Metal bending is a metalworking method used to bend, fold, or warp metal sheets to create intricately shaped parts and products. It allows the creation of products with complex shapes and high precision from different type of blades. Therefore, the bending blade is applied in many different high industries: automotive, aviation, space,… In this article, let’s learn about the advantages and disadvantages of this processing method with Kim Minh Tech and from there, how to choose the right bending tool for thick metal sheets machining.
Bending blades- Common types of bending blades and how to use them
There are several common types of bending tools used in metalworking, including V, U, R and Z bending blades. Here is an introduction to each type of bending tool and how to use them for different folding angles
V-shaped bending blade
The V-Shape Knife is a common and versatile type of bending tool used to fold V-shaped corners on sheet metal. When using a V-knife, a sheet of metal is placed between the punch and the workpiece and a downward force is applied to bend the metal in a V-shape.
The depth of the V-slot in the cutter will affect the final folding angle produced on the sheet metal. When the V-slit has a greater depth, the folding angle will be smaller, and conversely, when the V-slit has a smaller depth, the folding angle will be larger.
This method allows creations of highly precise folding angles and complex shapes on sheet metal. This is useful in manufacturing metal parts and products with diverse design requirements.
U-shaped bending blade
The U-Shape bending blade is a type of bending blades used to fold U-shaped corners on sheet metal. Similar to a V-shape, the process of using a U-shape blade involves placing a sheet of metal between the punch and the workpiece and then the press brake machine will apply a downward force to bend the metal.
The main difference between U-shaped and V-shaped bending blades is that the U-shaped punch has a curvature. This curvature determines the curvature radius of the final angle produced on the sheet metal. When using a tool with a greater curvature, the curvature radius of the angle will also be larger.
This method allows the creation of U-shaped folding angles on the sheet metal, while adjusting the curvature of the folding angle. This is very useful in creating metal parts with rounded corners or special shapes.
R-shaped bending blade
The R-Shape bending blade is used to create folded engles in a rounded shape on sheet metal. During the process of an R-shaped bending blade, a sheet of metal is placed between the punch and the workpiece of the press brake machine and a downward force is applied to bend the metal.
The special feature of the R-shaped bending blade is that the punch has a curve, and this curve determines the curvature radius of the final folding angle produced on the sheet metal. When using a tool with a larger curve, the curvature radius of the folding angle will also be larger.
This method allows creating folded corners with rounded curves on sheet metal, helping to create metal parts with curved corners with the precision and curvature required for the design requirements.
Z-shaped bending blade
Z-Shaped bending blade is a type of bending tool used to create folding corners with composite curves or special shapes on sheet metal. During the use of a Z- bending blade, a sheet of metal is placed between two ends of the press brake machine and a downward force is applied to bend the metal.
A special feature of the Z-shaped bending blade is that the punch can have a combination of slots and curves. This allows the creation of diverse and complex folding angles on the metal sheets. Slots and curves in the Z-shaped punch can be designed to meet the specific design requirements of the metal product.
This method allows the creation of folding corners with complex and special shapes, helping to meet diverse and creative design requirements in metal part manufacturing.
How to choose a bending blade for the thick metal sheets machining process?
When choosing the right bending tool for thick metal sheet machining, there are several important factors to consider. Specifically:
Size
The size of the bending blade must match the size of the metal sheets that you are processing. Make sure that the width and length of the bending tool is large enough to be able to bend the entire surface of the sheet metal.
Thickness
The load-capacity of the bending blade needs to match the thickness of the metal sheets. For thick metal sheets, it is necessary to use a bending blades of sufficient load-capacity and hardness to ensure strong and precise bending.
Suitability
The suitability of the punch determines its bending and bearing capacity. For thick metal sheets, it is necessary to choose a bending blade with high rigidity to ensure accurate bending and no excessive deformation.
Durability
Durability strength of a press tool is an important factor in ensuring its stability and performance during machining. Choose a bending blade made from high-quality and durable materials to ensure it’s lifespan
| Punch type | Advantage | Liabilities |
| V- shape | – Simple and easy to use
– Creates precise folding angles |
-Creating complex and special folding angles could be challenging |
| U-shape | – Allows to create U-shaped folding angles
– Adjustable curvature radius for the final folding angles |
– Limited to creating U-shaped folding angles |
| R-shape | -Creates a folded angler with a rounded shape
– The curvature radius of the final folded angle can be adjusted |
– Limited to creating round shaped angles |
| Z-shape | – Creates folding angles with mixed curves and special shapes | – Requires great experiences and techniques |
The table above provides an overview of the pros and cons of each type of bending blade. However, the final choice on which bending tool to choose depends on specific requirements of the machining process and the desired shape. Here are some practical examples to help you understand better.
– When simple and precise folding is required, V-shaped bending blade are widely used, for example in the automotive industry to create folds on mechanical parts.
– For applications for rounded bends, such as in the aeronautical industry to create aircraft wing parts, R-shaped bending blade are used to produce curved angles to match design requirements
– For an application where a U-shaped folding corner is required, such as in the furniture manufacturing industry to make U-structured parts, a U-shaped bending blade is a popular choice. For example, in metalworking to create U-shaped corner kitchen cabinets.
– For applications requiring complex and varied folding angles, such as in the electronics manufacturing industry to create special folding corner parts, Z-shaped bending tools are used. For example, in the metalworking process to create complex connection faces on electronic boards.
Quality standards for metal bending blades
National and international quality standards play an important role in assuring the quality and performance of the pressers. Here are some important quality standards used in the industry:
– ISO standard (International Organization for Standardization): ISO 9001 is a quality management standard that is widely applied in industries, including metalworking. It defines quality management system requirements, including process control, document management, and ensuring compliance with quality regulations.
– DIN standard (Deutsches Institut für Normung): DIN standard comes from Germany and is recognized globally. DIN standards such as DIN 6930 defines the specifications and quality requirements for metalworking tools, including bending tools.
– ANSI (American National Standards Institute): ANSI B11.3 is the standard that regulates the safety of metalworking machines. It defines safety requirements during the use of bending blade and other metalworking equipment.
– TCVN standard (Vietnam standard): TCVN 11701 is Vietnam’s national standard for metalworking tools. It deals with the general requirements for the quality, size and performance of bending tools and other metalworking tools.
Compliance with quality standards is of great significance and importance in assuring the safety, quality and performance of the bending blades. These standards specify technical requirements, testing procedures and safety requirements, helping users to ensure that the tools being used meet the highest quality standards and comply with safety regulations.
Through this article, Kim Minh Tech hopes that you have learned more information about metal bending blades and how to choose the right tools that suit your requirements when processing thick metal sheets. If you are looking for a reputable supplier to support metal bending blades in general and thick metal sheets bending service in particular, please contact Kim Minh Tech immediately for detailed advice and pricing . Contact Kim Minh Tech immediately via website: https://kimminhtech.com/
