Sheet metal forming or bending is an art of its own. Many people do not realize how difficult it can be to form sheet metal. Since sheet metal has a thickness to it, it does not bend like a piece of paper. The thickness of the material causes the metal to shift and distort when formed. Especially if a sheet metal part has bends near a hole or an edge, it can be get difficult to achieve the right kind of bend without stretching the hole or bending a part straight near an edge. Therefore, a press brake operator needs to be creative in order to achieve the desired outcome. Continue reading →