Aluminum

Aluminum is a lightweight, corrosion-resistant metal that offers excellent formability and electrical conductivity. Its advantages include:

• Good strength-to-weight ratio
• High resistance to rust and corrosion
• Compatible with various finishing processes

Common applications include aerospace components, transportation equipment, and electronic enclosures.

Copper

Copper is a highly conductive metal that is easily bent and formed, making it the perfect choice for electrical and electronic applications. The key features of copper include:

• High electrical and thermal conductivity
• Naturally antimicrobial
• Recyclable

Copper is used extensively in the electrical industry for wiring, circuit boards, and transformers, as well as in plumbing and decorative applications.

Brass

Brass, an alloy of copper and zinc, is a popular choice for sheet metal bending due to its ease of fabrication and attractive appearance. It offers various benefits, including:

• Corrosion resistance
• Low friction
• Excellent machinability

Brass is commonly used in decorative and architectural components, musical instruments, and hardware fittings.

II. Bending Techniques

Air Bending

Air bending is a widely used technique in sheet metal processing. The process involves placing the sheet metal on a die with a V-shaped opening. The punch then applies pressure on the material, causing it to bend. The final bend angle depends on the depth of the punch penetration and the material’s characteristics. The advantages of air bending include:

• Low tooling costs
• Greater flexibility, as multiple bend angles can be achieved with the same tooling
• Reduced wear on the die

Coining

Coining is a technique that uses significant force to force a sheet metal into a die, creating a bend. During the coining process, the punch and die are pressed together with the metal sheet sandwiched between them, causing the material to conform precisely to the shape of the die. The benefits of coining are:

• High accuracy and repeatability
• Reduced springback effects
• Increased material strength due to work hardening

Three-Point Bending

Three-point bending is a versatile technique used to determine the flexural properties of sheet metal. In this method, the metal sheet is supported at two points, with a force applied at a third point between the supports. This approach allows for:

• Even distribution of stress and strain
• Better insights into material behavior under bending loads
• Testing of various materials and thicknesses

V-Die Bending

V-die bending is a common technique in the sheet metal industry. The metal is placed between a V-shaped punch and die, which apply pressure to form the desired bend angle. This method offers:

• High precision and accuracy
• Consistency across different items
• Wide range of bend radii and angles possible with various die sizes

III. Bending Equipment

Press Brake

Press brake is a widely used sheet metal bending equipment, offering high precision and accuracy in producing desired shapes. It consists of a punch and a die, which apply force on the metal sheet to produce the bend. Press brakes come in various styles, such as hydraulic, mechanical, and electric, to cater to different needs and requirements. The capacity of a press brake is determined by factors like the working length, tonnage, and type of control system.

• Hydraulic: Utilizes hydraulic cylinders to apply force on the sheet metal.
• Mechanical: Employs flywheels and eccentric gears for force application.
• Electric: Uses servo motors and ball screws for precise bending operations.

Folding Machine

Folding machines, also known as folders or bending brakes, are another essential equipment in sheet metal bending. They clamp the metal sheet between an upper and lower beam, followed by folding it to the desired angle using a folding blade. This equipment is suitable for various materials, like aluminum, stainless steel, and mild steel, and provides an efficient way of producing large volumes of bent parts. Folding machines can operate in manual or automated modes, depending on the complexity of the job.

• Manual: Operated by skilled workers for simple or small-scale projects.
• Automated: Equipped with CNC controls for complex and high-volume tasks.

Bending Dies

Bending dies are crucial components of sheet metal bending equipment, as they determine the shape, angle, and radius of the finished bend. They are available in a range of materials, such as hardened steel, stainless steel, and tungsten carbide, to withstand the forces and friction involved in the bending process. Bending dies come in various types, including V-dies, rotary bending dies, and wiping dies, each with its unique characteristics and applications.

• V-dies: Most common type, used for air bending and bottom bending processes.
• Rotary bending dies: Minimize friction, ideal for sensitive materials prone to scratching.
• Wiping dies: Employ a wiping motion to create tight-radius bends in sheet metal.

IV. Standards and Certifications

ISO Standards

Sheet metal bending operations must adhere to specific international standards to ensure quality, safety, and consistency. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) develops and maintains these regulations. For sheet metal bending, the relevant standards include:

• ISO 9013: This standard specifies the requirements for thermal cutting methods, including laser cutting and plasma cutting, which are often used in sheet metal bending processes.
• ISO 16630: This standard defines the mechanical testing methods used to verify the structural integrity and mechanical properties of sheet metal materials.

Adherence to ISO standards ensures that sheet metal bending operations produce reliable, high-quality products for various industries and applications.

ASTM Standards

The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) also plays a crucial role in the sheet metal bending industry by establishing and maintaining standards. ASTM standards relevant to sheet metal bending include:

• ASTM A6/A6M: This standard outlines the general requirements for rolled steel plates, shapes, sheet piling, and bars used in various applications, including sheet metal bending.
• ASTM A480/A480M: This standard specifies the general requirements for flat-rolled stainless and heat-resisting steel plate, sheet, and strip used in sheet metal bending.
• ASTM E290: This standard defines the methodologies for conducting bend tests on metallic materials, to assess ductility and formability.

Complying with ASTM standards ensures that sheet metal bending operations meet industry requirements and maintain a high level of quality in their products.

V. Bending by Mold

Manufacturers typically consider using mold bending as a processing method for structural parts that have an annual capacity of more than 5,000 pieces and are relatively small in size, generally around 300 x 300.

1. Common bending mold

Figure 1-17 displays the commonly used bending dies. To increase the longevity of the mold, it is advisable to incorporate rounded corners while designing the parts.

Figure 1-17 Special Forming Mold

Using a bending die with a flange height that is too small is not ideal for forming. Typically, the flange height should be L ≥ 3t, considering the wall thickness.

2. Step bending method

Z-shaped steps made from sheet metal with a lower profile are commonly bent using simple molds on punch presses or hydraulic presses for small batch sizes. For larger batches, a step die on a bending machine can be utilized, but the height (H) should typically be between 0 and 1.0 times the wall thickness (t).

If the height is between 1.0 and 4.0 times the wall thickness, a mold form with an unloading structure may be necessary. The height can be adjusted by adding a spacer, but maintaining the length (L) and verticality of the vertical side may be challenging. If the height is greater, bending on a press brake machine should be considered.

Figure 1-18 Z-shaped step bending

VI. Bending by Press Brake Machine

There are two categories of bending machines: ordinary bending machines and CNC bending machines. CNC bending machines are typically used for sheet metal bending in communication devices due to the need for high precision and the irregular shape of the bend.

The basic principle of the machine involves shaping the sheet metal part using the upper mold, which is the bending punch, and the lower mold, which is the V-shaped die.

Advantages:

• Convenient clamping, accurate positioning and fast processing speed

Disadvantages:

• Limited bending force, only simple forming can be performed, and efficiency is low.

1. Basic principles of forming

The basic principle of forming is shown in Figure 1-19:

Figure 1-19 Basic principle of forming

The following are two key components of the bending machine:

1. Bending Knife (Upper Die)

The appearance of the bending knives is depicted in Figure 1-20. Their shape is mainly determined by the shape of the workpiece.

Typically, processing tools have a large selection of bending knives. Specialized manufacturers will even custom-make a variety of unique shapes and specifications to handle complex bending tasks.

2. Lower Die

The V-shape of the lower die is usually determined as V=6t (where t represents the material thickness).

The bending process is affected by various factors, such as the arc radius of the upper die, the material’s properties, its thickness, the strength of the lower die, and the size of the V-opening in the lower die.

To meet different product requirements, manufacturers have standardized bending dies while ensuring the bending machine’s safety.

Having a fundamental knowledge of the available bending dies is crucial during the structural design process.

Figure 1-20 displays the upper die on the left and the lower die on the right.

Figure 1-20 Schematic diagram of the press brake punch and die

The basic principle of the bending process sequence:

• Bending from the inside to the outside.
• Bending from small to large.
• Bend the special shape first, then bend the general shape.
• After the previous process is complete, it should not affect or interfere with subsequent processes.

The bending forms commonly seen in outsourcing factories are generally shown in Figure 1-21.

Figure 1-21 Bending form of press brake machine

2. Bending radius

The bend radius is a critical factor to consider when bending sheet metal. It is essential to choose an appropriate bend radius that is neither too large nor too small.

If the bend radius is too small, it can result in cracking during bending, and if it is too large, rebounding is likely to occur. Table 1-9 displays the preferred bend radius (inside bend radius) for different materials with varying thicknesses.

Note: t is the thickness of the sheet in the table.

Please note that the data presented in Table 1-9 is provided for reference purposes only and should not be considered as definitive. In actual practice, most manufacturers use bending knives with a rounded corner of 0.3, with only a few employing a rounded corner of 0.5.

Therefore, the bending inner radius of our sheet metal parts is typically 0.2. While this radius is sufficient for ordinary low-carbon steel plates, rust-proof aluminum plates, brass plates, and copper plates, it may not be suitable for high-carbon steel, hard aluminum, and super-hard aluminum. In these cases, a rounded corner of 0.2 may cause the bend to break or the outer corner to crack.

3. Bending rebound

Figure 1-22 Bending and rebounding diagram

1) Rebound angle Δα=b-a

In the formula:

• b – the actual angle of the workpiece after the rebound;
• a – the angle of the mold.

2) The size of the rebound angle

The rebound angle at 90° air bend is shown in Table 1-10.

Table 1-10 Rebound angle at 90-degree air bend

• Factors affecting rebound and measures to reduce rebound.

The magnitude of the rebound angle is directly proportional to the yield point of the material and inversely proportional to its elastic modulus, E. Therefore, when dealing with sheet metal parts that require high precision, it is advisable to use low-carbon steel instead of high-carbon steel or stainless steel to reduce rebound.

It is crucial to comprehend that the degree of deformation decreases as the relative bending radius, r/t, increases. Conversely, the rebound angle, Δα, increases as the relative bending radius, r/t, decreases.

To achieve higher accuracy, it is recommended to opt for a small bend radius while designing rounded corners of sheet metal bends. Avoid using large arcs as much as possible, as depicted in Figure 1-23, as they are difficult to produce and control for quality.

Figure 1-23 The arc of the sheet metal is too large

4. Calculation of the minimum bend edge of a bend

The initial state of the bend of the L-shaped bend is shown in Figure 1-24:

Figure 1-24 L-bend bending

One crucial factor here is the width “B” of the lower mold.

The bending process and the strength of the mold require a minimum mold width for different material thicknesses. If the width is less than this value, problems such as misaligned bends or damaged molds may arise.

Practical experience has shown that the relationship between the minimum mold width and material thickness can be expressed by the following equation:

B_min = kT ①

Where B_min is the minimum mold width, T is the material thickness, and k = 6 when calculating the minimum mold width.

The commonly used mold width specifications by manufacturers currently are:

4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 25

Based on the above relationship, the minimum mold width required for different material thicknesses during bending can be determined. For example, when bending a 1.5mm thick plate, B = 6 * 1.5 = 9. From the above series of mold widths, you can choose either a 10mm or 8mm lower mold width.

From the initial bend state diagram, it’s clear that the bend’s edge cannot be too short. Combined with the minimum mold width, the equation for determining the shortest bend edge is:

L_min = 1/2 (B_min + Δ) + 0.5  ②

Where L_min is the shortest bend edge, B_min is the minimum mold width, and Δ is the sheet’s bending coefficient.

When bending a 1.5mm thick plate, the shortest bend edge, L_min = (8 + 2.5) / 2 + 0.5 = 5.75mm (including plate thickness).

Figure 1-25 Minimum die width

Table 1-11: Inner bending radius of cold rolled steel sheet material R and minimum bending height reference table

Note:

The minimum bend height is determined by the material thickness.

For acute V-bends, the shortest bend must be increased by 0.5.

When bending aluminum or stainless steel plates, the minimum bending height may vary slightly. Specifically, the aluminum plate will require a smaller bending height, while the stainless steel plate will require a larger one. Please refer to the table above for details.

5. Minimum bend height for Z-bends  

Figure 1-26 displays the initial state of the Z-bend. The Z-bend and L-bend processes share a similarity and encounter the minimum bend edge issue. However, the shortest edge of the Z-bend is larger than that of the L-bend, owing to the structure of the lower die. The formula used to calculate the minimum edge of the Z-bend is:

L_min=1/2(B_min+Δ)+D + 0.5 + T   ③

L_min refers to the shortest bend edge, while Bmin is the minimum mold width. Δ represents the bending coefficient of the sheet, T refers to the material thickness, and D is the structural size of the lower die to the edge, which is typically greater than 5mm.

Figure 1-26 Z-bend

The minimum bend size L for sheet metal Z-bends of different material thicknesses is shown in Table 1-12 below:

Table 1-12 Minimum height of Z bend

Interference during bending

In the case of secondary or higher order bending, interference between the workpiece and the tool is a common occurrence. Figure 1-27 depicts the interfering area, shown in black, which can prevent successful bending or cause deformation due to the interference.

Figure 1-27 Interference of bending

The interference issue in sheet metal bending is not complex. It simply involves understanding the shape and size of the bending die and avoiding it when designing the structure. Figure 1-28 displays the cross-sectional shapes of several typical bending dies, which are detailed in the sheet metal mold manual and have corresponding tool entities in the intralink library.

If there is uncertainty in the design, a direct assembly interference test can be performed using the tool based on the principle shown in the figure.

Figure 1-28 Bending knife

When performing flip hole tapping, it is important to avoid designing D (as shown in Figure 1-29) too small. The minimum value of D can be calculated or plotted based on various factors, including material thickness, outer diameter of the through hole, height of the flange hole, and selected parameters of the bending tool.

For instance, if you are performing M4 flip hole tapping on a 1.5mm sheet, D should be greater than 8mm to prevent the bending tool from coming into contact with the flange.

Figure 1-29 Bending of the hole flanging & tapping

6. Minimum distance between the hole and the oblong hole

Figure 1-30 illustrates that if the hole’s edge is positioned too close to the bending line, the bending process may cause the hole’s shape to change, as it cannot be accommodated. To prevent this from happening, it is crucial to ensure that the distance between the hole’s edge and the bending line is greater than or equal to the minimum hole margin, which is X ≥ t + R.

Figure 1-30 Minimum distance from the round hole to the bent edge

Table 1-13 Minimum distance from the round hole to the bent edge

Figure 1-31 reveals that the elongated hole is located too near the fold line. Consequently, during the bending process, the material cannot be properly accommodated, resulting in deformation in the hole’s shape. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure that the distance between the hole edge and the bend line is greater than the minimum hole margin specified in Table 1-14. Additionally, the bend radius can be found in Table 1-9.

Figure 1-31 The minimum distance from the long round hole to the bent edge

Table 1-14 Minimum distance from the long round hole to the bent edge

For unimportant holes, they can be expanded to the bend line, as illustrated in Figure 1-32. However, this has a drawback of affecting the appearance.

Figure 1-32 Improved bending design

7. Special processing when the hole is close to the bend

If the distance between the closest hole to the bend line and the bent edge is less than the minimum required distance, deformation may occur after bending. To meet the product requirements, you can refer to Table 1-15 for potential solutions. Nonetheless, it’s crucial to note that these methods lack technical precision, and structural design should be avoided whenever feasible.

Table 1-15 Special processing when the hole is close to the bend

1) Press the groove before bending. In the actual design, because of the structural design needs, the actual distance is smaller than the above distance. The processing manufacturer often performs the groove pressing before the bending, as shown in Figure 1-31. The disadvantage is: one extra process is needed for the bending processing, the efficiency is lower, the precision is lower, and in principle, it should be avoided as much as possible.
2) Cut hole or line along the bend line: when the bend line has no effect on the appearance of the workpiece or is acceptable, then use hole cutting to improve its techniques. Disadvantages: affect the appearance. And when cutting a line or cutting a narrow groove, it is generally necessary to cut with a laser machine.
3) Completion to the design size after bending at the edge of the hole near the bend line. When the hole margin is required, it can be handled in this way. Generally, this secondary material removal cannot be completed on a punching machine, and the second cutting can only be performed on the laser cutting machine, and the positioning is troublesome, and the processing cost is high.
4) After the bending, the hole reaming process only has one or several pixel holes to the bending line and the distance is less than the minimum hole distance. When the appearance of the product is strict, in order to avoid the drawing during bending, the pixel can be performed at this time. Shrinkage treatment, that is, cutting a small concentric circle (usually Φ1.0) before bending, and reaming to the original size after bending.Disadvantages: many projects, low efficiency.
5) The minimum width of the upper die of the bending machine is 4.0mm (current). Due to this limitation, the hole in the bending part of the workpiece shall not be less than 4.0mm. Otherwise, the opening must be enlarged or use easy to form die to perform the bending. Disadvantages: low efficiency in making the easy mold, low efficiency in easy mold production; reaming affects appearance.

Process holes, process slots and process notches for curved parts

When designing the bend, it is recommended to add a punching process hole, process groove, or process notch before blanking if the bend needs to be made on the inner side of the blank, as depicted in Figure 1-33.

Figure 1-33 Adding punch hole, process or process notch

• D- diameter of the process hole, d ≥ t;
• K-process notch width, K ≥ t.
• Crack avoid groove or cut slit:

When designing a bent part, to prevent tearing and edge distortion, it’s typically necessary to create a crack avoidance groove or cut slit. This is especially important when the inner bend radius is less than 60 degrees. The width of the slit should be greater than the material thickness (t), and the depth of the slit should be at least 1.5 times the thickness of the material. As shown in Figure 1-34, Figure b is considered a better design option than Figure a.

Figure 1-34 Bending of the sheet with the crack groove or slit

The process grooves and holes should be properly processed. If the appearance of the workpieces is a concern and they are visible from the panel, the corner process holes for bending can be omitted (for example, the process notch is not added during panel processing to maintain a uniform style). However, other bends should include a corner process hole, as shown in Figure 1-35.

Figure 1-35 Bending corner process hole

When designing drawings, it is recommended to avoid marking the gap between bending intersections in the 90-degree direction unless there is a specific requirement. Incorrect gap markings can impact the manufacturing process design. Usually, manufacturers design the process with a gap of 0.2 to 0.3, as illustrated in Figure 1-36.

Figure 1-36 the gap between the bend lapping

8. Bending of a sudden change position

The bending area of a bent component should be kept away from areas with abrupt changes in the component’s shape. The distance L from the bending line to the deformation zone should be greater than the bending radius (r), meaning L ≥ r, as shown in Figure 1-37.

Figure 1-37 The bend zone should avoid the location of the sudden change of the part

9. One time hemming

The method for hemming: The sheet is first bent to a 30-degree angle using a 30-degree bending die, as shown in Figure 1-38, and then the bent side is flattened.

Figure 1-38 Method of hemming

The minimum bend edge dimension, “L,” in Figure 1-38 is 0.5t, where “t” represents the material thickness, in accordance with the minimum one-bend edge size outlined above. The “pressed dead edge” technique is commonly used for materials such as stainless steel, galvanized sheet, and aluminum-zinc plate. However, plating parts should not be used as it may result in acid entrapment at the hemming location.

10. 180°bending

The 180-Degree Bend Method: As shown in Figure 1-39, first fold the plate at a 30-degree angle using a 30-degree bending knife. Then, straighten the bend edge and finally, remove the backing pad.

Figure 1-39 180-degree bend method

The minimum bend edge dimension (L) in the figure is equal to the minimum bend edge dimension of a single bend plus the material thickness (t). The height (H) should be selected from commonly used plate sizes, such as 0.5, 0.8, 1.0, 1.2, 1.5, or 2.0. It is generally not recommended to choose a height that is higher than these options.

11. Triple folding hemming

As demonstrated in Figure 1-40, first fold the shape and then fold the edge. When designing, be mindful of the dimensions of each component to guarantee that each step of the process meets the minimum bend size, thereby avoiding the need for additional post-processing.

Figure 1-40 Triple folding hemming

Table 1-16 Minimum bearing edge size required for final bending edge flattening

VII. Safety Tips and Best Practices

When working with sheet metal bending, it’s crucial to prioritize safety and follow best practices to minimize the risk of accidents. Here are some key tips for ensuring a safe work environment:

• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Make sure that all workers wear appropriate protective gear, such as safety glasses, cut-resistant gloves, steel-toed shoes, and hearing protection. This helps prevent injuries from sharp edges, heavy equipment, and loud noises during the bending process.
• Proper Tool Maintenance: Maintaining the bending tools and equipment in optimal condition is essential for both safety and performance. Regularly inspect, clean, and lubricate tools to avoid issues such as sticking or broken parts that could lead to accidents.
• Employee Training: Ensure that all employees know how to use sheet metal bending equipment correctly and safely. Provide training on common bending techniques, tool use, and safety protocols to lower the risk of accidents and injuries.

Understanding the mechanical properties of the materials used in sheet metal bending is critical for both safety and success. Here are some best practices for working with various materials:

• Choose Appropriate Materials: Select sheet metal with suitable characteristics for the desired bend, such as thickness, ductility, and hardness. Certain materials, like aluminum, may be more susceptible to cracks and fractures if they are bent beyond their capacity.
• Optimize Bending Operations: To prevent defects and reduce stress on the material, always use the correct bending techniques. Distribute stress evenly by positioning the bend line perpendicular to the grain direction or using proper bend radii for specific materials.

Additionally, a clean and organized workspace is vital for the safe and efficient execution of sheet metal bending tasks. By keeping the workplace tidy and in order, workers can easily locate their tools and reduce the risk of accidents due to tripping hazards or misplaced equipment.

By following these safety tips and best practices, operators can confidently conduct sheet metal bending operations in a professional and efficient manner without putting themselves or their coworkers at risk.