Overview Of Sheet Bending Machines Working And Application

Sheet bending machines aka sheet metal bending machines are used in automobile, aircraft and similar manufacturing industries.
Before we get to know about the use of these machines in these industries, let’s find out what exactly is this process and what are the different types of sheet metal bending machines available, their specifications, applications, advantages and disadvantages if any. Also, we will check on the factors to be considered while purchasing a sheet metal bending machine.

What is Sheet Metal Bending?

Bending is a widely used technique in metal fabrication. It helps transform metals to angular shapes. With sheet metal bending, the metals can be deformed into different shapes through the process of cutting and bending.

What’s the use of sheet metal bending?

 Sheet metals are normally materials with thickness below 3mm.  and the laser cutting process and  bending operations can be done easily on these.
What makes the sheet metal bending method more widely accepted over other methods is the flexibility it offers on being able to use on a wide range of materials, material thickness and the parts that can be produced no matter how complicated it is. The most common applications of sheet metal bending come in automotive, furniture, household appliances, industrial equipment and much more.
This method is normally done in combination with bolts or rivets or a welding process. This offers greater flexibility because parts of varied thicknesses can be connected to each other depending on their use. Other factors that can contribute to the adaptability and flexibility of sheet metal modules are countersinking, threading, boring, chamfering etc.

With the arrival of sheet bending machines and CNC cutting machines, parts are able to be manufactured in one module. In the past, it required welding or any other joining methods to be involved.

Advantages of Sheet Metal Bending Machines

 The main advantage of sheet bending machines would include speed, accuracy, less weight, cost effectiveness, little tooling and reduced parts. Let’s look in detail at the advantages below.

Manufacturing Speed 

Mass production of sheet metal parts in a considerably reduced time is possible with these machines. This is achieved greatly because there is no requirement of tooling and greater amount of automation is possible.

Accuracy

Extremely accurate sheet metal parts can be manufactured if careful considerations are made during the design phase especially with cutting holes within ±0.1mm by laser.

Fewer Post Processing

Several processes are to be undergone to finish a part in welding. It’s because of the heat that can distort the metal which will require straightening and welding splatters have to be removed through very time-consuming and laborious grinding and polishing tasks, but in the case of opting for sheet metal bending, there is no such requirements, and the parts are ready for dispatch from production.

Light Weight

 Owing to the complicated bends offered, strength and rigidity are gained by using very few materials which in turn reduces the weight of the parts.  This will become advantageous in every phase of the supply chain including material transfer.

Reduced Cost And No Tooling

 With the advent of technology, sheet metal bending cuts down manual labor involved in the production of parts. CNCN processed tooling helps manufacture parts with considerably less skilled workers in a short duration resulting in reduced end user cost. 
Since sheet metal bending machines have a line of general tools ,, the need for specialized tooling is eliminated there. This in turn reduces the cost for tooling and saves time as there is zero necessity of complicated tooling to be manufactured, tested and adjusted if required.

Reduced Parts

 Manufacturing an element from a single part of materials other than from multiple components with joints will considerably reduce the errors, breakdown points, time as well as complication in procurement.

Disadvantages of Sheet Metal Bending

 Like any other process, Sheet metal bending also comes with some downsides. Let’s check it in detail.

Thickness

 The thumb rule in sheet metal bending process is that the more the thickness of the materials, the greater the bending radius. Hence tight bends are usually done on thin sheet metals.  Also, if you bend extremely thick materials, it will result in bulging of materials.

Uniform Thickness

 Due to the reason that parts are made from a single component of metal, the thickness will be the same for separate flanges. It means the whole part must be designed in that thickness.

Manufacturing Cost

 When dealing with low and medium volumes of job, sheet metal bending is the most economical process. With further increase in volume, it has been noted that the stamping process is much better. As components must be processed one by one.

When to choose Sheet Metal Bending process?

 This method is mostly used where tiny to large parts with straight angles are required. Also, it is used to achieve certain geometry shapes and where multiple bends are required. 
If the precision level of this process is +/- 0.18mm and the  thickness of the metal used is from 0.5mm to 20.0mm with no custom tooling required, this method is chosen. This method is suited for small to medium quantity jobs like 1 to 10,000 units and the lead time is less than one hour.

Sheet Metal Bending Machine Types

 There are different types of sheet metal bending machines available in the market with different configurations. There are highly complex models that are being used  for industrial purposes for bulk processing and those used in small workshops catering to low production.
Some of the widely used sheet metal bending machines are Press brakes, Shearing  machines, Bending rollers and Power press metal forming.

Applications

 Press brakes, being the most widely used machine for sheet metal bending, helps bend sheets and plates into custom-made shapes. There are different types of press brakes available – Manual, Pneumatic as well as Hydraulic versions  are employed in industries depending upon the requirement.  Metal forming works like bending, curling, bottoming, angled shaping, seaming and hemming are mostly done with Press brakes. By making use of respective dies.

Bending Rollers are used to bend and straighten parts and metal covers of pressure vessels, converters and boiler tanks.

Mechanical and hydraulic shears are utilized for sheet metal cutting. Large sheets, plates and bars of metallic and nonmetallic materials are cut accurately with the help of these shearing machines.

Power press is the most excellent bending machine which offers to cut metal cutting accurately, this method is also used for bending and shaping jobs for bulk jobs.

Where to buy Sheet Metal Bending Machines in UAE?

 Be it any machine, careful considerations have to be made while choosing the brand, the quality offered and the service standards. When you purchase machines by choosing a supplier based on the above three factors, you will feel a lot more relaxed even if any mechanical issues come once the machine starts operating.
Companies like YES Machinery offer you the best brands of sheet metal bending machines from Europe. They make sure they deliver the best quality at the best price and also you will have a hassle-free after-sales service with them. So don’t forget to keep these things in mind when you purchase your sheet metal bending machines.