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More about Metal Bending Services
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Metal bending services cover a variety of machining processes. Among these are angle bending, roll bending, seaming and flanging. Essentially, a bending operation can be classified by a reshaping of metal around a linear axis without a change in the metal’s surface area. Any operation that does not bend the metal around an independent, linear axis is not truly considered bending. Likely, it will be classified as either drawing or stretching.
The ductility of the bending material plays a large part in any bending operation, as it determines the amount the metal can be bent without cracking. In addition, metal components are typically “overbent” to account for the elasticity of the material, called springback. Nonetheless, metalworkers aim for the widest bends whenever possible, since it allows for a more inclusive range of materials. When performed near the edge of a metal work-piece, bending normally distorts the metal, so such bends require excess material (which is later trimmed). Thus, bending is a fairly tricky process with a large number of variables. When performed properly, it has little to no waste, but mistakes can quickly lead to breakage or distortion.
Roll forming, while not technically bending, is a very useful process that shares similar traits. In a roll forming operation, a flat metal strip passes through a succession of forming rolls, which quickly shape it into the desired form. Although roll forming machines can achieve a variety of shapes—ranging from car parts to construction components—it requires time to restage the machines for new pieces, and is therefore used primarily for longer runs. After all, each new shape requires a new design for the profile cross-section of each stand.
Roll bending, which is a three point bending operation, cannot achieve the same shapes as roll forming. It is considered a true bending operation, however. It typically consists of three forming rolls arranged in a triangular shape. The work-piece, which can have a considerable thickness, is fed through the rolls, and bent into shape according to the position of the top roll.
Bending services are fundamental to a variety of industries, including military, automotive, appliance and aerospace applications. A wide array of manufacturers and machine shops perform bending operations and should be able to achieve any shapes within the ductility parameters of a given metal.
