Bending Basics 2017
Press brake bending basics: Going old-school with notch layout.
December 2017
Modern CAD has automated traditional notch layout. But knowing how these notches are measured and made will help you choose the best notch for the job and, ultimately, make better parts.
Press brake bending: A deep dive into springback
November 2017
Predicting springback isn’t an exact science, considering all the contributing variables. But doing a little math can get you close.
Change in metal fabrication: It is futile to resist
October 2017
If you’re transitioning from coining or bottoming to air bending or, for that matter, making any process change, be sure to follow procedures based on physical realities, not on the way it’s always been done.
Press brake basics: Bending across the hem
September 2017
How do you calculate the bend functions for parts that involve hems as well as bends across those hems? A hem has a specific elongation factor. Otherwise, you run the calculations and determine the bend lines as you would for any other part.
Press brake basics: Bending questions from around the globe
August 2017
Steve Benson goes global and answers bending questions from around the world—about plate bending in Australia, tonnage considerations in India, offset bending in Mexico, and grain direction variables in the U.S.
Press brake bending basics: Do we really need more cowbell?
July 2017
When transitioning from bottoming bending to air bending, consider the material types and thicknesses you’ll be bending, invest in the right tools, and make sure your press brakes are up to the task.
Time for new press brake tooling
June 2017
The inside bend radius is at the very heart of precision metal fabrication. To achieve the radius you want, you need to understand how tooling interacts with the workpiece, but you also need to make sure your machine and tools are in good working order.
Plate rolling challenge: Taking a crack at rolling aluminum
May 2017
Should one shop invest in a roll to bend large-diameter curves in thick aluminum or outsource the job? The answer depends on the return on investment, as well as the knowledge and expertise the job requires.
Press brake gauging conundrum
April 2017
Forming a complex part requires creative thinking, and not only about how to gauge each bend. Every part has some error to account for slight variances in material thickness, bend deduction calculations, and more. The challenge lies in making sure the error is absorbed by a noncritical dimension.
Do precision fabricating rules apply to me?
March 2017
Do the rules of precision bending apply to heavy plate fabrication? Of course, they do. After all, it’s really just a matter of scale.
Tooling choice when forming aluminum
February 2017
When choosing tools to bend aluminum, as always, you need to consider the naturally floated radius as well as where the bend turns sharp. You also may consider forming certain aluminum grades in the annealed condition.
Breaking the time barrier
January 2017
Press brake bending basics: Breaking the time barrier. Getting estimates right requires good information and, not least, good operators and engineers. Making accurate time estimates requires both complete information about the job at hand as well as technical talent, both in engineering and in press brake operation.