Air Bending Sheet Metal

What is air bending with air bending a press brake is equipped with a punching tool and commonly a v opening bottom die.

Air bending sheet metal. Bending is one of the most common sheet metal fabrication operations. Air bending is the most common type of 3 types of bending used in sheet metal shops today. Being able to read a bend force chart is crucial for any brake press operator and sheet metal engineer. The punch tip radius usually has little influence.

The profile of the punch defines the bend radius while the stroke depth defines the bend angle. The formed bend radius is dependent upon the dies used the material properties and the material thickness. Punch tip radius air bending when we air bend sheet metal the size of the die v opening determines the inside radius of the bend. The bend radius refers to the inside radius.

The punch is then forced past the top of the die into the v opening without coming into contact with the bottom of the v. An air bend force chart or force chart breaks down a number of key components of sheet metal bending in an easy to reference format. The diagram shows one such mechanism. The solution is to have a radius on the tool that you ll be using to bend the metal.

Use the minimum bend dimension values in the charts below for your minimum closeness of cutout to a bend. If you bend to a sharp inside corner with sheet metal you ll be adding a ton of internal stresses. The metal forms to a natural radius based on the size of the die v opening. Even on malleable materials you can end up cracking the metal at the bend or weakening it to the point where it ll break with minimal force.

This is done through the application of force on a workpiece. Air bending and bottom bending are two of the most common ways to create a bend during sheet metal fabrication. When sheet metal is bent it stretches in length. Refer to the chart for values for folder as well as various press brake tooling combinations.

Geometry of tooling imposes a minimum bend dimension. In this process the workpiece comes in contact with the outside edges of the die as well as the punch tip. Both can be achieved using a manual or cnc controlled press brake. Air bending uses a punch tool and an often v shaped bottom die.