CNC Bending

CNC bending forms angles in sheet metal.

 A workpiece is positioned over a die block and formed by the punch as it is forced into the die cavity.

Bracked Formed by CNC Bending

Example parts

Brackets, enclosures, and chassis.

CNC bending is a process where sheet metal is bent to an angle using, typically a V shaped punch and die. The sheet is placed between the punch and die which presses down on the sheet. CNC bending provides a low cost method to product 3D shapes from 2D sheets. 

CNC bending is a suitable for processing most ductile metals and primarily for sheet metal designs with one or more bends. Just a few examples of CNC bending applications are brackets, enclosures, cams, chassis, etc. There is generally no special tooling required for CNC bending, with the exception of intricate designs and special bends.

CNC Bending Cost Reduction Tips

• Reduce the number of bends in design.
• Design parts to pack efficiently. For example, in designing a large box consider making the sides of the box separate with bolted flanges.
  
• Avoid complex bend combinations.
  
• Avoid the cost of bending by adding slots in place of the bends and then bend manually. Such parts also have lower shipping costs and take less storage space. (To create the slots use a few thin rectangular cutouts in place of each bend line.)
  
• Avoid odd angles.
  
• Provide straight edges that are parallel to the bend.
  

CNC Bending Design Considerations

• The minimum distance from the bend to the edge should be at least 4 times the material thickness plus the bending radius.
  
• Holes or slots should be located a minimum of 3 stock thickness plus the bend radius. If it is necessary to have holes closer, then the hole or slot should be extended beyond the bend line.
  
• Allow for variation in bend position, radius and angle.