Metal Bending Services

Fractory’s metal folding services use electric and hydraulic press brakes that are suitable for large-scale manufacturing and also for small one-off jobs according to your designs. Getting a quote from us only takes a few seconds when submitting 3D models.

Capabilities

Metal folding capacity
Metal folding capacity Up to 1000 tons
Maximum bending length
Maximum bending length Up to 7200 mm
Maximum thickness
Maximum thickness Up to 60 mm

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Manufacturing for 2500+ Businesses

Just upload your CAD files onto the platform to get an instant quote and lead time. After confirming, we take care of the manufacturing side of things, using state-of-the-art machinery.

The process looks like this:

  • Go to Fractory’s platform.
  • Upload 3D models in STP, SLDPRT or IPT format to the platform, as our system can read bending info straight from models.
  • Select your material and address for an instant price and lead time.
  • We organise transportation all over the UK, including all the larger cities like London, Birmingham, Glasgow,Liverpool, Manchester, etc.

If you have any questions, turn to our engineers via email or use the chatbox in the lower right corner.

Ordering & Delivery

Quote in seconds
Quote in seconds
Short lead times
Short lead times
Delivery by Fractory
Delivery by Fractory

What is Metal Folding?

Sheet metal folding is a very common forming method used to give the desired shape to structural steel, stainless steel, aluminium, etc. parts. A press brake is used to give the final shape to a part. It is important to bear in mind that bending is done after the cutting process. Therefore, you have to keep some design tips in mind.

Metal bending is possible for sheets (up to 6 mm) as well as plates (anything above). The possibility of executing a job depends on the manufacturer’s capabilities – maximum bending edge length and pressing force. Thicker materials and longer bending lines need more force. Whereas 200-ton pressing force is enough for most jobs – it can, for example, bend a 2 m line with a 10 mm thickness – you sometimes need more. Fractory’s metal bending capabilities reach up to 1000 tons.

Fractory metal folding chart, bending force chart

The calculations for tonnage requirements are based on the bending force chart above.

Different Bending Methods

A variety of bending methods exist to do the job. Although most of them are suitable for the average job, each has some specific use-cases and needs different press brake tooling. Here’s a list of possibilities to make your life easier when looking for a metal folding service.

  • V-bending – The most widely spread folding method where a punch presses the sheet metal onto a die. V-bending has 3 divisions – air bending, bottoming and coining. Air bending is the most common of them. There, the sheet is not pressed onto the die but rather some way towards it until the desired angle is achieved.
  • U-bending – Quite similar in terms of using a punch and die. Instead of a V-shape, it uses a U-shape. Thus, its main use is to produce U-channels.
  • Step bending – Uses successive V-bending to achieve large-radius bends. Smaller steps assure better and smoother quality.
  • Roll bending – A bending method that uses rolls instead of punches and dies. Great for producing parts with large radii or conical sheet metal details.
  • Rotary bending – Another bending technique to produce angular bends. The big advantage over other methods is the lack of bending marks (usually left by the V-shaped die) on the part.

CNC Bending

CNC bending is an advanced metal forming process that allows the production of highly precise bends in sheet metal. This technology utilises computer-controlled machines to automate the bending of metal sheets, ensuring consistent high-quality results. The machine follows a predetermined program, directing a set of press brakes to exert force on the metal sheet at specific locations, thereby creating desired angles and shapes.

Unlike manual bending where there might be variations due to human error, CNC bending machines ensure that each bend conforms to specified parameters, guaranteeing uniformity across mass-produced parts. With CNC bending, intricate and complex designs can be achieved with high repeatability and efficiency.

The initial setup and programming costs of CNC bending can be relatively high, making it more economically viable for larger production runs. In instances of one-off or small-batch productions, these upfront costs might outweigh the benefits, rendering manual methods more cost-effective. However, for high-volume production runs, the precision, consistency, and efficiency of CNC bending provide substantial cost savings and quality advantages over time.

Metal Bending Advantages

While welding is inevitable in many cases and bending cannot substitute it everywhere, we recommend choosing metal bending services whenever possible. The advantages of metal folding are:

  • Aesthetics – Although in engineering functionality comes first, design follows closely behind. The lack of weldments guarantees on nice visual for your project.
  • Coating – A smooth surface is a great canvas for coating procedures, leaving a better result.
  • Fewer mistakes – Welding needs more manual labour. Manual labour, in turn, leaves more room for mistakes. Automatic CNC bending systems provide accurate results.
  • Fewer parts – It is more convenient to re-work your parts in CAD, if needed. But it’s also easier to keep your workfloor nice and tidy with a smaller number of parts laying around.
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