Sheet metal requires special techniques and procedures to be worked. One of these is press braking, which bends metal sheets with a special machine that works quickly and automatically. The nature of the metal is unchanged, and the result is a flat semi-finished product suitable for any use.
The machine used is, of course, called a press brake: a tool that can bend sheet metal more or less permanently, depending on the type of work required.
U and V press braking
There are usually two types of press braking: U-bending produces a square bend, while V-bending produces an angled one. This process is mainly carried out on iron and aluminium, but can easily be applied to any metal alloy, as long as the material is ductile.
Press braking is a cold process carried out on particularly ductile, malleable materials capable of “springback”. Put simply: when a metal is bent, its outer fibres are stretched while the inner fibres are compressed, creating internal stresses. These internal stresses are what is known as “springback”.
Why does press braking matter?
Metal press braking is very important because it gives a material new life. Through press braking, sheet metal can be turned into parts for household appliances, platforms, canopies and all kinds of furniture.