Press braking is a technique for bending sheet metal using a dedicated machine that bends it quickly and easily without compromising the metal in any way. The result is a flat semi-finished product suitable for any use.
Metal press braking is usually described as U or V, depending on whether the required shape is angled or square, and can be carried out on many materials, such as iron, aluminium, steel and various alloys. The only requirement is ductility, as we will see. The machine is usually called a press brake and can make more or less permanent bends as required.
Thanks to press braking, metals gain new life and can be used in the most diverse sectors. Bent sheet metal becomes household appliances, platforms, canopies, furniture and even cutlery.
The press brake, the machine used for press braking, makes it possible to customise metal bends to specific needs. Such specialised machines can work at full capacity, saving time and above all avoiding errors or unnecessary bends.
Springback in metal press braking
Metal bending is a cold-working process, usually carried out on ductile or malleable materials that can cope with “springback”. When a metal is bent, its outer fibres are stretched while the inner fibres are compressed, creating internal stresses. These stresses cause the phenomenon known as “springback”.