Bending is a form of deformation and one of the three main processes in sheet metal processing; the other two processes are cutting and joining. Bending involves using jigs or dies to hold the workpiece in place and strategically apply force to areas of the workpiece. The applied force must exceed the yield strength of the material to cause plastic deformation of the part. This process creates a V-shape, U-shape, or groove on the shaft, creating new part geometry. Bending changes the shape, but the volume of the workpiece remains the same.

Bending design in sheet metal processing involves many aspects such as material selection, thickness and hardness considerations, and bending process selection. Here are some tips on designing bends for sheet metal processing:

1. Material selection:

First, you need to choose a metal material suitable for bending. Common sheet metal materials include stainless steel, aluminum alloy, copper, etc. When selecting materials, their mechanical properties, cost, and appearance and quality requirements after bending should be taken into consideration.

2. Thickness and hardness considerations:

The thickness and hardness of the material have a direct impact on the bending process and equipment requirements. Thicker sheets and higher stiffness may require greater bending forces and more advanced equipment. Therefore, during design, appropriate bending parameters should be determined based on the characteristics of the selected material.

3. Bending angle and shape:

According to the design requirements of the product, select the appropriate bending angle and shape. Common bending forms include 90-degree bends, non-90-degree bends, dead edges, etc. At the same time, it is also necessary to consider the step difference and gap issues after bending to ensure the assembly and appearance quality of the parts.

4.Mold design:

The mold is a key tool in the bending process. When designing the mold, the thickness, hardness of the material, and the angle and shape of the bend should be taken into consideration. For bent corners that require hemming, reasonable process holes and gaps should be designed to avoid cracks or deformation of the material during the bending process.

5. Process optimization:

In order to improve the accuracy and efficiency of bending, some advanced process methods can be used, such as V-shaped mold bending, U-shaped mold bending, etc. At the same time, by rationally arranging the position and angle of the mold and optimizing the parameter settings of the equipment, higher quality bending effects can be achieved.

6. Quality inspection:

After the bending is completed, the parts should be inspected for quality, including dimensional measurement, appearance inspection, etc. This helps to promptly detect and correct problems that may arise during the bending process, ensuring that the quality and performance of the product meet the design requirements.

Bending design in sheet metal processing is a comprehensive process that requires comprehensive consideration of materials, processes, equipment and other factors. Through reasonable design and optimization, high-quality and efficient sheet metal bending processing can be achieved.