Bending Curves In Sheet Metal

For 3mm i use a big piece of angle iron.

Bending curves in sheet metal.

In order to get a flat pattern out of it you might need to partially recreate a contour flange on the imported 3d. Then you delete the original flanges e g. I have bent 3mm sheet up to 300mm wide like this. Bending sheet metal by hand is a manageable task if the piece of sheet metal is small and thin enough to handle.

Next place the wood parallel and slightly behind the bending line. Clamp the box section on top of the shims feed the metal through and pull up then feed the metal through a few mm at a time gentle tweaks using the long side when you reach the middle turn it round and repeat. Split body delete body etc and then you convert to sheet metal. Mark a bend line and place the sheet metal on the edge of your bench.

Most frequently expensive sheet metal bending tools called brakes are used to bend sheet metal but you can also complete this task without one. Finally bend the sheet up by hand to the angle desired. So in modeling you first copy the edges you want for recreating the 2 flanges and the holes. In other words if you re bending 1 8 sheet use a tool with a 1 8 radius to form the inside of the bend.

Note watch out for overbending the workpiece. If you re bending 0 020 thick material use a 0 020 radius. This is putting a simple hem on a curved piece of zinc with a 7ft radius. The average hack requires at least one angled metal part and the best tool to make one is still the good ol press brake.

The force must exceed the material s yield strength to achieve a plastic deformation. If you want a sharp 90 bend tap along the crease with a mallet. Clamp the wood on top of the metal to the workbench. The inside bend radius should be equal to the thickness of the material that you re forming.