Applications : Bending

In the industrial field, bending is a process that is frequently used to manufacture many parts. Bending, like cutting out, can be performed by a press brake (also called a bender). Equipped with specific equipment, the presses can bend metal materials with great precision and ensure the production of small, medium or large series.

EMG is a manufacturer of bending presses and equipment tailored to meet all the needs of your business. Thanks to our experience and expertise, we advise you to choose the most suitable press among our wide range of manual, pneumatic, mechanical or hydropneumatic presses. 
 

What is press bending?

Press bending is an operation that consists in deforming or forming the material according to a fold, an angle defined by a forming tool (punch and die) and with the help of a machine that can be a manual press, a mechanical press, a pneumatic press or a hydropneumatic press.

During the forming process, the outer part of the sheet's fold stretches while the inner part compresses, which causes the sheet to vary in thickness, sometimes significantly. Each type of material (metal: steel, stainless steel, aluminum...) has its own mechanical characteristics such as the data corresponding to its elasticity for example. When designing the part, it is important to anticipate these thickness variations as well as possible in order to respect the minimum radii of the sheet metal to be bent.

For bending, there are several charts with values of "K coefficient", "fish coefficient" or "Young's modulus" adapted to each type of material. Nevertheless, experience is, by far, the best ally of the benders to perform with precision and to the nearest millimeter all the useful bends without risking to apply a force higher than the material can support.
 

What type of press should I choose for bending metal materials?

The choice of your press for bending metal sheets and plates must be based on the requirements of your business: what materials, what thicknesses, what output requirements, what force is needed to bend your parts ...?

Each type of press has its own power (tonnage up to 80 T) which must meet your needs. Pneumatic and hydropneumatic presses work thanks to a compressed air cylinder, which facilitates the operator's work.  The mechanical presses offer a high pressure that allows bending on sheets of several millimeters. 

The size (in length and width) of the parts to be machined will be important in your choice because of the depth of the gooseneck as well as the repeatability of the bending process in case of mass production. 

Note that EMG manual presses are capable of performing all types of bending. Pneumatic presses, hydropneumatic presses and mechanical presses are, however, by far the most suitable for bending because the force required is generally greater than what a manual press can offer. Did you know that we also offer used presses completely dismantled, overhauled and checked?