Sheet Metal Bending Minimum Flange Length

This tool allows you to determine tonnage internal radius v die opening and minimum flange you just have to insert the characteristics of the sheet metal to be bent.

Sheet metal bending minimum flange length.

Avoid large sheet metal parts with small bent flanges. It shall be equal to three times of sheet thickness plus bend radius. I can now see that the minimum flange length is 8 5 mm for such a bend so i have to keep it in mind when designing. Discover all our calculation tools in the calculators section of the top menu.

Minimum sheet metal flange bend length is required to avoid cracks in the bending area. The tool can calculate the required bending force for bending aluminum stainless steel mild steel and weldox or strenx high strength steels. Avoid large sheet metal parts with small bent flanges. Minimum hole diameter guidelines.

The minimum distance between two counterbores is eight times the material thickness. D 2 5t r. As a rule of thumb the distance from the outside of the material to the bottom of the cutout should be equal to the minimum flange length as prescribed by the air bend force chart. Bends are the most typical feature of sheet metal parts and can be formed by a variety of methods and machines which negate the absolute need for some of the below tips.

The minumum flange length is based on the die used to bend. Use this document to choose values that are both manufacturable and meet your needs. Bend radii minimum bend sizes. It is most economical to use a single bend radius throughout the design but if necessary you can utilize multiple radii.

In low carbon steel sheet metal the minimum radius of a bend should be one half the material thickness or 0 80 mm 0 03 inch whichever is larger counterbores. To keep it simple i also use a 2 mm inside radius. The gauge inside radius die opening and minimum flange length are all interconnected through different equations and relationships the air bend force. However for typical parts meant to be cost effective and easily produced the following tips should be useful.

Figure 1c the flat pattern is used for nesting several copies of the same part onto a blank sheet of raw material. Design for manufacturability sheet metal guidelines bends for the ease of manufacturing multiple bends on the same plane should occur in the same direction. 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. When using a punch press or laser cutting holes should never be less than that of the material thickness.

The upper tool splits that in half and as a result 3x material thickness is the recommended minimum flange size for air bending on a press brake. Being able to read a bend force chart is crucial for any brake press operator and sheet metal engineer.