Understanding Metal Bending for your Safety
Guest Post
Metal bending is a production process in which the shape of sheet metal and tubes can be changed through plastic deformation. The latter refers to the fact that the material has undergone certain irreversible changes as a result of forces that have been applied to it. In the case of steel bending and tube bending, for example, there are a number of different ways the metal can be deformed.
The Advantage of Metal Bending
Metal bending has many advantages and one of the main ones is its flexibility. This process uses various die sets to determine the shape of the metal, allowing a wide range of shapes to be created. Die sets are metal blocks that are mounted onto presses. The metal sheet is positioned on the die and is held in place while the ram, or top part of the press, which is fitted with a punch that is shaped accordingly descends and forms the desired bend. For example, “L” brackets are a common metal component that is shaped with the help of die sets used for bending.
Its flexibility means that different shapes can be achieved often by changing out the die sets instead of using a completely different machine. This makes it a highly cost-effective process, especially when used for medium-sized batches of components.
Of course, another benefit of metal bending is that the use of machine presses and die sets ensures uniformity across the board, meaning that all the bends are the exact same shape and size for the entire batch of components.
Finding an Experienced Metal Fabricator Is Critical
If you are looking for a cost-effective solution to shaping metal sheets, then metal bending is an excellent solution. However, the quality of the product will only be as good as the operator and, implicitly the metal fabricator.
A good operator needs to have a great understanding of geometry and how it relates to the finished component. Additionally, you want an operator who has extensive experience and can tell at a glance that something is wrong with a component right away instead of waiting for the entire batch to be finished and discovering half of them are unusable.
Yes, the company would have to replace them but that would still mean delays, which will cost you money. It’s often a better idea to pay a little more if necessary to ensure you are working with the best in the field because you simply can’t afford mistakes when it comes to metal components, especially if they are part of a larger assembly.
Poorly manufactured metal components can lead to all sorts of problems and, in the end, it’s your reputation on the line if something breaks down because you are the supplier. So, the best approach is to find a reputable metal fabricator and one that will guarantee you uniformity across the board.
Most companies do spot checks on a regular basis to ensure the components are bent to their clients’ specifications but don’t simply assume this is what happens. You have to check that this is their normal metal bending procedure because if you don’t, an assumption could end up costing you more money than you expected.
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