Bending Basics: The fundamentals of how to bend metal
WEBJan 2, 2014 · Bending and Forming. Figure 1: A plate’s grains run parallel to the rolling direction. While sheet metal gauges run from 0.005 to 0.249 inch thick, aluminum and steel plate thicknesses start at 0.250 in. and go all the way up to 13 in. or even more. Likewise, plate steel varies in strengths from mild varieties to some very high-strength ...
Tube bending basics: How to bend tubing and metal pipe - The …
WEBFeb 24, 2014 · Specialty tube bending processes abound, some old and some new. Most tubes, though, are bent one of four ways: ram-type bending, roll bending, compression bending, or rotary draw bendin g. Figure 1. Pipe is specified by its nominal pipe size, while tube is specified by its outside diameter.
K-factors, Y-factors, and press brake bending precision - The …
WEBMar 7, 2018 · Calculating K-factors. The K-factor is defined mathematically as t/Mt, where t is the neutral axis location and Mt is the material thickness. Because of the specific properties of any given metal, there is no easy way to calculate that value perfectly, hence the chart in Figure 2.
Sheet metal bending calculation basics - The Fabricator
WEBNov 9, 2012 · Sheet Metal Bending Calculation. Bend Allowance (BA) BA = [ (0.017453 × Inside radius) + (0.0078 × Material thickness)] × Bend angle, which is always complementary. The length of the neutral axis is calculated as a bend allowance, taken at 50 percent of the material thickness.
Bending Basics: The hows and whys of springback and springforward
WEBJul 9, 2014 · Figure 3 Coining, bottom bending, and air forming affect stressstrain properties differently. The curved line in the air forming zone shows how springback changes at different bend angles. In bottoming and coining, bending methods that usually produce 90-degree bend angles, the line curves to the right of the vertical axis, showing how the metal springs forward to conform to the die angle.
Die basics 101 starts with eight basic components - The Fabricator
WEBAug 8, 2006 · A stamping die is a special, one-of-a-kind precision tool that cuts and forms sheet metal into a desired shape or profile. Most dies are constructed of several basic components, including die plates, shoes, die sets, guide pins, bushings, heel blocks, heel plates, screws, dowels, and keys. Dies also need stripper, pressure, and drawing pads, as well as the devices used to secure them—spools ...
Metallurgy Matters: Phases, structures, and the ... - The Fabricator
WEBJun 26, 2003 · A Closer Look. Remember there are three basic crystalline structures favored by metals: body-centered cubic (BCC), face-centered cubic (FCC), and hexagonal close packed (HCP). Pure iron is one metal that changes from one of these crystalline structures to another while remaining solid. It's BCC at temperatures up to 1,670 degrees F.
6 steps to successful brazing - The Fabricator
WEBMar 7, 2006 · Step 1: Ensure good fit and proper clearances. Brazing uses capillary action to distribute molten filler metal between the surfaces of the base metals. So when you're brazing, maintain a clearance between the base metals to allow capillary action to work most effectively. In almost all cases, this means a close clearance.
The formula for successful punching - The Fabricator
WEBAug 8, 2006 · The Stripper. The stripper performs two vital functions during the punching process. The most obvious is to hold the workpiece material against the die as the punch approaches, penetrates, and retracts. The second and less obvious function is to hold the punch tip rigid as it punches the hole in the workpiece. The Die.
Identifying the right welding and cutting torch tips
WEBOct 9, 2003 · The tip of a welding or cutting torch is where the action is (see Figure 1). Welding tips usually produce positive pressure (higher than 1 pound per square inch [PSI]) and are used at equal pressures of acetylene and oxygen. These single-hole copper-alloy tips are attached to a torch handle equipped with a mixer that mixes the fuel with the ...