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Sheet metal bending is a mechanical process which involves extremely accurate procedures. They need to be carried out with precision and care. If this does not happen, mistakes might occur, which may compromise the finished product as well as cause damages and injuries. How to avoid mistakes when bending sheet metal?
1 - Invest effort and time in controlling quality.
Monitoring each operation step by step might be complex. However, quality control is a fundamental task to avoid a costly waste of time, resources and money.
2 - Read the technical drawing carefully.
Check that each part was drawn to be read in a clear and unequivocal way. If it is not so, point it out immediately, so as to find a prompt solution. It is particularly important to verify that the drawing matches reality, for example in the dimensions.
3 - Verify thickness, material and finishing.
All details must be clear, in order to be able to finish the work taking account of the specific properties of the material. A very small variation in thickness, for example, can change how sheet metal responds to the bending force. A thinner sheet will result in a more open angle.
4 - Verify simmetry.
A technician's visual inspection is fundamental and there is no such thing as unnecessary inspection. Therefore, make sure you carefully examine the parts. Have them correspond to one another and verify the shapes.
5 - Manage the variables of the material.
Always take account of the mechanical behavior of the materials you are going to bend, and the resulting variables. For example, remember that after the bending operation, the material tends to spring back, changing the obtained bend angle. You have precision tools available in order to determine and correct springback.
In air bending, for example, you should focus on overbending: having the punch penetrate deeply in order to compensate springback.
6 - Pay attention to delicate works.
Some works on valuable materials require a final result with very high standards in term of aesthetics. In such cases, you should pay great attention to how you use tools, to ensure the piece looks perfect and has no flaws.
7 - Remove debris from the press brake.
Remove any debris, oil or dust from the press brake. Failing to clean the debris might cause marks, scratches and imperfections on the surface.
8 - Be accurate throughout the whole operation.
Your role is key: you have to make sure each step is carried out correctly. By doing so, you will be credited with the merit of making a top-quality product. Accuracy is fundamental especially when the parts need to be assembled with close tolerances.
9 - Choose top-quality tooling.
Tooling is what acts directly on the sheet metal. The final result largely depends on the tolling quality. Therefore, it is vital to choose the tools with care.
Since 1970 Eurostamp Tooling has been manufacturing and selling top quality press brake tooling and equipment. We have customers worldwide who choose us for our professionalism, skills, precision and fast delivery.
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