A potential headache for product manufacturers that rely on sheet metal for their parts is when components are improperly bent and formed. This can create numerous problems, including missed deadlines, costly rework, and even having to find a new service provider in the middle of a job.
That’s where sheet metal bending and forming services come into play. With skilled technicians and quality equipment, you can be assured your designs and part application will be carefully evaluated, so you can avoid those headaches.
Read on to determine whether metal bending and forming services make sense for your project.
When Bending and Forming Services Are a Good Fit
Bending and forming isn’t a good fit for every project, but it is when you have a certain set of requirements.
- If your part can be made from a flat sheet with bends, such as U-, V-, L-, or Z-shapes. In this scenario, bending can serve as a better solution as opposed to welding, as it reduces seams and weak points.
- When you require a clean appearance with minimal finishing and visible weld marks. It also minimizes grinding and excessive painting on joints.
- Parts that have repeatable dimensions and angles.
- Small to medium volume runs going up to the low thousands of parts.
Project Goals that Favor Bending and Forming
Contractors and their crews, along with customers, all have clear-cut project goals that serve as both a timeline and a mission statement. In our 50-plus years in business, S&R Sheet Metal has seen bending and forming services favor these types of project goals.
- When single-part pieces need to have structural strength, bending and forming is a common solution. These services create consistency throughout parts, and where other metal services might take away or add on material, bending and forming maintain the material.
- In cases where precision cannot be sacrificed, bending and forming would be a favorable option.
- Lastly, if time is of the essence and your team needs to improve on your lead times, bending and forming is a good route to explore. With the usage of CNC press brake setups and standardized tooling, as commonly seen with bending and forming, these operations are much faster compared to custom fixturing for long, drawn-out welding services.
How to Tell If Your Design Allows for Bending and Forming Services
Design considerations and mock-ups will help to determine if bending and forming services are the best option for you and your team.
- If your CAD model is thin enough to be unfolded into a flat pattern with feasible bend radii, it is likely your material won’t crack during bending and forming.
- Designs that feature small flange lengths, Z-step heights, and channel widths are favorable for bending and forming.
- Tolerances for bends should be in a realistic range for the press-brake process. This is to ensure that materials don’t develop defects during operations, such as cracking or improper bending.
Common Applications
There are some common applications that rely on these services for parts across numerous industries.
Automotive
- Frames
- Brackets
- Reinforcement plates
- Body and interior panels
Construction
- Roofing and cladding profiles
- Stair components
- Frames
- Structural supports
Industrial
- Equipment enclosures
- Racks
- Cables
- HVAC ductwork
- Precision housings
Contact S&R Sheet Metal for Your Metal Bending and Forming Services Today
S&R Sheet Metal is your trusted, experienced, and reliable sheet metal expert. From bending and forming services to fabrication, cutting, assembly, and more, we have the team to create the parts you need to succeed.
We’ve been in business for over 50 years, and offer short turnaround times without sacrificing quality. Our 18,000-square-foot facility has all the equipment we need to create the parts that serve you.
Contact us today for your metal bending and forming services, and let’s create something special.