A to Z of BENDING

A

Acute – Angle less than 90°

Anisotropic – (of an object or substance) having a physical property which has a different value when measured in different directions, aka Mild Steel sheet, which is stronger along the grain than across it.

B

Bend Minimum – The arc length of a bend at the neutral axis. The flat pattern size for the final bent item can be calculated by adding the Bend allowance to the Bend Tangent Line Dimensions.

Bend Angle – The angle between the two flanges of the bent part. Values less than 90 degrees are more closed (acute), and values between 90 and 180 degrees are more open.

Back Stops – Our bending machines use multiple fingers to align materials accurately, resulting in exact bends every time.

Bend Deduction – The most prevalent approach to applying bend deduction is by subtracting the material thickness from the flange length, as demonstrated below. For instance, a 3mm thick material with a 50mm flange length will have a 47mm dimension on the flat pattern. However, when there are two bends on either side of the flange, this value is doubled, resulting in a flat pattern dimension of 44mm instead of the 47mm seen for the single flanges.

C

CAD – It all starts with a CAD drawing. We can draw simple parts to order, but it is quicker and easier if you are able to provide us with drawings in either DWG, DXF or NC format.

J

Jigging – Jigs are used to support materials, particularly for complex bends, ensuring uniformity and stability in each piece.

K

K-Factor – The ratio of the neutral axis to the material thickness. K-Factor allows the amount of elongation and thus the bend deduction to be calculated. The physical properties of the material, material thickness, the bend radius and method of forming affect the K-factor. 

L

L Bends – This is a single bend at 90 degrees.

M

Materials – We can bend CR4, Zintec,  Galvanised Steel S275, Aluminium, Stainless Steel, Copper & Brass. 

N

Notching – If needed, we can add notches to metal sheets before bending, simplifying the final assembly and fit.

O

Operatives – Our highly trained press brake operators uses programmed parts to carefully form each bend with accuracy. 

P

Production – the production office is a busy place, materials are ordered, deliveries are arranged, jobs are assigned to machines and any technical issues are ironed out. 

Press Brake – Our Trumpf TruBend 5130 and 5170 press brakes are optimised for speed, accuracy, and precision in all metal bending operations. 

Programming – Each project is programmed with exact specifications to automate accuracy, reducing errors and enhancing consistency. 

Q

Quotes – with STEP files provided, our sales team aim to return quotes sent during working hours within an hour, to translate your design from 2D drawings will require our design team and result in a longer response time.   

Quality Control – Every bend is checked against our stringent quality standards to ensure consistent accuracy and durability. 

R

Repeatability – Our press brakes are known for producing exact copies, ideal for high-volume orders requiring uniformity. 

Rolla V – A specialized die which has two half cylinders which support the flanges as the work piece is bent. 

S

Springback – We account for springback (the metal’s tendency to return slightly after bending) to ensure each bend maintains its intended angle.

T

Tolerance – Our bending operations maintain tight tolerances, ±0.25mm for flange lengths, ±0.5mm and ±1° for bend angle, ensuring accuracy across each part.

Traceability – Full traceability from material source to delivery is available, keeping every order accountable and documented.

Trumpf – Our TruBend 5130 and 5170 machines by Trumpf are industry leaders, providing precision and reliability for every bend.

Tonnage – This is going to be the maximum force that the press brake can exert on the work piece.

U

Uniformity – Bending with TruBend machines ensures each part has uniform bends, essential for batch production.

V

V-die – We use V-dies for precise and versatile bends, allowing for a range of angles and materials. 

W

Width – Our press brakes handle materials of various widths up to 2980m, providing flexibility across small and large projects.

X

X Axis – The front to back motion of the back gauge. The X Axis controls the flange length, positive motion moves the back gauge towards the operator and results in a smaller flange.

Y

Y Axis – The vertical motion of the moving beam. This does not mean the motion of the back gauge. 

Z

Z Axis – The left to right motion of the back gauges. This is used when bending with multiple setups down the press brake, allowing the gauges to move with the operator as he moves the work piece from one setup to the next.